5 Amazing Ideas to Make Your Custom eLearning Solutions Stick

Learning, according to any pedagogue, can be very effective when it is customized to the learner’s needs. If the learner is a factory worker or a corporate employee, then the factory or the office becomes his learning workspace. A bit of structure and purpose can be woven into this informal learning pattern through formal learning initiatives. Ideally, such learning programs should be integrated into his daily work hours and should match the organization’s work processes. Custom eLearning solutions are a good fit for this requirement.

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Table of Contents:

• Why Custom eLearning Should be a Preferred Choice for Corporate Training?
• What are the Key Aspects for Successful Custom eLearning Course Development?
• How to Make Your Custom eLearning Solutions Stick?

Why Custom eLearning Should be a Preferred Choice for Corporate Training?

Custom eLearning provides an alternative to cumbersome and expensive classroom training programs. With the help of custom eLearning solutions, knowledge transfer is expected to take place in a cost-effective manner with manageable durations of training. It is to be a learning resource that learners can access anytime and anywhere through the Internet. However, if you are not careful, eLearning could lead you to make costly mistakes. Many of the eLearning solutions failed to perform due to mistakes by developers, who do not foolproof themselves against bottlenecks or problems.

So, how do you make sure you do not make typical mistakes in eLearning implementation and ensure that your custom eLearning solutions stick? Read the blog for quick ideas.

What are the Key Aspects for Successful Custom eLearning Course Development?

Even before venturing into eLearning, you need to be clear about three aspects. Let’s look at what they are. For the success of the venture, an eLearning solutions provider should be able to understand the:

1. Business goals

You need to provide a good overview of your business, its goals, and the learning outcomes from the eLearning program to your solutions provider.

2. Learning needs and outcomes

To understand a learner’s needs, a needs analysis must first be done. This will give an understanding of the learner’s profile, domain, special needs, and career goals of the individual, as laid down by corporate guidelines.

3. Availability of Infrastructure

You also need to provide details of the infrastructure in place – where the courses will be hosted, how users are expected to access the courses, bandwidth availability, and provisions for user support.

Here’s an infographic that walks you through the essentials for effective custom eLearning.

How to Make Your Custom eLearning Solutions Stick?

Following are some guidelines that every eLearning developer should follow for the successful implementation of eLearning programs.

1. Create a watertight eLearning solution

You need to have a clear framework regarding the eLearning program – What is the program going to achieve? Who are the beneficiaries of the program? How will the program change their performance? The benefits to the individual and the organization as a result of the program. By creating a well-designed, watertight custom eLearning solution, you ensure that all participants can upgrade their knowledge and skills at their convenience. They have control over investing time for learning, whenever they need it and in the format that suits their needs and learning styles.

2. Choose eLearning vendors who understand your needs and offer customized solutions

You should choose eLearning vendorswho recognize your needs and problems and offer custom-designed solutions. Chosen vendors should have adequate experience, expertise, and a good track record in instructional design, content, and technology. They should demonstrate knowledge and experience in using the relevant rapid eLearning authoring tools that you wish to use for your courses.

Watch this video for insights on how to choose the right eLearning vendor.

3. Ensure eLearning vendors are responsive and receptive to your needs

eLearning outsourcing vendors should be able to deliver instructional modules and be capable of providing support services from concept to commissioning. Assess their project management capabilities, their processes, and quality mechanisms in place to ensure that you get a product that meets your stringent standards. Evaluate the team that is likely to work on your project and ensure that there is a single point of contact from the vendors’ side, who will address all your concerns and keep you updated on the progress of the project.

4. Choose the right authoring tools for eLearning

The choice of the rapid eLearning authoring tool depends on your requirements and the interactivities that you wish to have in your course. Built-in interactivity, whether explicit or implicit enables learners to engage with the material rather than merely listen or view it. By choosing the right rapid eLearning authoring tool, you can cater to users with varying learning preferences. Only then does the learning experience become total and complete. Check out this presentation that provides details about popular authoring tools and gives tips on choosing the right authoring tool for your eLearning program.

5. Market your initiative internally so that your users understand its value

No eLearning initiative will be a success if you do not devote adequate time and resources to educate your target users about it. They need to know why they should take time off to take a course. They need to be explained how this investment will help them further their career goals or aid in their performance improvement. Merely uploading courses onto a portal and sending an isolated email will not solicit participants. There needs to be a proactive promotional program to popularize eLearning initiatives in the organization, as per the delivery timelines.

It's a Wrap!

Custom eLearning is a one-stop solution for employee training in today’s dynamic L&D landscape. The approach can help you craft personalized learning journeys for learners and facilitate meaningful learning. The ideas discussed in this blog are truly effective in designing custom eLearning solutions that align with your business and learner needs.

Need assistance with crafting custom eLearning solutions to cater to your organization’s unique learning needs? Contact us!

Editor's note: This post was originally published on March 30, 2018 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.