What does eLearning mean in your organization? I’ve learned that whenever we’re talking about online learning assets, it’s better not to assume! Is it a standalone "module" that looks like a self-directed PowerPoint deck? Or is it any combination of interactive files, media and learning activities— basically any learning that isn't delivered in person in a classroom?

With any gig I take on, I always check with my client to clarify what we both mean by eLearning. It's surprising sometimes to see how close or far our definitions can be! Having worked with a variety of customer and employee-facing online learning materials, my own definition of eLearning has broadened over the last few years. I’ve embraced a more inclusive understanding of eLearning than its traditional definition, in line with many of the organizations I serve. 

Don’t forget about the course authoring tools in your LMS
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How eLearning is built (or authored, to use industry jargon) has a wider array of options now too. Formerly, eLearning mostly referred to custom developed content using a third-party authoring tool like Articulate Storyline or Adobe Captivate. Period. And that’s still completely acceptable and highly impactful. But many organizations forget that they can author courses directly in their LMS (arguably a better strategy than third-party applications, depending on your LMS, of course!) If you haven’t explored using your LMS itself to develop an eLearning course, this might be the time. 

What are some effective course objects (or rich media assets) used in eLearning? 

Depending on what your organization needs and how it makes sense to deliver them, any combination of these learning assets or course objects could form an engaging eLearning experience:

• Discussion forums
• Live or recorded webinars
• Assignments (downloaded/uploaded)
• Proof of training or certification
• SCORM file (a Sharable Content Object Reference Model usually becomes the course itself, but could also be one of many types of media that makes up a course)
• Graded or non-graded assessments: Exam/quiz/survey
• Videos, interactive videos, 360 videos
• PDFs or other types of static file downloads
• Text with hyperlinks to internal/external pages, wikis, collaboration channels, etc.

​There is a valuable movement happening in the eLearning industry right now; we’re finally shifting away from thinking of learning as a course and more as an experience. Learning doesn’t begin and end within the confines of an eLearning course—it happens on the job, during a commute, in discussion on social media, and a million other digital ways. Thinking of eLearning in the broader context of the experience will help you build more impactful online learning too.

​Planning to develop an eLearning course? Then you’ll want to know how much time it will take. The answer: It depends. eLearning courses range in duration (how long it takes a typical learner to complete) as well as development hours. 

Do you know how much time and effort your organization spends on a typical, 30-minute eLearning course build? Depending on the level of interactivity and custom engagement, your project infrastructure and more, developing a new course can take anywhere (truthfully), from 20 to 200 hours.

This is why I recommend starting with a small scoping project to test if your budget, project plan, or contractor-client relationship are aligned. 

The term custom course development is widely used, but what does custom actually mean? Essentially, custom eLearning or instructor-led materials can mean anything that has had instructional design applied to create a unique course object. Instead of acquiring an out-of-the-box training product from a third party, you create your own (or outsource this to an eLearning consultant like me). 

Here are a few examples of custom strategies I’ve helped clients work through:

• Cost-benefit analysis of developing our own fleet vehicle training versus buying defensive driver eLearning and coaching from another provider. (They chose the latter, which turned out to be more efficient use of internal resources.)
• Whether to use a provincial government developed Data and Privacy compliance module, or develop their own. (They decided to develop their own, for greater impact, and outsourced this to me, their trusted eLearning contractor.)

​Extras – Not included unless identified within scope requirements

• Development of content or materials in languages other than English
• Audio (especially professional voice work or including multiple actors)
• Additional edits that diverge from previously approved deliverables
• Custom photography, illustration, graphic design, animation, video production or redesign of any of your existing media assets (for some projects, depending on the scope)
• Custom development in Storyline
• Special design considerations for web accessibility (e.g., WCAG 2.0)
• Multiple versions of the course for different audiences (e.g., repurposing client-facing content for employees)
• Creating content specifically on/for tablets or mobile
• Uploading the course into your LMS, hosting the course, any admin around the course

​I love designing custom course content for my clients; it’s one of the many stimulating challenges of my work that help me continually evolve as a professional. It’s the perfect opportunity to try innovative instructional design techniques, incorporate findings from new studies on how adults learn, and clients and learners get a course that meets their needs. 

Do you have a custom course project in mind?