The art and science of design acknowledges the habits and actions of people. Effective images, video and text take into account the reasons people do what they do to ensure the viewer gets the right information and takes and takes away the right message.

You’re neither an instructional designer nor a graphic designer. In fact, you don’t have any formal background in designing educational materials and interfaces. But you are willing to create an eLearning course on your own. Making something useful and effective can be a little bit daunting especially for first-timers. Don’t worry. Here’s an indispensable guide to the basics of creating DIY topnotch courses:

Everyone needs a little more time in their day, but since no one has invented the 27-hour day or a way to be in two places at once, we simply have to get more creative with how to use the time we have.

You don't consider yourself as an expert on eLearning design. But you do treat design as a crucial aspect of eLearning and understand its importance. The proverbial question, however, still haunts you: how does one design an effective eLearning course?

We know that creating learning content that's clear and concise is a no-brainer. But creating content that influences, motivates, engages and compells is not often a simple task to accomplish. The good news is you don’t have to be an expert to craft effective eLearning content. You only have to understand the basics well and execute it.

It’s ok if you’re not a professional designer Not everyone is lucky enough to have a designer on tap for every eLearning project. And truth is, most of us aren’t graphic designers nor have extensive formal training in visual design.

Laundry detergent ads often feature buzz words like ultra, plus and 2X without any indication of what these words actually mean or how they make the detergent any better. In eLearning, we have our own buzz words-- interactive. We talk about this word often but how many courses actually offer true interactive experiences.

Though cardio it's good for your heart and helps your weight, it isn't the only necessary activity your body needs when exercising. Some strength training is also key to tone your muscles. And of course, stretching at the beginning is a must. The same happens in eLearning, you need more than only just text in your courses. While it is important to provide learners with facts and numbers, learners also require adequate experience in practical application and connection to facts to retain information.