Improvement is an ongoing process. There is always a new writing style to adapt to, the latest technology to tap into, the newest authoring software to learn, and a different way of strategizing to master. This month, we will help you advance on this learning journey with our top eLearning tips.

Most of us agree that video is a wonderful tool for aiding the learning process. Right? It's fun, visual, and appeals to more learning styles than a 'rote-learning-read-this-100-times' approach. It can be used to include more sensorial and realistic experiences into your courses - from selfie videos, expert tips, testimonials, examples and non-example demos. So video is useful, widespread, and fun - no downside, right? Not quite. Video comes at a cost, and not a metaphorical one. Staying in budget is a big concern for most eLearning professionals, and video is renowned for eating up that budget quicker than you can say “it's not that expensive!”. A viable alternative is to produce your own video, cut costs, and personalize your eLearning program. But, before you put on your director’s cap and grab your iPhone, there are a few things you need to know first. So grab your notepads and buckle your seatbelts, let's get going. The Small Print: While DIY video is an option, it has to be taken seriously to have the desired effect. This means that if you shoot an eLearning video on your 2008 camera phone, you may have some very awkward meetings with your boss in the immediate future. Video has to be allocated the resources, manpower, thought, and rigor that it deserves. So while doing it yourself can cut costs drastically, make sure you know what you're getting into. So, without further ado, here are the five main steps you should follow for producing your own video for your eLearning courses:

Most new instructional designers tend to jump directly into the “development” process. It’s a universal eagerness because as we all can imagine the fun is in the building. However, much like architecture, the blueprints are vital to making it all come together. Can you imagine an architect designing a building without planning it on paper first? It sounds like someone is going to lose their client! The organizational structure for any eLearning project is key to its success. Despite your knowledge of any subject, instructional design requires a bit more. Instructional designers need to consider time constraints, data, knowledge gaps, and most importantly, THE AUDIENCE! The best way to deliver information to the learners is something that doesn’t come naturally to us; it's an exercise that needs to be thought through and planned. Below is a list of steps that can help you achieve a solid foundation for your course. Skipping any of these five steps would be a disservice to your students as they ensure quality. Read on for more on how to draw out the blueprint for your eLearning masterpiece.

How do you read an article in the newspaper? You start with the headline that screamed at you from the newsstand. Then you read the sub-headline, which is printed in smaller font size. Next, you proceed to read the body copy. Why do you read in this order? You read the headline first because its large, bold font grabs your eyeballs as soon as you glance at the newspaper. Next, the sub-headline catches your attention. You are compelled to read in this order because of the way the text is presented. This is visual hierarchy, where information is ordered based on its importance and visually presented using contrasting forms to influence the viewing order.

It’s every instructional designer’s dream to design an eLearning course that will keep learner’s coming back for more. Furthermore, it’s your dream to have this course be instrumental in your team’s growth and development. Achieving these results requires insightful strategies that merge content and design to entice the learner. It is also done by addressing their concerns and providing them with the information they need in ways they understand. Review some of the triggers and strategies that will get your learners coming back for more much like gamers do. Read on about how to begin to incorporate them into your course lessons immediately!

Although instructor-led or classroom training remains as one of the most common ways to train employees, the opportunity to implement eLearning to is a more cost-effective and convenient option. However, don’t fall into the trap of thinking, “I already have a successful classroom training program. I just need to transfer this online, and I’m all set.” Successfully moving existing training content online requires some prep work. If you just start the transformation process by doing a one-for-one conversion (i.e. taking each slide or presentation deck and making an exact digital representation of it); chances are that you’ll end up with an eBook without delivering an enhanced learning experience to your learners. So, if you're new to creating eLearning courses, you will find this post useful in answering common questions and providing you with a guide of things to consider during the process of converting existing content, which goes far beyond merely transferring content to an online format.

It can be overwhelming to sit down and create an eLearning course. We know it’s tempting to jump straight to developing your eLearning course. But, hold back the authoring tool for now! There are tried and true steps to take before firing up that authoring tool. How will you make your course interesting, relevant, and useful to your audience? How will you engage them and grab their attention? Spending time planning is key.

These days your employees are bombarded with all sorts of information: Whatsapp messages, social media notifications, email, phone calls, etc. While the average attention spans of adults range from 10 to 20 minutes, the expectations of the quality learning experiences are higher than ever. The only way to stand out in this flood of information is to make your courses STELLAR, aka: USEFUL, VALUABLE, MEMORABLE and ENGAGING. As you design your courses always keep your learners in mind and what is honestly relevant to them and what will keep them focused. You can start by asking yourself what you would need to get the most from the course. Design to satisfy this objective and you are well on your way to effective courses.