Creating custom content for your elearning course? Make sure you have a firm understanding of its purpose before you do anything. It may seem like a trivial thing but the purpose will guide you as you make various decisions throughout the course creation. It will help you decide on the right tools that you will use. It will also help you finalize the delivery method for the content.
When it comes to the type of elearning content, there are three options to choose from.
For Support
This first type of elearning content is created to aid in performance support. It is used to meet a knowledge requirement of the learner when it is needed. This is something that will support them as they go about their usual work routine. This is the type of custom content that learners can tap into to help them while they are in the midst of a task. If they are in the field, they can use this to help them complete a project or perform a responsibility efficiently. If this is the type of content that you are going to use, it should be present in such a way that will make it easy to understand. Regardless of where the worker is, they can understand it even at a glance. It can be presented as a how-to guide with a step by step process. It can even be in table form, diagram, or an infographic – something that can simplify complex concepts and ideas.
For Experience
Another type of elearning content is used to build experience. This is usually applicable to courses that are meant to teach skills or a particular work behavior. This custom content is meant to change something in the learner. Since a change is expected, learning usually takes time. The learners have to take the time to practice the skill so application and implementation will be more effective. You do not concentrate on explaining how things are done – you have to create your custom content in such a way that will make them experience it. That is how they will learn how to personally implement an idea and practice it so the real-life application can be productive. You can hone these skills through activities, assessments, and practical applications.
For Information
The final type of elearning content is for information purposes. There are industries that go through constant upgrades, innovations, and advancements. In order to keep the company and the workers productive, it is very important to keep on updating what the employees know. When handling this type of custom content, you need to tread between the first two types. You want to present the information in such a way that will help the learner understand the concept quickly (possibly through visual materials) and at the same time, practice it for future application. If there are new laws, rules, standards, or ideas that will help improve productivity in the workplace, these updates have to be delivered to the right employees when it is needed – which is greatly enhance the competitiveness of the business.
Knowing the type of elearning custom content will allow you to decide on the right delivery method, elearning tools, and software programs to use to make the course effective.
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