Rapid E-Learning Development The What, The Why, and its Benefits!

To create eLearning designs, the instructional designers used to design them from scratch but with the latest developments, using templates, they can build rapidly and effectively. Rapid development is necessary when the learning and development charges require thorough analysis while there is also a constant need to make the best choices to meet the dynamic learning needs faster.

What is Rapid eLearning Development?

Rapid eLearning Development is an online learning development methodology which is one of the truly beneficial ways to save time and reduce costs on training people successfully. It also helps lower the web-based course development charges. Rapid eLearning Development is suitable for many companies that train their employees. However, it is not useful in designing complex training materials that may need highly interactive elements. Rapid eLearning Development is suitable for compliance and sales businesses.

Rapid eLearning courses can be developed within two or three weeks and require a Subject Matter Expert (SME) to start sourcing the content to be designed. There are several rapid authoring tools that help organize the content on design software. Some of the prominent ones are Articulate Storyline, Adobe Captivate, Articulate Studio’13, Lectora, Mohive, and Adapt, etc. These tools do not require technical expertise for developing the content or course. Using the “Easy Publish” option, the desired standards can be created like SCORM 1.2, SCORM 2004 or standalone. Most courses can be created using standard templates from authoring libraries which may need basic interaction and assessments.

Why use Rapid eLearning Development?

The five most crucial steps involved in developing high-quality online courses rapidly are:

1. Set goals which are clear and realistic
2. Make sure that the learning content is ready
3. Choose the right rapid authoring tool
4. Utilize the full potential of the templates
5. Employ Agile process for developing eLearning courses

In the past, the average time required to design an hour of training required about 70 hours but with the latest advancement, this time has gone down by 40%. It is highly essential that the developers should be able to save time on developing simpler courses.

In traditional eLearning projects, the SMEs share their raw content with the designing team which develops storyboards, which pass to the visual and graphic designers and programmers who usually do not have the knowledge or experience of the subject. Rapid eLearning development increases the engagement from Subject Matter Experts in a continuous manner, ensuring a process of working closely with the Instructional Designers resulting in inaccurate content delivery.

Rapid eLearning development can be used in scenarios where the content changes quickly, or when it has short life such as the policy updates, or when the content needs to be designed for immediate or urgent use such as new hire training. The scenarios where rapid development fits perfectly are:

• Projects where SME-based content is crucial
• Projects that have a closer deadline and need to go live quickly
• Projects with tight budgets

However, rapid development may not always be the best option. Complex topics that need to be taught in detail require more time and involvement from the SMEs, meaning the team needs to spend more time designing the final course using more engaging methods, ensuring full participation.

A fully coordinated development is essential between the SMEs and the designers to make sure the training is created and delivered without losing engagement from either party involved in the process from the beginning to the end of the training development.

Benefits of Rapid eLearning Development

The primary benefit of rapid eLearning development is faster turn-around time. It can be handled by SMEs, reducing the need for other resources like Instructional Designers, Graphic Designers or Visual Designers, etc.

The main benefits of rapid eLearning development can be summarized as:

• Reduced development costs
• Faster turn-around time
• Creating on-the-spot training
• Companies can derive the best inputs from the SMEs to their full potential
• Better management of updates and developments to the courses

Best practices to Increase the Success of Rapid eLearning Development Courses

To create, develop and deliver and content on a regular basis without failing to meet the needs of the learners as well as ensuring the delivery of the exact content requires thorough practice and experience. To make sure of this, the following best practices can be helpful:

Keep in mind the deadlines: Identify the time-frame between the arrival of raw content to the content going life. Evaluate the suitability of the project and content to the rapid eLearning development.

Choose the right tools: SMEs need to be familiar with the tools being used. Lack of knowledge of the tool may be risky and impacts the go-live date.

Finalize raw content before beginning the design: For rapid eLearning to really be rapid, ensure that the raw material is full and final without needing further changes. Once developed, the content should not have to be revised again, saving a lot of time in return.

Choose correct templates: Learners need to spend time exploring through screens. Thus, the need for a suitable template never ends. Always choose the right template which provides the desired visual impact.

Introduce the right and relevant interactions: Scenarios and pauses at the right places throughout the courses can help understand the real-world dynamics.

Keep assessments simple yet effective: With adequate and effective assessments at the end of the course and knowledge checks in between the course work great.