5 Questions to Ask Before Converting Classroom Content to E-Learning

It might seem that converting classroom training to e-learning is quite an easy task. It is often assumed that as most of the subject matter already exists, you only have to put it in an authoring tool, publish it to a compatible format and upload it online. However, it’s not that easy. Converting classroom content to the online format involves various considerations such as format of the course, technology support, and a resource person. Failure in meeting the desired outcome results not just loss of time and money, but also ineffective training. So, before starting on with the conversion process, there are a few questions to be answered.

1. What is the most suitable format for the e-learning program?

Agreed! The term e-learning refers to the use of technology to facilitate learning. But, not all content can be delivered online. Some content must be delivered in the classroom. For example, a chemical experiment can be better explained in a classroom. So, you need to choose a format that can be blended with different training methods. Also, for the online methods, it is necessary to ensure that the courses to be delivered are compatible with desktops and mobile devices.

2. How much to convert?

It is to be decided at the beginning of conversion whether all the content or just part of the content are to be converted to e-learning. While converting PowerPoint presentations, you might have only a few bullet points. So, you must rethink of adding content to it for easy understanding. On the other hand, converting manuals involves a lot of contents. In this situation, weeding out unwanted text and updating the content is essential.

3. Will it be developed in-house or outsourced?

Developing e-learning content is not an easy task. It involves considerations a lot of aspects such as advanced technology, adult learning and instructional design principles. You must decide if you are going to hire a learning and development team or outsource the project to an experienced corporate e-learning development company.

4. How will you assess if the learning is transferred?

Learning and understanding the content go together. It is easy for an instructor to identify if the learners have understood the training material provided, but with self-paced it’s not so easy. To improve learning transfer, the learning format and assessment methods are to be changed accordingly. Also, the assessment process is to be decided – is it through pre and post online assessments, interactive scenarios, or by practicing the knowledge in a virtual environment.

5. Do you have the technology to support e-learning?

E-learning is not just delivering training material on a computer. You should also track the training progress and evaluate both the learners and the training program. A Learning Management System (LMS) can serve this purpose.

To know more about converting classroom content to e-learning, download our free kit – How to Effectively Convert Instructor-Led Training Materials into E-learning?

Answering these questions beforehand will help you avoid failure of the online training initiatives, thereby, saving costs. It will also demonstrate e-learning readiness in your organization.