Don't Skip Steps: Best Practices for a Faster eLearning Course Build
In today’s fast-paced learning environments, organizations are under constant pressure to launch eLearning programs quickly. However, cutting corners can lead to time-consuming setbacks. The key is to streamline your process without skipping essential steps. This blog will walk you through best practices that ensure a smooth course build, while also providing actionable tips to speed up each step along the way.
The image features a woman sitting at a white desk in a bright, modern office setting. She has long, blonde hair, wears glasses, and is dressed in a cozy blue sweater. She appears cheerful and engaged as she types on her laptop, with an open planner and several stationery items on the desk. Nearby, decorative plants add a touch of greenery to the scene. The overall atmosphere is productive and stylish.
1. Start with a Needs Analysis
Before diving into design or content creation, take time to assess the needs of your learners and stakeholders. This ensures the final product aligns with both learner goals and business outcomes. We promise - this will save you so much time during the design and development processes.
Ask:
What do learners need to know?
How will this course improve their performance or understanding?
Are there accessibility or inclusion requirements to meet?
Efficiency Tip:
Use surveys or pre-built questionnaires to gather stakeholder input in one go, instead of conducting multiple interviews. This saves time while still capturing the necessary insights to shape the course.
You can download eClarity’s pre-built Course Analysis and Learner Analysis questionnaires to help you with this.
2. Clear Learning Outcomes Drive Design Choices
Learning outcomes provide a roadmap for both content and assessments, ensuring alignment from start to finish. Vague or misaligned outcomes can lead to rework that slows down the process.
Efficiency Tip:
Use learning outcome templates to create measurable goals quickly. Tools like action-verb lists aligned with Bloom’s Taxonomy can help streamline this step and reduce the time spent wordsmithing.
You can also use eClarity’s Learning Outcomes AI tool (coming soon!) to make the process faster!
The image displays a cheerful young man engaging with his laptop in a bright, modern kitchen setting. He wears glasses and a casual light blue shirt, smiling as he looks at the screen, suggesting a positive learning or working experience. The kitchen is well-lit and features contemporary decor, including stainless steel appliances and fresh fruits on the counter, creating a relaxed yet organized environment. At the bottom of the image, there is an overlay that lists "Module Outcomes" with two bullet points: "1. Define project management" and "2. Recall common project management terminology," indicating the educational content being accessed on his laptop.
3. Design a Modular Structure
Breaking the course into bite-sized modules makes it easier to manage both the design and learner experience. Modular design allows for quick updates and testing, reducing bottlenecks.
Efficiency Tip:
Use your course learning outcomes to shape your modules. GenAI tools can also help with this: add your LOs and ask for suggestions for the module names.
4. Content Curation and Version Control Matter
Content sourcing can be a bottleneck, especially with multiple subject matter experts (SMEs) involved. Establish a streamlined process for content submission and version control to avoid duplication or delays.
Efficiency Tip:
Create a shared online workspace and set clear deadlines for SMEs. Use collaborative tools like Google Docs or eClarity with version history enabled to track changes in real time and avoid endless email chains.
5. Prioritize Accessibility from the Start
Incorporating accessibility early prevents retrofitting content later. Following best practices ensures inclusive content that works for all learners, including those with disabilities.
Efficiency Tip:
Use accessibility checklists and automated accessibility checkers integrated into your authoring tool to catch common issues early, saving review and revision time. You can download our free guide here!
6. Leverage Proven Learning Frameworks
Using frameworks like Universal Design for Learning (UDL) or competency-based learning provides structure to your course, reducing design time and streamlining development.
Efficiency Tip:
Adopt a framework early and reuse course outlines or templates from similar past projects. Having a pre-built course shell aligned with a framework can significantly reduce your build time.
The image shows a young woman working intently on her laptop at a wooden dining table in a cozy, well-lit room. She has dark hair styled in a messy bun and wears glasses, a black top, and a striped blue and white shirt. The table is adorned with a vase of pink flowers, adding a vibrant touch to the setting. Beside her, there's a cup of coffee and some paperwork, suggesting a blend of comfort and productivity in her work environment. The atmosphere is calm and inviting, with natural light streaming in from a nearby window.
7. Iterate Based on Data, Not Assumptions
Even after the course is live, continuous monitoring is essential to ensure it remains effective. Analytics offer insights into where learners are struggling or disengaging, guiding future improvements.
Efficiency Tip:
Automate data collection and reporting by setting up dashboards within your LMS or Learning Design System. Automated reports reduce manual tracking, giving you faster access to actionable insights for improvement.
Thoughtful Planning = Faster Execution
When building eLearning programs, the key to speed is not cutting corners but streamlining each step of the process. A solid needs analysis, clear learning outcomes, modular design, and pilot testing all play critical roles in creating effective and engaging courses without delays.
By using these best practices—along with tips to accelerate each step—you can build faster while maintaining the quality your learners expect. With the right planning and tools, you’ll get your course to market efficiently, saving time without compromising on impact!
