You are good at what you do. When it comes to instructor-led training (ILT), you excel in front of the classroom. You make sure learner objectives, course materials and assessment items are in alignment and tailored for your audiences. Your delivery skills are top-notch, and participants are engaged throughout the class. At the end of training feedback from level one class evaluations consistently show that you hit your mark, and level three evaluations indicate that a high percentage of learners are applying the skills and knowledge they learned in the classroom on the job. Your last course was no exception. “Great job!” your boss tells you. “Management is so happy with the results they want weekly classes so the entire company can get trained too.”
“I nailed it.” you think as you leave your boss’s office and strut down the hallway. And then it hits you, “Weekly convenings? There aren’t enough hours in the day to facilitate training and perform my regular duties too. On top of that, employees work in staggered shifts in three separate locations.” Then inspiration hits, “Wait, what if I convert the course to eLearning? People can still get the training they need and I won’t wear myself out in the process.” The more you think about the idea the more sense it makes. Employees can schedule time to take the course so it will have minimal impact on their work schedules and you won’t have to travel to three locations at all hours of the day and deliver training in a sleep deprived stupor.
After getting the green light from your boss you sit down to plan an online training strategy. But where do you start? You know you need to create a course that contains everything the ILT course has: established objectives, meaningful content, valid assessment items and the ability for learners to provide course feedback. You also know that you need to create something that will allow the learning management system (LMS) to keep track of your learners’ achievements.
Being practical as well as smart, you do a little research and put together an action item list:
- Rewrite ILT content so it will work as an eLearning course
- Create a design document and storyboards
- Purchase software development programs and production equipment
- Learn how to use the development software and equipment
- Hire actors and/or voice talent
- Create all the graphics, photos, produce and edit video and audio
- Assemble the course materials
- Prepare course for the LMS
- Pilot the course and make adjustments based on user feedback
- Gather course evaluations and make adjustments as needed
Yikes. That is a lot of items to check off and not a lot of time to do it. Since management wants the course delivered ASAP, you also need a short development cycle and not spend too much money in the process. It’s time to face facts, you need some help.
What a coincidence! I love helping clients solve instructional problems by designing training strategies that promote meaningful outcomes while meeting the needs of learners and stakeholders. I can work with you or your SMEs to ensure that training materials are properly disseminated and help guide you through the development process.
Whether you need a single eLearning module or an entire course I can help. My desire is to help you create an effective learning solution that has a positive impact on student learning and contributes to the overall success of your company. If you need help, I’m just a click away. Thanks! – Patrick Murphy