Going from ILT to e-learning modules comes with many questions and challenges. Fortunately, we can help you overcome any hurdles before you start creating amazing digital training content for your learning community!
Why Should I Convert to E-Learning Modules?
One of the greatest reasons to convert ILT/VILT to e-learning modules is that e-learning enables you to better scale your business and maximize opportunities.
Consider all the limitations that you face with in-person learning: finding and paying for a venue, determining how many people you can train in that space, and paying for instructors to travel.
You won’t have to deal with any of these issues when your training is virtual. Moving to e-learning adds a high level of accessibility to your current training.
It can reach a global audience on almost any device, and users can access it at any time. Additionally, learners can better retain information through e-learning.
The initial cost of going from ILT to e-learning modules may dissuade you from converting, but the ROI will be worthwhile. You can create one training and sell it over and over, using an e-commerce provider like Shopify.
Selling online means your training course can be used to pick up new clients that would have otherwise come at a high cost. You have the ability to reach a broad audience using e-commerce sites, and many will help you market and sell your courses.
Online courses are easy to customize for clients of any size, while still being simple for you to administer and manage.
Can I Use My Current Training Content?
While most of your training content can likely be used when going from ILT to e-learning modules, it will need to be redesigned. Most importantly, content needs to be chunked into smaller pieces.
Content chunking is simply breaking down your content into smaller, more manageable pieces. This design will save you time during future updates and help course content be more engaging for your learning audience.
Much of your current content could be easily converted using several authoring tools. For example, Articulate Presenter 360 enables you to turn PowerPoint presentations into engaging mobile or online e-learning, and iSpring Suite, an add-on for PowerPoint, helps you easily convert your materials to e-learning modules.
Do I Need an Instructional Designer?
An instructional designer (ID) is a professional who can ensure that your courses are effective and engaging while meeting all learning objectives and requirements.
These professionals are well-versed in complex subject matter and design theory. IDs are accustomed to collaborating with subject matter experts to create courses that meet your needs and the needs of your learners.
Whether you need an ID depends on a few variables. What is your comfort level with e-learning technology? Can you jump right into using authoring tools, or will you need time to learn how to use them?
More specifically, what is your or your team’s level of experience with instructional design? Perhaps you’re an e-learning beginner, but if there’s anyone on your team with design experience, it could cut down your learning curve for DIY.
It will also be crucial to decide on the project budget. The price difference between DIY and hiring an expert may determine how you move forward.
Lastly, the training course subject matter and the type of content that you want to create are crucial factors in whether you need an ID. More complex subjects or courses that require thoughtful design often need a professional.
What Resources Do I Need for Conversion?
To get started with conversion, you will need to get buy-in from any partners or stakeholders. Then, you can put together a detailed e-learning plan.
A well-planned e-learning strategy will ensure that you can create courses that are effective for learners and clients. Your strategy should also include a detailed budget for your project so you can maximize profits.
Crucially, you need to find the best e-learning tools and assets. The tools that you choose depend on whether you will hire a designer, your budget, your tech level, and your course subject matter.
Ultimately, the best tool is the one that fits your budget and helps you create professional courses. There are many choices, such as Articulate Presenter 360 and iSpring Suite. Other top tools include:
- Adobe Captivate: This tool contains unique features to turn your training content into incredibly polished, professional courses. However, be aware that Captivate is challenging to learn and may take more time to get started.
- Articulate Rise: This cloud-based development tool can easily get you started on your e-learning courses with built-in interactions and branching scenarios.
- Lectora: This easy-to-use course builder has ready-to-go course frameworks and interactive wireframe templates to get your courses up and running quickly.
Going from ILT to e-learning modules doesn’t need to be difficult. Use this post to answer the most common questions regarding training conversion.
Taking your training content to an online model will help your business compete and stay relevant in the digital world.
Here at Firmwater, we don’t just sell an LMS for training providers. We partner with them, giving them the tools and insights that they need to implement the best practices in e-learning course development, business growth, and delivery. When they need help, we don’t let them wade through forums and chatbots.
Ready to use an LMS that’s designed for the way YOU work, with a team dedicated to YOUR needs? Book a no-obligation consultation directly with our team today!