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Are you struggling to find the time and resources to develop online training programs and digital assets for your organization? In today's fast-paced business environment, time is of the essence, and traditional e-learning development may not be feasible. That's where rapid elearning solutions come in.
Rapid elearning solutions are a quick and cost-effective solution for organizations looking to develop e-learning content without compromising on quality. It uses authoring tools requiring minimal programming skills to create interactive and engaging e-learning courses.
Whether you need to convert instructor-led training to online training, translate existing e-learning content, or convert legacy courses to modern formats, rapid e-learning can help you achieve your goals in a timely and cost-effective manner.
In this blog post, we'll provide you with everything you need to know about rapid e-learning design and development. We'll cover everything from the basics of rapid e-learning to best practices and strategies for success. So, if you're interested in learning how to accelerate your e-learning content development, read on!
What is the need for rapid elearning solutions?
The need for rapid e-learning arises from the fast-paced and dynamic nature of the modern business environment. Rapid elearning solutions allow organizations to quickly respond to changing business needs, train employees on new skills, and improve overall organizational performance. Moreover, it offers cost-effective solutions to organizations that need to provide training to a large number of employees in a short period.
What is Rapid elearning and what is it not?
| What is Rapid eLearning? | What is NOT Rapid eLearning |
Definition | Rapid development of e-learning content using authoring tools that require minimal programming skills. | Lengthy development process using complex programming languages and software. |
Speed | Quick development timeframes, usually weeks or days depending on the complexity of the content. | Development timeframes may take months or even years. |
Flexibility | Highly flexible and adaptable, allowing for updates and modifications as needed. | Fixed approach to design and development. |
Cost | Cost-effective, requiring fewer resources and lower budgets compared to traditional e-learning. | Costly, requiring significant resources, including subject matter experts, instructional designers, developers, and software licenses. |
Expertise | Does not require extensive programming or development skills, making it accessible to a wider range of individuals. | Requires significant programming or development skills, which may limit who can develop e-learning content. |
Scope of topics | Best suited for narrow, focused topics, such as software simulations, product demos, and process tutorials. | Best suited for complex, multi-layered topics, such as compliance, leadership, or technical training. |
Quality | Quality and instructional design are given sufficient attention. | Rapid eLearning does NOT compromise on quality or instructional design. |
Creativity | Creativity is encouraged and incorporated into the design process. | Rapid eLearning does NOT mean throwing creativity out of the window. |
Project Management | Efficient project management is still critical to ensure successful development and deployment. | Rapid eLearning does NOT do away with efficient project management. |
When can rapid elearning solutions be used?
Rapid e-learning can be used in a variety of workplace situations:
Overall, rapid e-learning is a flexible and versatile tool that can be used in a variety of workplace situations. By leveraging rapid e-learning, organizations can quickly and efficiently provide training to their employees, keeping them up-to-date with the latest skills and knowledge needed to perform their job duties effectively.
What are the instructional design models used in rapid elearning solutions?
Rapid elearning solutions typically involve a streamlined instructional design approach that focuses on the essentials of effective learning design. This approach is derived from a combination of instructional design models, including SAM (Successive Approximation Model), Agile Instructional Design, Rapid Prototyping, and Action Mapping. These models prioritize iterative development, rapid prototyping, collaboration, flexibility, and aligning content with the learners' needs and performance goals. Together, they provide a comprehensive framework for creating effective e-learning content in a shorter time frame. These models work as follows:
SAM (Successive Approximation Model): Emphasizes iterative development and rapid prototyping, allowing for quick turnaround time and the ability to respond to feedback and make changes as needed.
Agile Instructional Design: Prioritizes collaboration and flexibility in the design and development process, enabling teams to work together to create effective e-learning content in a shorter time frame.
Rapid Prototyping: Involves creating a rough version of the e-learning content quickly, testing it, and then refining it based on feedback.
Action Mapping: Focuses on aligning e-learning content with the performance goals of the learners and ensuring that the content is practical and relevant.
What Authoring Tools can be used to create Rapid elearning solutions?
The development of Rapid elearning solutions is made possible by desktop or web-based authoring tools, which allow e-learning developers to quickly and effectively create engaging and meaningful learning experiences. These authoring tools offer a range of features, from creating interactive modules and multimedia assets to making them mobile-compatible.
Known as the "Swiss army knife" of e-learning development, Articulate 360 offers a range of authoring apps, including:
Storyline 360: helps create high-quality e-learning courses with custom interactivities at unprecedented speed.
Rise 360: a fully responsive web-based authoring tool ideal for text-based courses.
Ideal for creating simulations in e-learning courses, the latest version allows for designing immersive learning experiences using 360-degree images and videos for virtual reality courses.
A web-based authoring tool that offers collaborative features, allowing for creating and reviewing e-learning content anytime, anywhere, making it perfect for text-heavy courses.
How can Rapid elearning solutions engage the brain?
By incorporating elements that engage the brain, such as multimedia, interactivity, and practical applications, rapid e-learning can improve information retention, engagement, and motivation.
Six best practices for Rapid eLearning Content Development.
To create effective rapid e-learning content, consider the following best practices:
Define Clear Learning Objectives: Before developing any e-learning content, it's important to define clear learning objectives. This helps to ensure that the content is focused and relevant and that learners understand what they are expected to learn.
Use Bloom's Taxonomy: Align the learning objectives with Bloom's Taxonomy to ensure that the content covers all cognitive domains, including knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation.
Keep It Simple: Rapid e-learning content should be designed with simplicity in mind. Avoid complex interactions or animations that can add unnecessary development time and may not contribute to the learning objectives. Use simple graphics, animations, and videos to convey information in an engaging way.
Use a Standardized Development Process: To ensure consistency and efficiency in your rapid e-learning development process, use a standardized development process. This can include templates, checklists, and guidelines for development, review, and approval.
Incorporate Interactivity: Incorporate interactive elements in your rapid e-learning content to engage learners and promote retention. This can include quizzes, scenarios, simulations, and games that encourage learners to apply their knowledge.
Test and Iterate: Finally, it's important to test and iterate your rapid e-learning content to ensure its effectiveness. Conduct user testing and gather feedback to identify areas for improvement, and then make the necessary changes to improve the content.
Conclusion
Rapid elearning solutions are a cost-effective and efficient way to create e-learning content that meets the training needs of organizations. By following the best practices outlined above, organizations can create effective and engaging elearning content that delivers results. Rapid elearning solutions are widely available, making it easy for organizations to implement this approach to training and development.
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