This article is for…
2020 has brought many challenges to organisations around the world. None more so than the training and development industry which has for decades relied on face to face facilitation as its bread and butter. Both in-house employees within an L&D department or the thousands of freelance trainers running their own businesses have been forced to adapt services into a virtual online solution.
In many ways we are lucky that we live in an age where the technology exists for this to happen. Microsoft Teams, Zoom and Skype are just few of the platforms that make virtual live training possible, and even engaging. Of course, virtual training is not new, in fact we have been doing it in some capacity for years. What is new is the brutality of the transition from the 20% online delivery wrapped within a blended solution to what is, in many cases, now a 100% online offering. Here we will explore the other element of virtual training, e-Learning.
This article is not just aimed at trainers and facilitators but also at business owners, directors, and managers from any industry, especially those that operate within organisations without dedicated learning and development roles. It has never been so easy to create, roll-out and track meaningful online learning to our employee base or clientele. I am going to show you how, or at least point you in the right direction to get you started.
So how easy is it?
Its easy. The hard part is understanding what needs to be communicated, but of course you have that content covered. The rest of it really is a breeze. Ok, Ok, Ok, I can already hear instructional designers and e-Learning professionals around the world telling me ‘quality is important’, and yes quality is important, but it is not everything. If you have the budget to use these professionals then I highly recommend you do, they are worth it. But if your looking for a solution where you can just do this…
… then keep reading.
What do I need?
You will need a bit of time and effort, an authoring tool, and an online platform.
Time and Effort
Firstly, there is no getting away from the fact that you will need to spend some time outlining what you want to have in your course. It could be a simple process, an IT system, a time management course, or an HR policy document. In an ideal world you will map this all out first before jumping onto an electronic authoring tool. Some call this process ‘storyboarding’. You can of course just jump straight onto the authoring tool and make it up as you go along, it’s a great way learn at first.
Authoring Tool
An authoring tool is what you use to create your course electronically. It's kind of like PowerPoint but better. There are many tools on the market, some are easier to use than others so your options will be determined by your commitment to upskilling yourself. If you are just looking for a ‘what you see is what you get’ solution with minimal learning required, the good new is, you can get it. Some learning managements systems (LMS) have built-in authoring tools which can look attractive but buyer aware, in many cases these systems will tie you in, making it difficult to switch systems at a later date. I personally like the idea of buying a stand-alone authoring tool. Most of these tools offer a free trial so why not have a go.
My personal preference is edital.co.uk which can be purchased for only £20.00 a month and Rise which is part of the Articulate software offering and can be purchased for around £750.00 a year (not to be confused with rise.com from the same company but this one will tie you into their LMS). I subscribe to both of these products. These tools are easier to learn than most Microsoft products. The articulate software is great if your looking for a full solution and you are willing to invest in some quality upskilling as they give you a number of programmes for the £750.00, including Storyline where you can create some comprehensive e-learning courses. If you do not want to spend the time (or the money), then check out Edital, I like it so much I buy every subscriber to my LMS a complimentary subscription.
Learning Management System (LMS)
A learning management system is required to run and manage your e-learning course. Think of your course as a record, while the LMS is the record player... If you dont know what a record player is, time to look it up! There are hundreds of LMS on the market in 2020. I have spent over two years building my LMS ‘cortexlearn.com’ and the marketplace has changed a lot during this period. The market has become flooded with new products, so decision making can be timely and confusing. It's hard to trust ‘Top 20’ lists from my experience as the websites that create these lists have ways of getting money out of providers to ensure they get a spot.
That is the bad news, but it's also good news as the competition has driven down prices and made the market a lot more competitive. If you look, you will find an LMS that provides you with the solution you need at the price that is right for you or your organisation. As this article is aimed at people and businesses with minimal or no experience using authoring tools or learning management systems let me tell you what you’re probably looking for in an LMS…
Bang, bang, bang! That is usually it. Of course, there are 1001 other features you can get with an LMS but I am picking this is primarily what you’re looking for. A lot of the portals provide their pricing details on their website, we provide an instant quote on ours based on the users you require. We use different models depending on your business type, for example, if you’re a trainer looking to sell your courses our pricing starts at £1.00 per course launch and reduces from there. For organisations looking for a solution for their employees this table will give you an idea (this pricing includes the Edital’s authoring tool.)
|
Employee Numbers |
Pay Annually |
Pay Monthly |
|
25 |
£805.00 |
£80.50 |
|
50 |
£980.00 |
£98.00 |
|
100 |
£1330.00 |
£133.00 |
|
250 |
£1930.00 |
£193.00 |
|
500 |
£2930.00 |
£293.00 |
|
1000 |
£3930.00 |
£393.00 |
|
5000 |
£9930.00 |
£993.00 |
Please note that I am using my own LMS pricing structure. I am happy to promote my LMS of course however the truth is there are many good solutions on the market and my main message is that you can create online learning at an affordable price with minimal experience or skill.
Final Word
Do not be put off by your lack of knowledge or experience creating e-learning or using an LMS. I have many clients that found themselves in this same position but within a very short period of time had created a great platform offering their employees or clients a polished, professional and affordable online solution.
Over to you …
About the Author
Paul Rhodes has over 25 years’ experience working within L&D, training companies like Microsoft, Shell, and the UK Civil Service. As well as dabbling in e-Learning creation Paul has designed and developed (with help) a learning management system (cortexlearn.com) with a range of clients from a small business with 70 employees to a nationwide course provider with over 10,000 students.
If you have any questions please do get in touch.
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