Why did eLearning design and development originate? The need for online training solutions has been prompted partly by the increased globalization of the workforce.
Markets are growing, and so is the number of products available. These factors make it essential for workers to expand their skill sets and knowledge continually. This necessitates a method of training that is not static but rather ever-present. Thus, e-Learning entered the picture.
A robust new sector has emerged to support the design, production, and execution of e-Learning experiences, thanks to the prospect of “always available” online education. It can be offered without the expense and logistical problems of live, in-person learning.
But what is the most effective way to use these tools to provide learners with bespoke e-Learning design and development experiences?
What is e-Learning Design?
E-learning, or distance learning, makes it possible to study whenever and wherever one pleases. It is the learning that takes place through the use of digital media. Yet, things are more challenging than they seem.
Various tools and software are used to transform the knowledge of subject-matter professionals into a format that is more accessible to students by using the concepts of interactive and visual design.
Developing e-Learning that is aesthetically appealing and interactive becomes crucial because its goal is to instruct or support students studying independently. This can be achieved by custom e-Learning design.
How is an e-Learning Design and Development Strategy Determined?
Adult learning theory, different learning styles, and other theories of instructional design all factor into the e-learning development.
Unlike children, adults have a distinct way of retaining information. Adult learners, according to the principles of adult education, are:
- in charge of their education,
- have a variety of learning preferences,
- are time-crunched but highly motivated,
- are interested in solving problems and working toward specific goals,
- require learning that is both relevant and practical,
- and bring prior experience and knowledge to the table during each learning activity.
When dealing with grownups, it is more effective to act as a facilitator than a teacher. We must make the new information fit in with their existing knowledge and utilize that information to help them.
Addressing what’s in it for them from the get-go is essential. Therefore, these considerations should be taken into account while developing bespoke e-Learning.
How to Approach e-Learning Design and Development?
When planning and producing e-Learning courses, an innovative learning model that is centred on the learner may serve as a helpful foundation.
Methodically utilising the following stages as a checklist of best practices will guarantee that the learner continues to be the primary focus throughout the development phase.
Define the aim of learning
In some cases, the demand for training is driven by an actual gap in knowledge, whereas in others, it is motivated by a commercial need. When designing an e-Learning course, it’s essential to get input from all relevant parties. Therefore, doing a thorough training needs analysis is a must.
Whatever the origins or circumstances, the process must begin with defining specific learning objectives. There may be more than one learning objective, and each has to be specified, recorded, and approved by the appropriate parties.
Branding issues, especially in business contexts, must be detected and emphasized early on. Even if maintaining a specific image for the company or brand isn’t a stated goal, it will nevertheless likely shape the e-Learning platform’s architecture and the purposes of the subsequent instructional design phase.
Set Up the learning objectives
When learning objectives have been determined, the primary and supporting learning instructions may be defined and recorded.
In most cases, the most important takeaway from a lesson will be stated or described in a few words. It will be the backbone of a course portion, if not the entire course itself.
Differentiating between the main topic and the educational goal is essential. The fundamental idea conveyed in this learning tool is how learners attain the learning goal.
To ensure the primary learning message is fully communicated and adopted, it is necessary also to convey and implement “Supporting Messages,” which serve to engage the audience further, clarify the material, and facilitate learning.
In most cases, the structure of a particular slide or piece of material will be determined by an additional message.
Determine available tools and plans of action
Each supplementary message should accompany a set of materials and assignments for the student to complete to ensure full comprehension and subsequent application. Those resources that will help you succeed should be specified.
Some examples of resources that might be used in an e-Learning setting are:
- Relevant Articles
- Videos from Outside Sources
- Video Game Animated Sequences
- Useful, real-world illustrations
- Case Studies
Any supplementary materials that might be helpful in the course of study, whether in a traditional classroom setting or via e-Learning, rely heavily on activities. Learning objectives can only be attained by active participation from students.
When outlining and compiling materials and activities, keeping the educational goal in mind is crucial. When plotting out your program, it’s important to avoid doing things just because you can and instead make sure everything you do moves you closer to your ultimate goal.
Activities for e-Learning design and development
When designing learning materials and exercises, it’s crucial to think about how different kinds of information can affect students’ interest and retention levels. What percentage of information presented in a given learning environment is typically retained or recalled?
Learning by passive means, such as lectures or reading, is related to poorer recall rates than active means, which require the learner’s active participation. As an additional consideration, various learning styles should be taken into account.
Most students choose one of four learning styles or modalities: hearing, seeing, reading/writing, or practical application. Learning results will be enhanced by using various communication strategies, exercises, and resources to accommodate the preferences of the wide range of people who make up a learner audience.
If you want to get the most out of your student’s education, you should take advantage of every chance to get them involved and working together within budget.
Assessment
For a course to be truly student-centred, it has to include assessment features that let students gauge their progress as a consequence of completing it and provide creators insight into where they may make corrections.
It is essential to keep in mind that the effectiveness of a course is determined by the degree to which the educational goal is fulfilled. Key outcomes should be considered in any kind of assessment conducted by the learner or the program provider.
To provide assessments in an exciting and instructive manner, e-Learning offers a wide variety of assessment instruments.
It’s possible to use techniques like as:
- Testing
- Simulations focused on accomplishing specific tasks
- Situation-based testing
- Online teamwork initiatives
- Free-form inquiries
- Web-based questionnaires
- Interview
Storyboarding
Storyboarding is a crucial step of developing an eLearning course. In storyboarding, you get to decide what goes on each individual slide. Storyboarding helps simplify the building process.
Storyboarding allows you to navigate the visualization process more rapidly and make better consistent visual judgments throughout the program. If you create a storyboard before developing the application, you won’t have to pause to consider and determine how each slide must appear.
Storyboarding is an effective method that has two significant advantages:
- Course designers are compelled to imagine and plan out the structure and presentation of the educational content they are creating. It draws attention to areas where activities and resources may be misplaced or presented poorly, and it shows where there may be a need to complement an educational message with extra resources or exercises.
- It allows you to have productive conversations with program stakeholders or customers regarding the course’s structure and content before actually investing time and money into creating a course prototype.
To summarize, creating a storyboard takes some time, but this time is more than made up for throughout the development process.
Content Evaluation and Acceptance
It is critical to have stakeholder’s input, acceptance, and approval of the material at this stage. That is, before the phase of program authorship when changes might be more difficult and costly to implement.
To get stakeholders involved in the review process, questions such as “How well do the layout and content fit your requirements?” might be helpful. Additionally, ask:
- Is the information missing in any glaring ways?
- Where do you think there will be misunderstandings or difficulties?
- What suggestions do you have for enhancing the information that has been prepared?
Investing more time and energy into storyboarding usually results in more efficient and economical drafting and production phase.
Production Process
The information in e-Learning courses may be delivered in various formats, employing various technologies and interface designs.
An elevated e-Learning experience relies heavily on interactivity. Therefore the authoring platform you choose must allow you to easily create interactive educational activities in addition to sound, video, and other rich material.
Producing the script, testing slides, testing sections and the course as a whole are all a part of this process. Because the cost of producing media resources may range widely, the strategy that will be used for the production effort has to consider the cost-benefit in a manner that is congruent with the learning goals and the overall reason for the course.
Implementation and Obtaining Feedback
After the course has been reviewed and given the green light for publication, it has to be rolled out in line with a roll-out strategy that has been discussed and agreed upon with the program owner and other stakeholders.
There are a variety of approaches to publication and distribution that may be employed, and selecting the most suitable one requires taking into account the situation, the learning purpose, and the target audience.
Every successful e-Learning program must have a component that demonstrates a desire to accept and implement feedback to improve the e-Learning course.
It is always a great idea to have a trial group that can evaluate and offer comments that can be integrated into the program before making the course available to a broader audience. This input may be integrated into the course.
The Influence of the Art of Stories on the Process of Education
Since the dawn of time, humans have been telling tales. Stories have been written down or spoken from the cave dwellers’ time up to today’s experienced filmmakers. The manner of expression was different back before, but people’s minds and emotions have always been fascinated by a good story.
Stories have a way of imprinting themselves in our recollections. People are powerfully moved by the underlying nature of feeling that is contained inside stories.
There are three approaches to evoking a reaction from individuals in the field of e-Learning design. These are known as cognitive, emotional, and conative processes, respectively.
The cognitive process involves getting individuals to think, the affective process consists of getting them to feel, and the conative process involves getting them to act.
Developers often fail to acknowledge that everything must, in some way, affect the emotional state of individuals. It’s only when customers or learners connect emotionally to what they are learning that there is a strong possibility that the information will be retained in their long-term memory.
No matter the media form for the project, the art of telling stories is one medium that may be put to practical use to have the desired effect on the learner’s mind.
e-Learning Design Companies in Australia
Companies like Poncho e-Learning are leading e-Learning developers in Australia with expertise in e-Learning via entertainment. They provide customers with entertaining, distinctive, and engaging bespoke e-Learning design and development material production by combining narrative with a variety of multimedia tools.
In addition to providing services for the construction of e-Learning courses, they also offer 2D and 3D animations, videography, and gamification to generate educational opportunities that are both pleasant and easy to recall.
eLearning development companies such as this will assist you in taking your conceptual ideas and transforming them into a highly professional and engaging educational experience for your learners.
