6 things to keep in mind when publishing eLearning content

Our customers often come to us with issues that arise when users engage with their learning content. Maybe a video animation isn’t working as expected or they’re not sure why they can’t see a student’s quiz responses in the LMS report. Whatever the issue, we find that it is usually related to how the content was published and which tool was used to author it.

To help you avoid similar problems in the future, we decided to share some tips about what to keep in mind when you’re publishing your eLearning content. This should be helpful regardless of the authoring tool you’re using.

Publish for SCORM 2004

In order to get the most out of our LMS reporting and tracking capabilities, make sure you select to publish for SCORM 2004, 3rd edition. This option is found in the publish settings of the tool you’re using. There are several differences between SCORM 2004 and SCORM 1.2. The most important one is that SCORM 2004 allows you to track and report on student status and quiz data more efficiently.

Opt for HTML5-based Content

Make sure you’re selecting an HTML5 output option when you publish. All major browsers have completely phased out the Flash Player plugin by default and are instead opting for mobile-friendly HTML5. In fact, Adobe plans to stop distributing Flash Player by 2020. Using primarily flash-based content will risk your learners having to download additional plugins and make it a less pleasurable learning experience. Switching from Flash to HTML5 will allow your users to access their online learning from any mobile device.

Pay Close Attention to Data Reporting and Tracking

Always aim to identify the reporting and tracking options available for you in the tool and how they will translate into the LMS.

Reporting: Let’s say you want to track the learner’s quiz result. You would need to include a results slide and make sure that the results are being properly submitted to the LMS. Think about how you want the learner’s status to be reported. Do you want them to see that they’ve passed the course or simply completed it? Keep in mind that SCORM 2004 submits two statuses: success and completion.

Tracking: If you want to allow learners to exit your course and resume where they left off, make sure that’s also indicated within the settings. Always refer to your authoring tool guide to make sure you are publishing properly.

Regularly Check Version Updates

Keep the version of the tool you’re using to publish your content up to date. Version updates usually have bug fixes that will avoid future issues with your content. Check if the authoring tool version is compatible with major browser versions – if not, find out which one it works best with. Regularly check for updates to your authoring tool software and check the system requirements (usually found on the tool’s website). Add information about system requirements to the course description in the LMS to let students know about it prior to launching the content.

Be Mindful of Browsers

Identify the types of browsers your learners are using (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari, etc…) Is there a specific browser you’ve noticed causing issues more frequently? Is the flash player enabled for flash-based courses? Perhaps the browser needs an update or the published content is simply not compatible with this browser. Again, checking system requirements for your authoring tool is helpful. You can find out the browsers your learners use by running a Login History report in the LMS.

Test Your Content

Test your content again and again until it behaves how it should behave. We make this task easy for you by giving you access to our demo site. This site is great for testing your content before it is made available to your learners on your live site. Load and launch your content there first to make sure it works as intended.

When testing your content, ask the following questions:

• Is the content behaving as it should be? (e.g. animations, interactions etc.)
• Is the audio playing? Is it clear enough?
• Is the video playing seamlessly?
• Are the buttons and triggers working as expected? (e.g. next, submit, exit)
• Is the status being properly reported? i.e. is it displaying “completed” or “passed/failed” when it needs to?
• If applicable, is interaction data being saved? To verify that, run an interaction data report in the LMS.
• Are there any errors when launching, exiting, or navigating the content?

If you’re in the process of publishing or updating your eLearning, make sure you get in touch with us for more eLearning tips and best practices.