With the impressive array of content available from online sources and beyond, it’s no longer necessary to create everything from scratch. It’s also not feasible to do everything yourself when technology and everything else moves so quickly. Content curation allows Instructional Designers to use existing material while putting their spin on it to give learners added value.

Don't begin an eLearning course without a clear path in mind; like any other effort, planning is key. For that purpose, a storyboard can come in very handy. What's a storyboard? The term "storyboard" comes from movie production, where creators sketch out a film in a series of still images. An eLearning storyboard is the blueprint of the course, like a lesson plan - except a storyboard doesn't describe just general content, but everything else as well, from graphics to video. Why do I need one? Storyboards provide many benefits, of which these are just a few: Sequence instruction and show how different elements relate and fit together; Generate a clear plan for project management; Make sure you, clients, and team members are all on the same page; Document changes and previous ideas.

When it comes to corporate training, one of the biggest mistakes that companies often make is that they start putting together training plans based on perceived training needs. The result: Training programs are not based on a proper needs assessment, and therefore these are highly ineffective. In this article, we’ll take a look at the importance of evaluating corporate training needs; and then we’ll offer some best practices on how to conduct such an assessment.

Learning leaders, you have lessons to learn from the marketing pros. More specifically, you need to learn a tip or two on “branding.” If you thought branding is something that only FMCG manufacturers, car dealers, and luxury watch sellers need to practice, think again. With a pressing need to keep employees on top of industry knowledge and skills, you MUST ensure that your eLearning courses do not get lost in the crowd. You MUST make your courses visible. Else, your efforts go to waste. Or worse, your learners waste energy hunting around for content or learn inadequately.

A lot of eLearning professionals, especially those who have just started with their practice, often ask about the need for theory. Why bother with an instructional design theory at all? Isn't practice enough?

When was the last time you used a mobile device? Chances are you’ve looked at your smartphone or tablet within the last hour. In fact, you might even be reading this blog from your smartphone. How we access information has changed dramatically over the last few years. For learning and development to stay relevant, training professionals need to adopt a mobile mindset. However, this isn’t just a new technology “fix.” It’s an entire change of attitude about how content is designed and delivered. Mobile devices, used properly, can improve training throughout your organization. This new attitude will take some planning, preparation, and persuasion to design training that maximizes the user experience.

How often have you groaned at the thought of attending yet another training session that you didn’t need? How often have you wondered “Why am I here” while going through an eLearning course and struggling not to doze off? So if you are wondering whether they appreciate the training you make them go through, then make sure that you deliver it when your employees need it. Here are the most common situations when you need to invest in training to make it worth the investment:

All over the world, eLearning professionals are tossing and turning in their beds. They’re waking up in cold sweats, muttering things about ‘compatibility’ and ‘M-Learning’. The constant winds of change are taking their toll on our psyches. We couldn’t let you suffer in silence any longer. So we set out to do some research and find out what’s playing on your minds. We all know that training has shifted, shifted, and shifted again. It’s changing at such a pace that we can’t even keep up. As soon as we think we’ve nailed a way to engage employees, improve performance, and retain good talent, a new method, new technology, a new study, or a new concern pops up. We decided that to tackle these problems effectively; we have to prioritize. That’s why we took a survey asking hundreds of eLearning professionals at the front lines of the industry what challenges they’re preoccupied with, and what’s keeping them from getting their head down at night. Here’s what we found: