Introduction to Building and Delivering eLearning
A lot has happened over the last few weeks. We’ve been working through the process to get eLearning from an idea and proposed solution, to designing the solution.
This week we look at the tools, technologies and platforms that are required to deliver our learning solutions to our learners.
Developing our digital learning experiences encompasses everything from the creation of the content components, like audio, video, images; the development of the eLearning modules using an authoring tool (optional), to the structuring of the course content on our learning delivery platforms.
A quick reminder of the types of roles involved in the development, delivery and technical support of our learning solutions;
Development and technical roles
- Multimedia developer
- Video, photography, audio or animation development. Sometimes the designers or the eLearning or web developers will cover this area, but for bigger projects you might enlist a separate person to develop the multimedia assets. The word ‘assets’ is often thrown around in this context to describe things like video files, photos or audio files that are ready to be put into the resource by the eLearning developer.
- eLearning developer
- Converts the content that the SME, instructional designer and the proofreader have created into web-based or mobile resources. This usually involves the use of what’s called ‘rapid development software’ such as Adobe Captivate or Articulate Storyline, which makes it easy for non-technical people to create interactive online learning resources.
- Web Developer
- A web developer may be required to create custom online experiences that are beyond the scope of a rapid development tool. This would require programming using web languages such as HTML, CSS and Javascript.
- Quality assurance
- Test the course once it’s developed to make sure it works properly.
- LMS manager / Systems admin
- Technical person who helps make sure the course works properly in the learning management system (LMS).
Delivery roles
- Facilitator
- These are teachers or moderators who guide, motivate and coordinate the course delivery and they might do this through regular online tutorials, email, releasing content in the LMS at specific times etc.
- Assessor
- Assessors are often the same person as facilitators and their job is to coordinate, develop and conduct assessments.
- Learner group
- It’s obvious but we should mention the role of the learner here. The learner group should be consulted and considered at all stages of resource development. You should always get feedback from the learner group after they have used the resource but they can also be involved in parts of the resource development process. For example, you might want them to provide content in the form of photos or blogs. Involving the learner as much as possible will make your resource work.