| 1. Use Rapid Development Techniques | | | | down, sometimes significantly. You can have your |
| - Good e-learning requires an instructional design | | | | learners use e-learning in advance of a classroom |
| process but you don't have to follow a long drawn out | | | | session or after attending a classroom session. |
| traditional systematic process. You can shorten the | | | | - Rather than converting the whole course, you |
| cycle, particularly if you are converting existing | | | | convert the sections that will work well on-line and |
| classroom materials to e-learning. | | | | have your learners attend classroom sessions for |
| - Always ensure that you have solid learning | | | | those sections of the material that are better facilitated |
| objectives and have clearly identified your outcomes. | | | | in a face to face interaction. |
| Don't rely on your classroom materials necessarily | | | | - By using blended learning you save in two ways - |
| having these, go over the objectives and outcomes, | | | | your e-learning development costs are lower as you |
| they may need to be redefined or adjusted for online. | | | | are only developing sections not the entire course and |
| Shorten the cycle: review the work as you build the | | | | your in-class hours attendance hours are reduced |
| online version, don't wait for a beta product. As you | | | | without sacrificing quality. A win-win. |
| finish screens and small sections, have the Subject | | | | 4. Use Templates |
| Matter Expert (SME) reviewing for accuracy, the | | | | - Standardize your look and feel. This is sound practice |
| Instructional Designer for clarity and learning objectives | | | | regardless as it lets your learners become comfortable |
| and editors to catch grammar, spelling, alignment issues. | | | | with the navigation, how to find attachments etc. But it |
| You can continue working on the next screens while | | | | also saves you money - the cost of developing a new |
| these are being reviewed. | | | | template design for each new e-learning course. |
| - Eliminate or shorten the pilot phase by having your | | | | - Consider using point and click e-learning tools rather |
| pilot group review sections, rather than the whole | | | | than developing from 'scratch'. Many of these tools |
| course. | | | | allow you to customize, and if you're strong in HTML, |
| - Use templates (see below) | | | | Javascript, XML, and flash you can go even further |
| 2. Don't go fancy | | | | with modifications while still using their time saving |
| - Unless you are a gaming company, your e-learning | | | | advantages. Combined with good instructional design |
| does not have to look like a sleek video game to meet | | | | skills, your own design templates, possibly video and/or |
| education standards and engage your learner. Yes, | | | | audio clips you can develop some effective e-learning. |
| we'd all love to have that budget and time but you can | | | | 5. Hire An External Consultant |
| create some pretty great e-learning using simpler and | | | | - If your organization doesn't have the budget for a full |
| cleaner methods. | | | | time e-learning developer or your developer is |
| - Use pre-built, easily modified Flash inserts. This will | | | | swamped with work, hire an external consultant to |
| save you time and dollars. | | | | help you out. With the right consultant you can save |
| - Design a branching process. Use clip art, stockphotos, | | | | dollars, having them develop on a course by course |
| shadow characters and modify them so they become | | | | basis. |
| your own. | | | | - The consultant can work virtually using your |
| 3. Blended learning | | | | templates, with access to your Subject Matter |
| - Blended learning can be a great learning tool and | | | | Experts, saving you office, computer and software |
| education process. It cuts your in-class training time | | | | setup costs. |