From TikToks to YouTube tutorials, people are consuming more video content than ever before. But this isn’t just a social media habit. Around 50% of people have used a video platform to learn new skills. So how can you harness the power of this popular format to maximize your impact? We’ve pulled together research, examples, and tools to help you enhance your employee training with video learning. 

Why video-based learning is effective

In a world where distractions are everywhere, studies show that video can cut through the noise: 

• Getting people engaged: People are around 50% more likely to click on an online video ad than a standard banner ad. While training and advertising are different, engagement is critical for both. And it’s clear that video grabs attention. 
• Creating emotional connections: The human brain has a special place for faces with dedicated neural circuits that only respond to them. Putting people at the center of your videos can create this human connection in your learning content. 
• Reducing cognitive load: Most people would rather watch a ‘how-to’ video than read a manual. Presenting information through a combination of visuals and sound reduces cognitive load and makes learning easier.
• Increasing knowledge retention: Video is more effective than text alone for learning, especially in the long term. Viewers retain 95% of a video’s message, compared to 10% when reading text. 

For corporate learning, this means video can help capture your learners’ attention and create real-life actions that stick. 

Benefits of video-based learning

Video-based learning offers several key benefits that can benefit your employees and the business:

• Increased engagement: Videos are inherently engaging and can hold learners’ attention better than text-based content.
• Improved retention: Studies show that learners retain more information from video content compared to written material.
• Flexibility: With video content, employees can access training anytime and anywhere. This flexibility allows them to learn at their own pace.
• Personal connection: When employees see real faces and hear voices in videos, it creates an emotional connection that enhances learning.

Challenges of video-based learning

While video-based learning offers many benefits, there are also challenges to consider:

• Production costs and time: High-quality video content can be expensive to produce. You need a solid investment in equipment, software, and expertise.
• Over-saturation: Not all video content is equally effective. Learners can become fatigued or disengaged if the videos are too long, lack interactivity, or feel repetitive
• Accessibility: Not all employees may have access to the latest technology or a quiet, distraction-free environment to view videos. It’s essential to make videos accessible on multiple devices and ensure they can be easily viewed in different contexts.
• Technical issues: Video content can face technical problems, such as buffering, compatibility issues, or poor video quality. These issues can hinder the learning experience and cause frustration among learners.

Best practices for creating video-based content

To ensure youTo ensure your video-based learning is effective and engages learners from start to finish, follow these best practices:

Keep videos short and focused

Aim for videos that are 2 to 4 minutes long. Shorter videos are easier to digest and maintain learner engagement. If the topic is more complex, consider breaking it down into multiple smaller videos.

Use high-quality visuals and sound

Invest in good video and audio equipment. Poor-quality videos can distract from the message and create a negative learning experience.

Add interactivity

Enhance engagement by including interactive elements like clickable links, embedded quizzes, or branching scenarios. These elements encourage learners to actively participate in their learning rather than passively watch a video.

Provide transcripts and captions

Make your video content accessible to all learners, including those with hearing impairments or those who prefer to watch without sound. Transcripts and captions also help learners better understand the content.

Align with learning objectives

Ensure that each video ties directly to your training goals. Avoid creating video content just for the sake of it, every video should serve a clear purpose and contribute to the overall learning experience.

5 ways video-based learning can enhance employee training

Effective video learning creates a reaction. It’s not just about watching; it’s about connecting, understanding, and applying knowledge. So, how do you achieve this? 

While every project is different, there are some common ways you can maximize the benefits of video-based learning in your employee training.

1. Empowering knowledge sharing

Employee-generated videos are a great way to share knowledge, expertise, and experience. These can cover everything from ‘how to’ guides to real-life stories. 

Quick and cost-effective to produce, they add an authentic and human voice to your learning that your people will relate to and trust.

Examples:

• Experts demonstrating a step-by-step process in a video tutorial.
• Talking head videos of employees telling their stories and sharing their experiences.

Explore a video interview example

2. Making learning more accessible

Thanks to the rise of TikTok, we’re watching more and more quick, snappy videos on our phones. Bite-sized, on-demand video content can be accessed anytime, anywhere, and it’s a game changer for training. Accessing video learning in the moment of need and the flow of work means it can be applied immediately. 

Considerations:

• Duration: Attention spans are short. Aim for the sweet spot of between 2 and 4 minutes to maintain your audience’s focus.
• Accessibility: Add transcripts and closed captions to support inclusive learning for those who are hearing impaired or unable to watch with sound.

3. Simplifying complex topics

Explainer videos can help bring complicated content and complex ideas to life. Use animated videos to walk through diagrams and conceptual graphics. Tell stories and share examples to simplify content and show how it works in reality. 

Considerations:

• Avoid overload: With the potential to have lots happening on screen, take care not to overload learners with too much information and too many formats. 
• Think big picture: When breaking down complex topics into understandable chunks, be sure to tell a cohesive story that’s greater than its individual parts.

4. Supporting on-the-job learning and microlearning

Easy to access and digest, videos are great as quick, on-the-job guides. Don’t think of these videos as standalone assets. Get learners to reflect on what they’ve seen or heard and put what they’ve learned into practice. 

Make this part of a wider blend of microlearning assets. A well-chosen combination of content and interactions will produce learning with impact. 

Examples:

• Onboarding assets for new employees.
• Step-by-step guides to completing activities within processes.

Explore a microlearning example

5. Creating immersive learning experiences

Great immersive learning experiences connect hearts and heads. Interactive videos draw learners into a story. It enables them to make decisions and see the impact of their choices in an environment where they don’t have to worry about failure. This emotional connection is vital for effective learning to take place.

Examples:

• Virtual Reality (VR) videos.
• Video simulations of real-world scenarios and challenges.

Explore a video simulation example

3 of the best authoring tools for video-based learning

Once you’ve decided how to use video in your employee training, you need to find the right tool to create it. 

Here are three of the top authoring tools that can help.

Elucidat

Elucidat is a powerful tool for creating high-quality, responsive video-based elearning. Whatever your level of expertise, customizable templates mean you’ll be producing video learning in no time. Interactive video capabilities can be used to create scenario-based training and personalization. Being fully cloud-based means you can do this in collaboration with your colleagues. 

Camtasia

Specializing in screen recording and video editing, Camtasia is a desktop-based tool. In addition to producing training videos, you can add some interactive elements to your video learning. It may not be as powerful as other authoring tools, but Camtasia can have great results. 

Articulate Storyline 360

Articulate Storyline 360 is one of the most well-known names in the authoring tool market. It’s also a versatile tool for creating interactive video-based courses. You can use the core functionality to produce interactive videos, quizzes, and branching scenarios.

Want to find out more? Read a full comparison and review of these elearning authoring tools.

The future of video-based learning

The future of video-based learning is promising, with AI and emerging technologies paving the way for more personalized, interactive experiences.. Here’s how video-based learning could evolve:

• AI-driven personalization
• Interactive video with AI
• Enhanced analytics
• Virtual and augmented reality

As these technologies evolve, video-based learning will become even more powerful in shaping employee development.

Conclusion

Video is a sure-fire way to bring your elearning to life. It can boost learner engagement, create emotional connections, reduce cognitive load, and enhance knowledge retention. However, just adding any old video into your digital learning isn’t going to have the right impact. It’s the content of the video that really matters. 

Consider what part video could play in your organization’s learning strategy. Of course, every project is unique, but there are some common ways that video learning can enhance your employee training:

1. Use employee-generated videos to encourage knowledge sharing.
2. Create bite-sized, on-demand video that can be accessed anywhere, anytime. 
3. Simplify complex topics with videos and animations.
4. Support on-the-job learning with microlearning video assets.
5. Immerse your employees in their learning experiences with interactive video.

Resources for enhancing employee training

Looking to take your video-based training and employee training a step further? Here are some best practice resources to help you:

• How to create engaging elearning (course)
• 3 ways to meet learner expectations
• How to boost elearning engagement with compelling content

Ready to start creating video learning experiences with impact? Book a demo of Elucidat and start your free trial today.

Developing training in large organizations brings together a lot of different people. Getting everyone engaged at the right time, in the right way, is key to producing quality learning experiences at scale. But this isn’t always straightforward. If you’re not careful, budgets spiral, deadlines slip and quality goes out the window. But don’t worry, our guide to streamlining your training design process is here to keep you on track!

Understanding the training design process 

ADDIE, Agile, Waterfall… there are plenty of project management models to choose from. But which works best for developing training? We observed the varied processes used by our customers, took the best bits, and created a 5-step process with impact at the center.

We call these 5 steps the 5Cs Framework for successful elearning:

1. Capture – start with a clear plan: Understanding the problem, so you can shape your solution.
2. Conceptualize – lead with a prototype: Turning what you know about your audience’s needs into a vision for an effective training program.
3. Create – build with confidence: Starting to build in your authoring platform with a streamlined, efficient development process.
4. Cultivate – improve and refine: Using data to improve projects and inform strategy.
5. Commercialize – deliver better ROI: Making sure your product works for your business.

Defining roles and responsibilities

A streamlined training design process will help you plan, design, create, optimize, and commercialize your training. But even the best plan will fail if your project team isn’t onboard. 

Clearly defined roles are essential for keeping everyone aligned and empowered to bring their best to the table. For example:

• You and your team are the L&D professionals. Will you get hands-on or play a supportive role, guiding others to create impactful online courses?
• Stakeholders can be a broad group, including anyone who has an interest in your project’s successful delivery. From kick-off to sign-off, who needs to provide feedback and approval at each stage?
• Your internal experts are essential to every learning project. Will your Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) just provide training content or could they build elearning courses for themselves (with the right support and collaborative tool)? 

5 step guide to streamlining your training design process

Let’s take a closer look at what’s involved for your project team at each step of the training design process.

1. Capture – Start with a clear plan

Every project is different. Rather than rushing in and risking rework later, take the time to set a solid foundation. 

• Define your training goals
  You can’t create an effective training and development solution if you don’t understand the problem you’re trying to solve. Conduct a needs analysis. Define the current situation and the desired impact of the training.
  
• Understand your audience
  Before you start your training development, take a closer look at who will take your course. Create learner profiles. A good understanding of your target audience and their learning environment will enable you to create more relevant and effective learning content.
  
• Set measurable goals
  Work with your stakeholders upfront to decide on the goals you’re going to measure for your project. Elearning can generate a lot of data, but data doesn’t always mean insight. So, think about what you want to discover and identify the relevant metrics upfront.

• Identify barriers
  While you can’t predict every curveball you’ll face; some challenges will be clear from the start. Compressed timelines, limited budgets and resource constraints are common barriers to any project’s success. Identify strategies to navigate these barriers at the start and you’re more likely to overcome them.

Ready to get clear on what your project is trying to achieve? Check out our resource on how to Capture – start with a clear plan.

2. Conceptualize – lead with a prototype

With training goals clear in your mind, it’s time to generate some ideas for how to meet them. For best results, do this in collaboration so your project team is aligned and moving forward with a shared vision.

Here’s some approaches you could take:

• Brainstorming:
  Generate lots of different ideas before narrowing your focus to one solution. Avoid looking at the detailed course content. Think about what types of activities, experiences, and tools will work for your learners and goals.
• Action mapping:
  Build out your solutions based on competency and change with Cathy Moore’s Action Mapping. Start with your learning objectives, then work backward to determine the actions learners need to take to achieve these goals. 

Once you’ve defined your training solution, get prototyping to check that you’re heading in the right direction. 

Don’t prototype everything. Focus on the flow and learning design. If you’re designing a blended learning solution, show how the different delivery methods fit together, including face-to-face or virtual classroom-based training. 

For elearning, you can demonstrate your approach with a:

• Wireframe which sets out layouts and sample content, without getting caught up in styling.
• Prototype which provides an interactive walkthrough with visual styling. Remember, you don’t have to start with a blank canvas. Your authoring tool may have ready-made templates which can create a prototype in just a few clicks. 

Top tip: Don’t make prototyping a big deal – do it early, rapidly, and collaboratively. Developing a prototype saves time by identifying issues sooner and providing a reusable template you can build from. 

Want to find out more about how you can do this? Check out our resource on how to Conceptualize – lead with a prototype.

3. Create – Build with confidence

Having confirmed your thinking with a prototype, you can dive into developing the detailed content. After all that needs analysis and ideas generation, this stage may appear comparatively straightforward. However, it’s actually where a lot of elearning falls down. 

Here are some simple actions you can take to keep your training on track:

• Start with your design model:
  Seeing this stage as just about populating the screen with detail is the path to ineffective learning. Reframe how your project team think about their content. Use your prototype as the blueprint and see how the content can support this learning experience.

• Collaborate in your authoring tool
  Invite your SMEs to add their content directly into your approved prototype. Include short instructions to this framework, guiding them on the type of content that will be effective for these interactions. Work with them in real-time to finesse wording and support them with visuals and practical activities.

• Work iteratively
  If you build everything in one go and then gather feedback, you risk finding out something isn’t working and your effort is wasted. Add in regular check in points to gather feedback from your key stakeholders and some end users. For example, you might build out topic 1, gather feedback, and make changes before building topic 2. 

• Set up structured testing
  It may not be the most exciting part of a project, but Quality Assurance (QA) can make or break your digital learning. QA as you go, but always do a full check before you release your elearning.

Top tip: Don’t forget your L&D best practice in the rush to deliver! If you’re going to create engaging content, your team needs to stay focused on delivering a quality learning experience during this stage. For a quick reminder, check out our Designing quality elearning guide and How to create engaging elearning course.

Ready to streamline your authoring process while still delivering quality? Check out our resource on how to Create – Build with confidence.

4. Cultivate – Improve and refine

Your training design process doesn’t end when you upload your elearning to your Learning Management System (LMS). One of the big benefits of digital learning is that data dashboards can help identify how you’re meeting your business goals. The key is to balance data about users and performance by:

• Tracking engagement:
  Most L&D teams measure completion rates. It’s a great start, but it’s not the full picture. Explore the range of analytics your authoring tool offers. For example: 

• Most visited topics: Which topics within your elearning are most popular. This could indicate your audience is actively looking for support in certain areas. 
• Common incorrect answers: Which questions your audience are getting right, and which are tripping them up. This could indicate knowledge gaps that impact performance. 
• Popularity in audience groups: Which countries / departments / locations are engaging most with the elearning. This could indicate where you need to do another round of promotion.

• Measuring impact
  Next, measure the impact your training has had on the business. Here are three steps to help you identify your course’s impact on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):
  1. Review your goal and the business metric you plan to impact. Identify a benchmark to measure against. 
  2. When you’ve reached significant engagement levels with your elearning, measure your key metric again and compare it to your benchmark. 
  3. Use what you’ve learned from your engagement data. For example, if you’ve seen more engagement and more improvement in the US compared to the UK, get UK managers involved in promoting the elearning again.

Armed with this information, you can learn, improve, and update your training. You can also take forward any learning into your next project. 

Explore how you can do this our resource on how to Cultivate – Improve and refine.

5. Commercialize – deliver better ROI

Having measured the impact of your training, you can work out whether your streamlined training process has delivered Return on Investment (ROI). A traditional ROI calculation takes the benefit (or return) of your investment and divides it by the cost (or investment) you spent. However, this is quite simplistic. 

That’s why we look at the three factors we see at the heart of designing a training program that’s effective:

1. Scalability: The reach that your training has achieved.
2. Quality: The engagement and performance impact your elearning had.
3. Speed to market: Whether the training project was delivered in a timely manner.

Want to find out more about demonstrating your value? Check out our resource on how to Commercialize – deliver better ROI.

Choose the right authoring tools

If you’re going to create a training plan that’s efficient and effective at every stage, you need an authoring tool with the right capabilities. For example:

• Content import: The days of tedious copy and paste content transfer are gone if you can import your PowerPoints into your tool.
• Ready to go templates: Speed up your elearning production with templates that already have design thinking and layouts in place.
• Easy collaboration: With a cloud-based tool, you can build and review all in one place. People can work on the same project at the same time, while permissions allow you to stay in control.

Here’s a quick overview of some of the most popular tools you could consider:

• Elucidat – Helps teams to create impactful elearning quickly and easily by unlocking expertise from any employee.
• Adobe Captivate – Gives experienced authors the power to create high-quality content.
• Articulate Storyline 360 – Ideal for individual users who prefer PowerPoint, with an added layer of customization.
• Articulate Rise 360 – Users with access to Articulate 360 can produce simple elearning courses fairly quickly.
• Gomo – Best for experienced learning designers that are not looking for advanced customization.
• Lectora – Gives traditional, capable authors an effective tool for producing HTML5 content.
• Adapt – Designed for technical authors who are looking to design bespoke HTML5 authoring through back-end design.
• DominKnow – Perfect for teams whose focus is on responsive screen capture and software simulation.
• Easygenerator – Authoring software designed for learning teams who need to create elearning content, easily.
• iSpring Suite – Desktop PowerPoint-based tool that’s a great option for novice learning designers who don’t have to worry about updating content regularly.
• Evolve – Built for teams who need to collaborate together and don’t mind putting in the time to learn how to use it.
• Camtasia – Video editing suite most commonly used for screen recordings, tutorials or product demos.

Read a full comparison in our review of the top elearning authoring tools.

Conclusion

A streamlined training design process can make late feedback, missed deadlines and budget bloat a thing of the past. That’s why we took the best bits from common design models and created a 5-step process with impact at the center.

1. Capture – Start with a clear plan: Put time in upfront to make sure the solution you design is meeting the real business need.
2. Conceptualize – Lead with a prototype: Don’t rush ahead with a solution, generate ideas in collaboration with your SMEs and try them out in a prototype.
3. Create – Build with confidence: Use collaborative and iterative ways of working that involve your SMEs, stakeholders and end users so you’re more likely to hit the target.
4. Cultivate – Improve and refine: Explore the data and analytics your tool offers to tweak and enhance your elearning.
5. Commercialize – deliver better ROI: Measure the impact your elearning has had on your business goals so you can learn and increase your impact.

Find out more about how you can use these steps to deliver business impact with our 5C resources, elearning best practice guide, and engaging elearning design course.

Want to start testing this training design process? Book a demo of Elucidat to get started with a free trial.

With some figures suggesting that around 30 million presentations are created daily, Microsoft PowerPoint still reigns supreme in many businesses. When there’s all this content out there, converting it to elearning might feel like a quick win. But what might get lost in the transition? Can you maintain your impact and even amplify it? In this PowerPoint to SCORM guide, discover how to transform your passive slides into interactive elearning content that really resonates.

What is SCORM, and why is it important?

Before jumping into the PowerPoint to SCORM conversion process, let’s get clear on why you’d want to do it in the first place. 

SCORM stands for Shareable Content Object Reference Model. Once your PowerPoint is SCORM compliant, it can run from Learning Management Systems (LMSs) that are compatible with SCORM. 

SCORM’s tracking capabilities offer invaluable insights into how employees engage with their training. No longer tied to scheduled classroom sessions, employees can launch your learning content anytime, anywhere. Your LMS will track their progress, completion, assessment results, and, in some cases, more detailed analytics on learner engagement.

Want to find out more about SCORM and the benefits it offers? Check out our What is SCORM? blog.

Why converting PowerPoint to SCORM alone isn’t enough

Of course, what engages learners isn’t how they access training. It’s the interaction they have with the content that delivers real impact. This interaction needs to be timely, relevant and – most importantly – inspire action in the real world. 

When used in face-to-face or virtual classroom training, PowerPoint presentations provide prompts and visual aids. They help learners keep up and join in with group activity. If used effectively, slides won’t contain everything that happens in the classroom. So, simply putting this existing content online often misses the context, examples, and interactivity that brings classroom training to life. 

A PowerPoint deck without a presenter loses its power, which is where elearning software comes in. Using an authoring tool empowers you to transform flat and uninspiring slides into engaging digital content. But it’s a mistake to think this just happens at the click of a button. To deliver learning retention and performance improvement, follow these steps for effective PowerPoint to SCORM conversion.

Preparing your PowerPoint for conversion

As with any training project, preparation is key. Don’t rush into converting your PowerPoint. Make sure you: 

• Identify your objectives: Start by getting clear on what you want your learners to be able to do or know after completing the elearning course. Once you’ve identified your learning objectives, you can design your interactive elements to meet those goals. 
• Consider the changing environment: The strategies that engage learners in a classroom may not be effective (or even possible) in elearning. Identify opportunities to introduce meaningful interactions and multimedia to replace human elements. 
• Review your content: Without a trainer reading the room, learners can switch off. Avoid information overload by trying to capture everything from the classroom. Pick the PowerPoint slides that will have the most impact. Keep the text concise and use visuals to explain concepts. Once you’ve made these changes, check there’s still a logical flow.

Step-by-step guide to convert PowerPoint to SCORM

Feeling prepared and ready to convert your PowerPoints into engaging online training? Let’s get started…

1. Choose the right authoring tool

It goes without saying, the tools you use for SCORM conversion can make or break your digital learning. There’s certainly no shortage of great software for you to choose from. So, where should you start?

Here’s a quick overview of the most popular tools:

• Elucidat: A user-friendly, cloud-based tool for creating quality workplace learning at scale. Whether it’s quick quizzes or social polling, it makes a range of interactions accessible to authors of all skill levels.

• Articulate Storyline 360: A suite of tools for creating different types of digital learning. You can add various interactions, but it has a steep learning curve and some collaborative limitations.

• iSpring Suite: An authoring tool that integrates directly with PowerPoint. It allows you to add branching scenarios and audio recordings, though may offer less innovative interaction than other platforms.

• Adobe Captivate: A desktop application known for advanced capabilities, particularly in simulations. 

• Lectora Online: A cloud-based tool that enhances PowerPoint with advanced interactions and scenarios. It can be a powerful tool but requires a bit more expertise.

For a more in-depth review, read the full comparison in this review of the top elearning authoring tools.

2. Import your PowerPoint file

Select an authoring tool with PowerPoint import capabilities and you can say goodbye to tedious manual content transfer. Each tool will have a slightly different import process, but it usually involves similar steps. 

Here’s how it works in Elucidat:

• Step 1: Choose the PowerPoint file for conversion. 
• Step 2: Select the images you want to keep.
• Step 3: Import! 

It takes a few moments to build your course, ready for you to reformat, restructure, and turn it into a great learning experience. 

Still not sure how to get started with your conversion? Check out our PowerPoint Import walkthrough.

3. Add interactive elements

You’ve already considered how interactivity will best meet your learning objectives. Now, it’s time to get interactive in your tool. 

From a simple question to more complex branching scenarios, there isn’t one right way to use the media and interactivity. Here are three examples to get you inspired.

Create participation

Whether in a classroom or online, active learning and practice are the building blocks of effective learning. So how can you translate the group discussion and activity of your face-to-face training to your elearning? Including questions is critical to get your learners reflecting, trying, practicing, and comparing their thinking.

This example of guided self-reflection encourages learners to stop, reflect, and commit to actions they’ll take forward with their team. Social polling appeals to people’s natural curiosity as they can compare their responses to those of their peers.

Explore the example

Tell stories

Great trainers pack their sessions with real-life case studies, examples, and stories that connect with their learners. Don’t lose this in the move to elearning. Adding elements of digital storytelling connects hearts and heads. It helps people understand how they can apply their new knowledge and skills and the impact it will have in the real world. 

This scenario-based learning hooks you in and immerses you in the story. You can make decisions and see the outcome of your choices. 

Explore the example

Add in multimedia content

Bringing even the most complex content to life, video and audio can help maintain the human element in your digital learning. Don’t think of these as standalone. Get learners to reflect on what they’ve seen or heard and put what they’ve learned into practice. A well-chosen combination of content and interactions will produce learning with impact.

This quick guide example is designed to be part of an onboarding campaign for new starters. It provides upfront information before a video demonstrates the task at hand. The guide ends with real-world actions to take on the shop floor during their first shift. 

Explore the example

4. Export as a SCORM package

Happy that your content looks polished and packed with interactivity? When you’re ready, export your SCORM package. 

The process varies by tool but generally involves similar steps. Here’s how it works in Elucidat:

• Step 1: Create a new release for your project. 
• Step 2: Select SCORM as your release mode.
  Note: Other tools might also ask you to choose a SCORM format, such as SCORM 1.2 or SCORM 2004.
• Step 3: Download! 

Top tip: Optimize your SCORM files for size and speed to reduce the file size and load time, and enhance performance.

For more tips, explore our SCORM export walkthrough article.

Testing and publishing SCORM content

Your download isn’t the end of the story. Eliminate avoidable errors before you release your content by taking time to test your SCORM package. 

A good Quality Assurance (QA) process can make or break your digital learning. This requires:

• Resource: It’s easy to miss mistakes in your own work. If you can, get someone else to QA your work. If that’s not feasible, put it aside so you can return with fresh eyes.

• Reviews: You can’t review everything at once. If you’re focusing on testing buttons, you’re not paying attention to the flow of content. So, do at least two separate end-to-end reviews: one for content and the other for functionality.

• Time: There’s no hard rule for allocating time for QA. But if you have around 30 minutes of content, it’s worth allowing 90 minutes or more for your reviews.

Once you’re done, you should be ready to publish a SCORM package that meets standards, works as expected, and provides a great learning experience. 

Spot a rogue typo after it’s live? Don’t worry, with some authoring tools like Elucidat you can seamlessly update your SCORM with a re-release option.

Summary

Increased flexibility, tracking capability, enhanced analytics… with so many benefits, it’s not surprising that more and more classroom training is being converted to elearning. But if you’re going to deliver impactful learning, you can’t just rush into a quick PowerPoint to SCORM conversion. 

Without a trainer, PowerPoint decks lose their power. You need to use an authoring tool to introduce interactivity that supports an effective digital learning experience. 

Remember, this isn’t just about clicks. It’s about engaging learners through active participation and connection. There isn’t one way to do this. Use a variety of approaches by incorporating visual and multimedia content. Get creative, and take advantage of the interactive features available to you for a more engaging experience.

Converting PowerPoint to SCORM with Elucidat

With Elucidat’s PowerPoint Import feature, you can easily convert static PowerPoint presentations into SCORM-compliant elearning. Plus, you can track learner progress and engagement, ensuring your elearning content is impactful and measurable. Ready to start producing some great SCORM-compliant digital learning? Book a demo of Elucidat, and we’ll get your free trial off to a flying start!

Choosing the right elearning authoring tool for your business can feel overwhelming. With a vast range of platforms, software, and systems on offer, you’ll need to really think about what your organizational goals are and exactly what features each platform offers – and at what price. This handy guide will help you compare the 12 most popular corporate elearning platforms on the market, so you can find your perfect match!

We have reviewed 12 of the best elearning authoring tools against the following criteria: quality of output, speed and efficiency of authoring, and scaling up of elearning production.

Read on to discover: 

• What are elearning authoring tools? 
• Is elearning software different to an authoring tool?
• Why do you need an authoring tool?
• Features of authoring tools
• Types of authoring tools
• Criteria for evaluating the best authoring tools
• 12 elearning authoring tools & software to consider
• Best elearning authoring tools – detailed review & comparison
• Business use cases for elearning software
• Conclusion
• Further Information

What are elearning authoring tools?

Elearning authoring tools are pieces of training and development software that enable the creation of digital learning content. This could be as simple as creating a Microsoft Word document, or as complex as a graphic design tool.

Instructional designers in L&D teams use elearning authoring tools to create training materials for their employees, which might cover compliance, onboarding, hard and soft skills, etc. These will typically be in the form of elearning courses, including features like click-to-reveal interactions, quizzes, and personalized and gamified content in more recent years.

Is elearning software different from an authoring tool?

Elearning software is a broad term that could be used to refer to many elements within a learning technology stack. Within the elearning software category, you’ll find software that focuses on different aspects of digital learning. For example:

• Elearning authoring tools, that are used to create effective, engaging corporate elearning courses.
• Learning Management Systems (LMSs), that automate the administration, testing, tracking, and reporting of these courses.
• Learning Content Management Systems (LCMSs), that are a one-stop-shop for creating, hosting, managing, and delivering content. These days, LCMSs can have all the benefits of an authoring tool, which is why some LCMSs, can be referred to as both an LCMS and an authoring tool.

Read more about the key differences in our guide to choosing the best LMS platform.

Why do you need an elearning authoring tool?

Unsure whether you need elearning authoring software to meet your workplace objectives? Here are the top five benefits you can expect to see from an authoring tool:

1. Allows you to personalize your content and adopt a people-centered approach to learning;
2. Enables you to collaborate with your team effectively, allowing authors, SMEs and stakeholders to work together seamlessly;
3. Makes it easy to roll out corporate elearning courses in different locations and update content to comply with new regulations quickly and with ease;
4. Allows you to continually improve your elearning courses by analyzing data and collating feedback on how your content performs;
5. Enables you to adapt to new demands and produce supporting digital learning content quickly.

Authoring tools features

Once you’ve decided elearning authoring software is the answer, you need to find the right tool. There are a number of features you need to consider:

• User-friendly interface: An intuitive interface means you can start building content straight away. Some products offer a free trial, so you can assess how easy it will be to build, share, duplicate, and update content.
• Collaboration capability: Effective collaboration produces better learning courses. Find out whether the authoring tool supports multiple users building, reviewing, and amending courses at the same time. Also, how easy it is to share your bespoke templates and company assets for re-use across your content and authoring teams. 
• Translation and localization features: If you’re reaching international learners, you’ll want to create courses in the right languages. Check to see whether the tool has a translations workflow – and even better, an auto-translate feature. Some tools also offer course variation functionality to help you manage localized or translated versions of a course.
• Authoring toolkit: If you’re looking for people-centered learning experiences, you might want to explore what options the tool provides for things like gamification and personalized learning. Check out some of the example courses created by the tool to get a good idea of the content output. 
• Ready-made templates: Expert-designed templates can help you choose the best interactions for your learning and save you time in development. Explore the templates the tool offers and how it recommends these to you. 
• Scope for customization: Some tools are designed to offer granular control over course layouts (the course interface, colors, fonts, positioning of assets etc.) – but at the expense of being complicated to use. Some offer more of a compromise. Take a look at user reviews of each tool to see what scope for customization there is, and how complex it’s likely to get. 
• Multi-device: Nowadays learners want to complete content on any device. Find out whether the tool produces content that works across desktop, tablet, and mobile and what additional effort authors need to invest to optimize the learning experience for these devices.

Types of authoring tools

There are many different elearning authoring tools to choose from. Understanding which type of tool is best suited to your organization could be a good starting point. Take a look at the different solutions available and find the best fit for you:

• Cloud-based tools: Flexible online or web-based authoring tools that allow authors to collaborate and work on the same digital learning content simultaneously. No installation is required, and all edits are saved to the cloud.
• Desktop-based tools: Powerful authoring tools that are run locally on desktops and require a download. These elearning platforms are typically run offline, meaning all edits are saved locally.
• Open-source tools: Web authoring tools where the original source code is made freely available. This gives flexibility to experienced developers who want to dig into complex code.
• Authoring tools built into Learning Management Systems (LMS): Simple elearning authoring tools that are included as part of an LMS package. They are often simple to use but limited in output.
• Free tools: Authoring tools with no cost required to start creating elearning – this often results in decreased quality and lack of scalability.

Criteria for evaluating the best elearning authoring tools

What makes a great elearning authoring tool? In this guide, the key criteria we have used to assess the best authoring tools are:

Quality of elearning output:

• The level of customization available
• The variety of formats to choose from
• Whether in-built design guidance is offered
• Options for gamification, personalization, and social polling 
• The level of data and reporting offered 

Speed and efficiency:

• How quickly you can produce high-quality elearning that’s optimized for all devices
• Collaboration options for streamlining the feedback process 
• Whether multiple authors can work on a project simultaneously
• The level of authoring experience required 
• How quickly you can publish and update courses 
• Whether there’s a translation workflow and/or auto-translate feature

Scalability:

• How easy it is to reuse, copy, and scale your corporate elearning content
• The level of control you have over your authors 
• Cost-efficiency for producing elearning content at scale
• Options to update assets and branding centrally

12 elearning authoring tools to consider

In this review, we’ll be taking a deeper dive into 12 online learning software examples you might want to consider. Specifically, we’ll be looking at: 

1. Elucidat – Helps teams to create an impactful elearning quickly and easily by unlocking expertise from any employee
2. Adobe Captivate – Gives experienced authors the power to create high-quality content
3. Articulate Storyline 360 – Ideal for individual users who prefer PowerPoint, with an added layer of customization
4. Articulate Rise 360 – Users with access to Articulate 360 can produce simple elearning courses fairly quickly
5. Gomo – Best for experienced learning designers that are not looking for advanced customization
6. Lectora – Gives traditional, capable authors an effective tool for producing HTML5 content
7. Adapt – Designed for technical authors who are looking to design bespoke HTML5 authoring through back-end design
8. DominKnow – Perfect for teams whose focus is on responsive screen capture and software simulation
9. Easygenerator – Authoring software designed for learning teams who need to create elearning content, easily
10. iSpring Suite – Desktop PowerPoint-based tool that’s a great option for novice learning designers who don’t have to worry about updating content regularly
11. Evolve – Built for teams who need to collaborate together and don’t mind putting in the time to learn how to use it
12. Camtasia – Video editing suite most commonly used for screen recordings, tutorials or product demos.

Save time comparing elearning software companies by downloading our authoring tool comparison template. We’ve completed the Elucidat column for you!

And here’s a handy comparison table to help you along.

Elearning software	Type of solution	Quality of output	Speed	Scalability
1. Elucidat	Elearning authoring platform	High	Fast	High
2. Adobe Captivate	Standalone authoring tool	High	Slow	Low
3. Articulate Storyline	Authoring suite	Medium	Slow	Low
4. Articulate Rise	Online authoring tool	Low	Fast	Medium
5. Gomo	Online authoring tool	Medium	Fast	High
6. Lectora	Standalone authoring tool	Medium	Slow	Medium
7. Adapt	Online authoring tool	Low	Fast	Medium
8. DominKnow	Online authoring tool	High	Average	Medium
9. Easygenerator	Online authoring tool	Medium	Fast	Medium
10. iSpring Suite	Authoring suite	Medium	Average	Medium
11. Evolve	Online authoring tool	Medium	Fast	Medium
12. Camtasia	Video authoring software	Medium	Medium	Low

Best elearning authoring tools – detailed review & comparison

1. Elucidat

Elucidat makes it easier for ambitious teams to produce quality workplace learning at scale. Being a fully cloud-based elearning authoring platform, organizations can open up and streamline their elearning production– without sacrificing quality.

With Elucidat you can empower anyone of any skill level to create digital learning ready for any device. From product training to compliance – Elucidat helps reduce costs and increase business performance. Read our guidelines to elearning best practices here.

Get to know Elucidat in this short video:

2. Adobe Captivate

Captivate is a desktop application known for its advanced authoring capabilities, particularly in creating simulations and systems training. However, it comes with a steep learning curve and isn’t set up well for collaborative working.

3. Articulate Storyline 360

Storyline 360 is a desktop tool that’s purchased as part of the Articulate 360 suite and uses a PowerPoint-style slide-based approach to elearning development. It’s very flexible in terms of what you can create, though comes with a steep learning curve and limitations when working collaboratively.

4. Articulate Rise 360

Rise 360 is a web-based authoring tool included as part of an Articulate 360 suite. It’s designed to be really easy to use and great for creating mobile-friendly learning experiences, but offers a limited authoring toolkit.

5. Gomo

Gomo is a cloud-based authoring tool that allows you to create web-style content that’s automatically optimized for mobile users. It’s a great tool for collaboration but there are a few small hurdles and restrictions in regards to authoring. 

6. Lectora Online

Lectora Online is an authoring tool by ELB Learning, that sits alongside it’s desktop equivalent. It can be powerful when you know how to use it, but comes with a steeper learning curve than many of the other tools.

7. Adapt Learning

Adapt is a free elearning authoring tool that creates responsive HTML5 content.

There are two component parts to the Adapt offering: The Adapt Framework is an open-source, front-end framework designed for use by developers. The Adapt Authoring Tool is the web-based application aimed at your average instructional designer with no coding experience. Neither can be used to host content – you’ll need an LMS for this.

8. DominKnow ONE

DominKnow ONE brings together its traditional authoring tool, Claro, with its responsive authoring tool and simulation creator, DominKnow Flow. This elearning software offers a vast authoring toolkit as well as some handy features for working at scale, though it may not be the easiest tool to pick up.

9. Easygenerator

Easygenerator is an elearning platform focused on creating straightforward digital learning content quickly. It doesn’t host content for you, making it more difficult to make content updates, though does benefit from some cloud-based collaboration features.

10. iSpring Suite

iSpring Suite is a desktop-based authoring tool that integrates with PowerPoint. While it’s easy for seasoned PowerPoint users to start using, it’s worth bearing in mind some technical hurdles, including that the tool is optimized for use on PC rather than Mac.

11. Evolve

Evolve is an online digital learning authoring tool designed for novice authors. It makes it quick and easy to create simple courses, though isn’t so efficient when creating very bespoke, large-scale content.

12. Camtasia

Camtasia is an all-in-one software suite for screen recording and video editing. Although foremost a video capture tool, content can also be exported as SCORM packages.

Due to its primary focus on video, Camtasia does not perform all the usual functions of an authoring tool, and so is often integrated, or used alongside other elearning authoring software.

Business use cases for elearning software

Elearning software can be utilized in a number of ways, across multiple business verticals to provide impact. We’ve highlighted some areas below: 

Compliance training

For finance companies, providing engaging, digestible compliance training is critical. Elearning software enables organizations to produce powerful elearning material at scale, and quickly, to keep pace with the ever-changing regulatory landscape. 

Retail training

Keeping pace in a rapidly shifting industry such as retail can be impossible without the right elearning software. With the right tool, retail companies can produce exceptional learning that addresses the big challenges and ever-changing needs of retail customers. 

Sales training 

Educating employees on effective sales methods and tactics is important for organizations looking to boost sales and attract the right type of customer. Authoring tools can help company managers to produce and manage highly customizable, branded digital learning at scale.

Employee upskilling 

Organizations looking to provide employees with goal-oriented online training designed around specific skills should take advantage of authoring tools in order to track employee engagement, success rates, and the impact of their elearning.

In conclusion

There’s a lot of overlap in the functionality of the best elearning authoring tools shown here, but your requirements – such as the quality and scale at which you want to produce digital learning – will narrow down your shortlist. Ultimately, finding the best corporate elearning authoring software for you and your team will depend on your needs.

If you need to produce high-quality content at scale, then an authoring tool like Elucidat would be a great fit for you.

Let us know your specific authoring needs, book a demo to learn more, and get set up with a free trial account.

Further information

To help you make the right choice and also to get you thinking about your wider elearning tech stack and strategy, check out some of our other top content:

Overview of tools that includes LMS’s:

• Choosing the best SCORM compliant LMS 
• How to implement an effective employee training program
• The free elearning templates that will save you hours
• A guide to HTML5 elearning authoring tools
• The 8 best SCORM authoring tools

Embarking on the journey of online learning presents numerous advantages – it’s swift, adaptable, and cost-effective. Yet, the true value lies in its ability to make a significant impact. To ensure that the elearning content you develop aligns seamlessly with your business objectives, explore our comprehensive guide on how to create an elearning course that resonates and drives lasting results.

Why create an elearning course?

The digital transformation of the workplace has continued to accelerate since the pandemic. In the world of corporate training, online learning has never been so in demand. And it’s no surprise, when you look at the benefits it can create. 

• Reducing costs: Whether it’s printed material or face-to-face classroom learning, traditional training formats can be expensive. Identifying when these types of training can become digital will make your L&D budget go further.
• Saving time: Time is precious. On average, employees only have around 20 minutes a week for learning at work (Bersin & Forbes). If it’s a short digital module, it’s much easier to fit into their day. A digital course is also easier to deliver and maintain as busy L&D teams can automate training management tasks.
• Improving performance: Create bespoke elearning content in-house and you can respond more quickly to new development needs. Employees are able to quickly and easily access the learning they need when they need it. And this results in improved performance and greater productivity.
• Lowering environmental impact: Reducing the carbon footprint of a business is a key part of every corporate responsibility strategy. Going digital lowers the environmental impact of L&D. Elearning involves less travel and resources than traditional face-to-face and paper-based training. 

Where to start when creating an elearning course

Want to maximize these benefits? Don’t just rush ahead and create an course. If you’re going to design a digital solution with real impact, you need:

•  The right learning approach
•  An effective development process
•  The input of your internal experts

Choosing the right learning approach

There isn’t just one way to approach digital learning. So, before you start creating an online course, ask yourself these key questions:

• Is elearning the right approach?
  An effective corporate online learning strategy will include a wide variety of digital assets. From simple PDF checklists and quick selfie videos to interactive webinars and online coaching sessions, there are plenty of approaches to choose from. Make sure that elearning is the best way to meet your development need. 
• Should it be part of a blend?
  Elearning doesn’t have to be a standalone course. Divide your elearning up into more manageable chunks. This microlearning can integrate with other digital assets and face-to-face formats as a part of a flexible blended learning journey.
  
• Does this content already exist?
  Videos, blogs, journals, articles… there’s lots of great content on the web. And that’s before taking into account all the digital learning your organization has produced. Before you spend time creating elearning, make sure there isn’t something out there that will do the job just as well, or even better. Content curation could save you time and increase your impact.
• What’s the best way to create your elearning?
  If you decide that elearning is the answer, you need to consider how you’ll deliver your learning solution. There are three main approaches you could take:
  
  • Purchase off-the-shelf elearning: Some areas of training are relevant regardless of the sector or organization (for example, health and safety, information security and customer service). Off the shelf elearning can be a quick and cost-effective solution to these training needs. However, it won’t be tailored to your organization or learners, which may reduce its impact.
  • Engage with an agency or contractor: Expert learning course design agencies can take care of every aspect of your online course creation. They will deliver a high-end training course tailored to your target audience. However, using agencies can be expensive and time consuming.
  • Create elearning courses inhouse: Creating your own elearning inhouse using an authoring tool, lets you and your colleagues design a course with content that’s relevant to your organization and learners. You can make use of interactions and activities that have been specifically designed for effective online delivery. Read our elearning best practices guide.

Since you’ve found yourself reading this blog, it’s likely you’re interested in this third option. If you’re going to build your own elearning, make sure you have an authoring tool that’s right for you and your team, and creates the user experience you’re after.

Using an effective development process

Developing digital learning in large organizations can involve a lot of people – all with different priorities, experience and skills. Providing the right level of support is key to producing quality learning at scale. A clear process will help you stay on track with your project plan while empowering everyone to bring their best to the table.

3 common development process models

Although there isn’t one right process, there are common models that L&D teams use. You need to choose one that works for your organization and team. Here’s a quick overview of some of these models:

• ADDIE is a longstanding elearning development process. It stands for Analyze, Design, Development, Implement and Evaluate. In its traditional form, it guides everyone through one stage at a time. You can’t move on until you receive “sign off”.
• Agile started off as a software development process. At its core is the idea that small multi-skilled teams work collaboratively in “sprints” – short time frames of 1-4 weeks – to develop, share, test and iterate a solution.
• 5Cs framework has been created by learning designers for elearning projects specifically. The 5Cs are:
  • Capture – start with a clear plan: Understand the problem, so you can shape your solution.
  • Conceptualize – lead with a prototype: Turn what you know about your audience’s needs into a vision for effective and engaging learning.
  • Create – build with confidence: Start building in your authoring platform with a streamlined, efficient development process.
  • Cultivate – improve and refine: Use data to improve projects and inform strategy.
  • Commercialize – deliver better ROI: Make sure your product works for your business.

Find out more about the steps you can take for successful online learning in our elearning best practice guide.

Getting input from your internal experts

With your learning approach and process in place, you’re setting out on the right path. But even the best thought out plan will fail to deliver, if it’s not supported by effective collaboration. Developing impactful digital learning can’t be done alone. So, who should you involve?

• L&D: You and your team are the learning experts. You can get hands-on and create elearning yourself or play a supportive role, guiding authors to create online courses that deliver business impact.
• Learning designers: If your organization employs dedicated learning designers, then they will have the skills to build a course that is relevant, engaging, and effective elearning content.
• Stakeholders: A stakeholder is someone who has an interest in your course’s successful delivery. This can be a broad group and include senior management, department heads, managers and trainers. From kick off to sign off, your key business partners’ feedback and approval is essential.
• Subject Matter Experts (SMEs): Internal experts are essential to every learning project. SMEs make sure your learning is relevant, up to date and engaging. Without them identifying or creating credible examples, case studies and stories is almost impossible. 

Collaborating effectively with these colleagues will ensure your digital learning project goes smoothly and delivers results. Once everyone is onboard, you can even start to increase their involvement. Rather than just providing course content, SMEs can become elearning authors. With the right support and collaborative tool, they can input content directly into your authoring platform. 

4 steps to create an effective elearning course

Building a course alone or working in collaboration? Keeping it simple or creating customized interactions? Adding audio or video? It can be easy to get overwhelmed by all the things you need to consider when creating an elearning course. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with some simple steps to deliver effective learning experiences. 

1. Capture – Start with a clear plan

Rather than diving in and risking rework later, take the time to plan your course. 

• Define your training goals and objectives
  You can’t begin your elearning design until you’ve understood the problem you’re trying to solve. Conduct a needs analysis. This analysis can range from a simple interview to broader data collection. Define what the current situation is and what the desired impact of the training is. Make sure that it really is a skill or performance gap that training can fill, and not a wider issue such as process or communication.
• Understand your audience
  One size doesn’t fit all. Before you get started with training development, take a closer look at the people who are going to take your course. Create learner profiles. From basic demographics to the specifics of the job, an understanding of your target audience will enable you to create more relevant and usable learning content.
• Set measurable goals
  The purpose of all elearning is to bring about change. But how do you know if it’s been successful? Work with stakeholders upfront to decide on the goals you’re going to measure for your project. Elearning can generate a lot of data, but data doesn’t always mean insight. Only by carefully considering what you want to discover and identifying the relevant metrics and benchmarks, can you measure the success of your project.

2. Conceptualize – lead with a prototype

With the goals of your elearning clear in your mind, it’s time to set about generating some ideas for how they can be met. Don’t do this alone. You’ll get the best results if you do it in collaboration with your team and SMEs.  

Brainstorming

Brainstorming is great for coming up with lots of different ideas before narrowing your focus to one solution. Try to avoid looking at the course content. Instead ask everyone to think about what types of activities, experiences, tools and tips are most likely to work for your learners and goals. Here are a few techniques you could use to do this:

• Mindmapping: Explore ideas freely and sometimes collaboratively, primarily through text
• Storyboarding: Set out a sequence of potential pages or videos, like a comic strip
• Cathy Moore’s Action Mapping: Build out solutions based on building competency and change

Things you could consider when brainstorming include:

• Learning journey: Can you outline the full learning experience? How does your elearning fit with communications, other learning material and face-to-face activities?
• Learning approaches: Are there any tried and tested learning approaches which would meet your needs e.g. personalization, scenario based learning, gamification or social learning?
• Assessment: How will you check your learner’s understanding? Do you need a formal assessment at the end? Will you include an upfront diagnostic to serve or direct the learning to relevant content?
• Media: Will audio or video help bring your learning to life?

Prototyping

Prototyping is a crucial step. It allows you to check that your solution is heading in the right direction. You don’t have to prototype everything. It could be one piece of microlearning or 5 minutes of your 20-minute topic. You can do this with a:

• Wireframe: Sets out layouts and sample content, without getting caught up in styling
• Prototype: Visual styling and interactive walkthroughs of an idea to test reactions

Don’t make prototyping a big deal – do it early, do it regularly, do it collaboratively. Even if you’ve worked up ideas on paper with a wireframe, always look to build out some interactive content for your SMEs and stakeholders to try out and review.

And remember, you don’t have to start from a blank canvas. Your authoring tool may have ready-made templates which can create an effective prototype in just a few clicks. You can also seek inspiration from top elearning examples, many of which are available for re-use.

3. Create – Build with confidence

Once prototyping has confirmed your thinking, it’s time to get stuck into developing the detailed content. This stage can be seen as the “easy” step. Your design is pinned down, so you might think it’s just a case of writing the content, creating the graphics and bringing it all together in your authoring tool. Simple, right? But this is where a lot elearning falls down. So, how can you avoid some of the common pitfalls?

Start with your design model

Whether it’s copying and pasting dry content or opening the floodgates to everything your SMEs know, thinking your task is just populating the screen with detail is the path to ineffective learning. Instead of focusing on content, start with your design model. Use your prototyped learning approach as the blueprint. Your content is there to support the learning experience you’re setting out to create.

Collaborate in your authoring tool

SMEs are content experts not learning designers. To help them produce quality elearning, invite your SMEs to add their content directly into your amended and approved prototype. It already has the activities and interactions built in. Add short instructions to help them provide the type of information you need. This will help your SMEs include effective content into that framework rather than simply adding paragraphs of text. You can work on it with them at the same time, finessing wording and supporting them with visuals and practical activities.

Get agile with your build

If you build everything in one go and then gather feedback, you risk finding various parts of your elearning aren’t working as you had intended. Borrow from Agile and work in sprints with regular check in points. Here are a few examples of how you could break down your build process:

• Set up your overall styling and navigation elements
• Set up any elements that will be replicated and re-used – e.g. topic structures, menus and/or pages you will re-use
• Build out one topic first – check in on feedback and make changes
• Build out the other topics in parallel or one at a time – checking in on feedback as they are completed and making changes

These regular check in points allow you to gather feedback from your key stakeholders and some sample end users along the way.

Don’t forget to QA

It may not be the most exciting part of a project, but Quality Assurance (QA) can make or break your digital learning. QA as you go, but always do a full check before you release your elearning.

• Do several QA reviews: It’s not possible to review everything at once. If you’re focusing on testing links and buttons, you’re not paying attention to the flow of content and the sense of the narrative. Do at least two separate end-to-end reviews: one to look at text and overall sense, and another to look at visuals and functionality.
• Check the responsive experience
  If your authoring tool’s output is responsive, it should adapt to provide an optimal experience for the device it’s viewed on. But remember, you’re responsible for making sure your learning content works effectively. Don’t force lengthy, hard-to-use courses on people. Instead, keep your topics bite-sized and your content short form.
• Make sure it’s accessible
  Everyone should be able to have great learning experiences. Make sure your QA process includes an accessibility test. Check that your content is compatible with assistive technologies (e.g. screen readers) by checking you’ve added captions, provided transcripts and chosen your language wisely. Here are seven tips for designing accessible elearning to consider. 

Learn more about creating effective training modules here.

4. Cultivate – Improve and refine

It doesn’t end when your fully QA’d elearning is uploaded on to your Learning Management System (LMS). In fact, it’s only the beginning. One of the main benefits of online courses is that it’s easier to gather data about how you’re meeting your specific business goals. Armed with this information, you can learn, improve and update your elearning. 

Measure engagement

Most L&D teams measure the completion of their elearning courses. This is a great start, but it’s not a full picture of learner engagement. Many authoring tools other more detailed analytics so you can identify:

• Which topics within your elearning are most popular. This could indicate your audience is actively looking for support in certain areas.
• Which questions your audience are getting right with no problem, and which questions are tripping them up. This could indicate knowledge gaps that impact performance.
• Which countries / departments / locations are engaging most with the elearning. This could indicate where you need to do another round of promotion.

Measure impact

Once you’ve explored your learner engagement, you can start to measure the impact your elearning has had on your business goals. Has it delivered a Return on Investment (ROI)? Here are 3 steps to help you work it out:

1. Review your goal and the business metric you planned to impact. Make sure you have a benchmark to measure against.
2.  When you’ve reached significant engagement levels with your elearning, measure your key metric again and compare it to your benchmark. How are you doing?
3. Use what you’ve learned from your engagement data to double down your efforts. For example, if you’ve seen more engagement and more improvement in the US compared to the UK, get UK managers involved in promoting the elearning again.

Want to find out more? Check out our template guide to creating online training content.

In summary

If you want to maximize the benefits of moving your learning online, don’t just rush ahead and create elearning. To design a digital solution with real impact, follow our 4 steps to create an effective elearning course:

1. Capture – Start with a clear plan: Put time in upfront to make sure the solution you design is meeting the real business need.
2. Conceptualize – Lead with a prototype: Don’t rush ahead with a solution, generate ideas in collaboration with your SMEs and try them out in a prototype.
3. Create – Build with confidence: Use collaborative and iterative ways of working that involve your SMEs, stakeholders and especially your end users so you’re more likely to hit the target.
4. Cultivate – Improve and refine: Explore the data and analytics your tool offers to tweak and enhance your elearning and deliver more impact.

Using Elucidat to build a successful elearning course

New to elearning course creation or looking to take your next step with creating learning? Whatever your level of confidence, Elucidat can help you maximize the impact of your digital learning. New authors can use Elucidat’s guided workflow to create an online course quickly and easily. Experienced authors can leverage the full power of Elucidat to create custom elearning courses that are tailored to your learners needs. 

At Elucidat, we’re also constantly improving our platform based on customer feedback. So, you can be sure you’re using a tool with the latest UI, UX and learning design best practice baked in. 

Want to see for yourself? Book a demo of Elucidat to get started with a free trial.

In the rapidly evolving world of digital learning, online courses have revolutionized how knowledge is shared and acquired. This transformation has led to a surge in demand for efficient course creation software, enabling course creators to easily produce, manage, and distribute impactful digital learning content.

However, the many options available can make choosing the right course creation software an overwhelming task. This comprehensive guide will help clarify what course creation software is, what features to consider, and spotlight ten leading software solutions in the market. Doing so aims to help you find the best course creation software that aligns perfectly with your digital learning needs and aspirations.

What is course creation software?

At its core, course creation softwares, also known as online course builders, are a specialized set of tools that enable users to design, create, manage, and distribute online courses. These platforms offer an end-to-end solution that significantly simplifies the entire learning process, from creating engaging online course content to delivering it, managing users, and tracking their progress. 

The beauty of online course creation software lies in its ability to enable the creation of interactive, immersive, and engaging content without requiring you to be tech-savvy. Whether you’re an individual instructor brimming with knowledge to share or a large organization aiming to train your workforce, the best platform for creating online training is one that syncs perfectly with your unique needs and goals. Great course creation software ensures a seamless, enriching experience for the course creator and the learner, leading to enhanced learning outcomes.

What should you look for in course creation software?

Choosing the right course creation platform is akin to finding the perfect pair of shoes – it should fit well, be comfortable, and serve the purpose. Here are several key factors to consider when choosing a course creation software:

• Ease of use: Prioritizing ease of use ensures that you can create and manage courses efficiently, regardless of the technical expertise of you and your team. An intuitive and user-friendly platform allows you to focus on content creation and delivery, enabling a seamless and enjoyable experience for course creators and learners.
• Affordability: Consider the pricing structure and scalability of the platform, determining whether it aligns with your budget and growth plans. Some platforms offer tiered pricing plans or subscription models, so assess which option suits your needs best.
• Scalability: If you have aspirations of scaling up your digital learning initiatives, choosing a course creation platform that grows seamlessly with your needs is vital. It should be capable of streamlining course editing, upkeeping, and localization.
• Course engagement features: By selecting a course creation platform that offers engagement features, you can create an interactive and immersive learning experience, keeping learners motivated, involved, and committed to the course. Consider personalization options, collaboration tools, interactive elements and more. 
• Assessment and progress tracking: Look for features that enable you to create assessments, polls, and quizzes for driving engagement, as well as the ability to track and analyze learners’ progress and performance. This helps you evaluate their understanding and identify areas for development.
• Integration and compatibility: Consider whether the platform integrates well with other tools and systems you use, such as Learning Management Systems (LMSs). Compatibility with popular file formats (e.g., SCORM or xAPI) is also important for seamless content distribution and interoperability.
• Responsive support team: Evaluate the level of support and resources the platform provides. This may include documentation, tutorials, and customer support channels. Adequate support ensures you can troubleshoot issues and maximize the platform’s potential.

Who can use course creation software?

As the digital learning sphere becomes increasingly vital to company growth, course creation software stands out as a key enabler for various stakeholders. This versatile tool is designed to cater to the unique needs of professionals who are tasked with the role of fostering knowledge and enhancing skills in the workplace. Let’s delve into the roles that can harness the power of course creation software to drive corporate learning objectives.

Learning Designers

Learning designers in the corporate world often grapple with the challenge of creating content that’s both engaging and aligned with business goals. Course creation software offers them a robust suite of tools to craft impactful digital learning modules. From interactive simulations to branching scenarios, learning designers can utilize these platforms to deliver rich learning experiences that drive employee engagement and retention, thereby translating complex business concepts into digestible learning interventions.

L&D Managers

For L&D managers, course creation software is a strategic asset. It’s a platform from which they can launch and manage corporate learning initiatives, ensuring that educational programs not only meet compliance standards but also advance the company’s strategic objectives. With functionalities that allow for real-time tracking and analytics, L&D managers can gauge the effectiveness of training, tailor programs to address specific competency gaps, and measure the ROI of learning initiatives.

Subject Matter Experts (SMEs)

SMEs are often the linchpins of corporate learning, holding the specialized knowledge that sets a company apart. Course creation software empowers these experts to share their insights without the need for deep technical know-how in digital learning development. With user-friendly interfaces, SMEs can swiftly create or contribute to content, facilitating the rapid sharing of expertise across the organization. This accessibility ensures that valuable know-how is captured and made available, enhancing the collective intelligence of the business.

The best course creation software

With these considerations in mind, let’s dive deep into the world of course creation software. This section outlines the top-notch software options available in the market, aimed to assist you in creating engaging learning content and course content.

1. Elucidat

Known for its powerful course authoring tool functionalities and extensive features, Elucidat has gained the trust of enterprise organizations around the globe. The authoring software enables the creation of impactful elearning courses at scale but also empowers any author, regardless of their technical prowess, to produce high-quality digital learning content. 

Pros:

• User-friendly with a minimal learning curve, allowing beginners and experts alike to use it efficiently
• Offers extensive customization options to help your courses stand out and reflect your unique style
• Provides powerful analytics tools, offering insights into learner engagement and course performance
• Offers a cloud-based solution for easy collaboration, perfect for team-based course creation

Cons:

• As the tool is built for enterprise it is not the best for small organizations or individual educators looking for cost-effective solutions
• Not the ideal solution for software simulation 

2. Articulate 360

Articulate 360 is a comprehensive suite of course creation tools that offers a solution for every step of the course development process. It’s favored by many professionals due to its flagship Storyline 360 product which has been a key player in the course creation space for many years.

Pros:

• Provides a full suite of course development tools, including Storyline 360 for course creation, Rise 360 for responsive course building, Review 360 for project feedback, and Reach 360 as a delivery platform
• Offers an extensive content library with thousands of customizable course templates and assets

Cons:

• It can be expensive for individuals or small organizations
• The learning curve can be steep for beginners due to the wide array of tools and features

3. iSpring

iSpring is a robust online course builder software designed for ease of use. Its user-friendly interface makes it an excellent choice for beginners, yet it still packs a punch with a wealth of advanced features.

Pros:

• User-friendly interface makes it easy to create courses, even for beginners
• Offers a variety of interactive features such as quizzes, dialog simulations, and interactive videos to engage learners

Cons:

• Primarily a PowerPoint-based tool, which may limit creativity and flexibility in course design
• Advanced analytics and reporting are limited in the basic plan

4. Adobe Captivate

Adobe Captivate is a feature-rich course creation platform known for its capabilities in creating highly interactive elearning content. It’s a preferred choice for experienced course creators and designers who seek flexibility and advanced functionalities.

Pros:

• Allows for the creation of software simulations
• Offers a wide range of interactive elements and quizzing options to make learning engaging

Cons:

• Steeper learning curve, especially for those not familiar with Adobe software
• Lack of supporting services, onboarding materials and help material

5. Thinkific

Thinkific, a well-reputed course creation software, is ideal for beginners and experienced course creators alike. With an array of features designed to support course creators at every stage of the journey.

Pros:

• Comes with an intuitive, drag-and-drop course builder, making course creation a breeze
• Supports various multimedia content formats, from video lectures and downloadable resources to interactive quizzes, fostering an immersive learning environment
• Allows the creation of quizzes, surveys, and assignments, enhancing learner engagement and understanding

Cons:

• Some advanced features, which can power up your courses, are available only in higher-priced plans
• Offers limited customization options compared to other platforms, which could be a limiting factor if you want to give your courses a unique look and feel

6. Teachable

Teachable, a widely-used course creation software, cleverly combines ease-of-use with powerful course creation capabilities. Whether you’re a seasoned educator or a novice with a passion for sharing your knowledge, Teachable provides the perfect platform to create and sell online courses.

Pros:

• Boasts built-in marketing and sales tools, empowering you to effectively promote and sell your courses
• Supports various content formats, allowing you to cater to different learning preferences and needs
• Offers customizable course pages, giving you the freedom to design your course the way you envision it
• Provides excellent customer support, ensuring your course creation journey is smooth and hassle-free

Cons:

• The basic plan charges transaction fees, which could affect your course revenue
• Limited options for automated student interactions, which could potentially impact learner engagement

7. Kajabi

If you’re looking for more than just course creation software, Kajabi is your answer. It’s an all-in-one platform offering website building, email marketing, and customer management features, making it a comprehensive solution for online educators and businesses.

Pros:

• A comprehensive platform covering not just course creation but also marketing and business management, saving you the hassle of integrating multiple platforms
• Boasts advanced automation capabilities, enhancing efficiency and allowing you to automate repetitive tasks
• Excellent customization features to help your courses stand out and create a consistent brand identity

Cons:

• The higher price point may not suit all budgets, making it less suitable for educators or small organizations with a tight budget
• The wide range of features can overwhelm users looking for a simpler, more focused course creation platform

8. Podia

If you’re a creator seeking to sell not just online courses but also memberships and digital downloads, Podia is an excellent choice. With a clean and user-friendly interface, Podia simplifies the course creation and selling process.

Pros:

• Offers unlimited courses, customers, and bandwidth in all plans, providing excellent scalability as your business grows
• Doesn’t charge additional transaction fees, ensuring that you keep all of your course sales revenue
• Built-in email marketing tools make communicating with your learners and building your community easy

Cons:

• Lacks advanced quiz and assessment features, which may be a hindrance if you wish to incorporate such elements in your course
• Does not offer certificate capabilities, which can be a drawback if your learners expect course completion certificates

9. LearnDash

LearnDash is a WordPress-based course creation platform that offers a robust suite of features and a high degree of customization. If you have a WordPress website and want to add an online course component, LearnDash is an excellent choice.

Pros:

• Fully compatible with WordPress, allowing seamless integration with your existing website
• Comes with advanced quizzing features, fostering an engaging and interactive learning experience
• Supports course content dripping and prerequisite lessons, which aids in structuring your courses effectively

Cons:

• The need for WordPress might be a disadvantage for those who don’t have a WordPress website or are unfamiliar with it
• The cost of third-party plugins can add to the overall cost of the platform

10. Coursecraft

Coursecraft is a platform designed for simplicity and ease of use. It’s a great choice for beginners looking for an easy-to-use tool to create and sell their online courses.

Pros:

• Offers a clean, user-friendly interface that makes course creation easy, even for beginners
• Provides a built-in sales and landing page builder, simplifying the process of marketing your courses

Cons:

• Lacks advanced features such as quizzes and certificates, which might be a limitation for some course creators
• The free plan charges a high transaction fee, which can reduce your course sales earnings

Need a hand comparing software? Let this handy comparison template do the heavy lifting for you. 

Conclusion

Choosing the right course creation software is a vital step in the journey of digital learning. The software you select will significantly influence the quality of your digital courses, the experience you provide to your learners, and the overall effectiveness of your elearning initiatives. Therefore, it’s crucial to analyze your options thoroughly and select a tool that aligns with your unique needs and goals in the realm of digital learning.

Remember, the best course creation software is the one that fulfills your requirements, matches your budget, and aligns with your vision of delivering impactful digital learning.

Course creation with Elucidat

Whether you’re designing comprehensive courses or focusing on engaging gamification and microlearning elements, Elucidat has got you covered.

Elucidat goes beyond just being a course creation tool. It’s a trusted partner in your elearning journey. With sophisticated collaboration tools, customizable user permissions, and refined access controls, you have everything you need to create impactful elearning content. 

Find out how Elucidat can take course creation to the next level and book a demo today.

With the rising need to develop digital training materials, tools that facilitate the creation of captivating elearning courses at speed are in high demand. Rapid authoring tools, such as Elucidat, feature extensive functionalities that can save you both time and money. Find out more about these types of authoring software and the features to consider when exploring which one is right for you.

What are rapid elearning authoring tools?

A rapid authoring tool is a piece of software designed to help elearning professionals swiftly create impactful, online training courses. These tools are equipped with numerous built-in functionalities that simplify the lives of online course designers. 

These particular authoring tools provide essential features for producing high-quality elearning courses quickly, all while requiring minimal effort to learn and navigate. Moreover, they offer convenient time-saving options such as drag-and-drop functionality and a variety of pre-designed templates that can be branded and styled to suit the needs of your business. 

Rapid authoring tools eliminate the requirement for coding skills and expertise in multimedia tools. This empowers subject matter experts (SMEs) and learning and development professionals with limited programming knowledge, to maximize their capabilities.

By utilizing quick-to-create tools as part of a business training platform, a diverse range of corporate elearning courses can be developed effortlessly, spanning everything from basic quizzes to interactive scenarios. These tools enable quick and efficient course creation, allowing for seamless and accelerated elearning development.

What types of rapid elearning authoring tools are there?

There are 3 main types of rapid content development tools to consider, namely:

1. PowerPoint plug-ins
2. Desktop-based authoring tools
3. Cloud-based authoring tools

Here, we’ll take a closer look at each type. 

Powerpoint add-ins

These authoring tools seamlessly integrate with Microsoft PowerPoint as plug-ins, making them incredibly user-friendly with minimal learning curves. They enable the creation of uncomplicated digital learning materials with basic interactive elements.

Desktop-based authoring tools

These authoring tools are widely employed for elearning design and development. They require installation on your computer. Offering an array of features, they are ideal for crafting courses with advanced interactivity and extensive customization. It’s also important to remember that all files are saved locally, so version management can be problematic.

Cloud-based authoring tools 

These online authoring tools operate on the cloud and are accessible via your internet browser. They are typically provided as Software as a Service (SaaS) and require licensing. Cloud-based tools facilitate collaborative authoring, allowing multiple individuals to log in and work on the tool simultaneously.

When should you use rapid authoring tools for elearning?

When there is a need to develop elearning courses within limited timeframes, quick and easy authoring tools can be a valuable asset. For example, Elucidat’s intuitive interface, pre-built templates, and drag-and-drop functionality enables quick content creation, reducing the time and effort required for course development.

Rapid authoring tools are also well-suited for iterative development processes. They allow for easy content updates, revisions, and enhancements, ensuring that elearning courses can be quickly modified and refined based on feedback or changing requirements.

When creating self-paced or microlearning courses, rapid authoring tools provide a convenient and efficient way to structure and present bite-sized content. These tools often include features that support interactive elements, assessments, and multimedia integration, enhancing the overall learning experience.

What to look for in rapid authoring tools

Rapid elearning tools come with their own range of features. When choosing the right platform, there are some particular inclusions that you’ll want to consider. Here, we’ll take a look at some of the most prominent things to look for. 

Responsive and mobile-friendly elearning

In today’s landscape, learners expect course materials to be responsive, allowing them to access content across multiple devices. This responsiveness is crucial as it enables learners to engage with the material anytime and from anywhere. 

When designing rapid courses that can be seamlessly accessed on various mobile devices such as smartphones or tablets, it becomes imperative to utilize authoring tools with built-in responsiveness.

User-friendly interface

When considering any software or tool, the presence of a user-friendly interface holds paramount importance. Without an interface that is easy to navigate, the utilization of an authoring tool becomes challenging, leading to limitations. 

Opting for an authoring tool with a simplified interface allows for effortless usage by individuals across the organization. By doing so, all authors can fully harness the potential of the tool.

Pre-built templates & interactions

Quizzes and gamified materials are highly enjoyable and effective learning methods. However, creating these quizzes from scratch can be a time-intensive process. Rapid elearning authoring tools can significantly streamline this task. 

An ideal rapid authoring tool also provides customization options to tailor assessments to the specific and unique learning needs of your employees. By finding an authoring tool that offers both ready-to-use templates and a library of question interaction types, along with the flexibility to customize them, you can make a well-informed choice. 

This ensures that you can create engaging quizzes that align perfectly with your employees’ learning requirements.

Benefits of rapid elearning development

There are a number of benefits of rapid elearning development for both learners and organizations. Here are 3 benefits to keep in mind. 

Saves time, money, and effort

Rapid elearning courses are not bound by limitations of time and budget. They are typically created using existing resources, such as templates, storyboards, and other relevant materials. Consequently, rapid elearning courses offer a cost-effective solution, allowing for efficient development and timely delivery even within tight deadlines.

Ease of use

Rapid elearning makes it incredibly easy for enabling both experienced and non-experienced authors to create quality content, meaning you can deliver content to learners when and where they need it.

Aids in information retention

Engaging learners and enhancing their information retention is typically the top priority for delivering a successful learning experience. Rapid elearning takes this a step further by leveraging microlearning techniques, enabling the delivery of just-in-time training in the process. 

In impactful elearning courses, extraneous data is stripped away, leaving behind only the most relevant and valuable information for learners to easily consume and effectively retain.

Rapid elearning development drawbacks

Of course, where there are pros there’s also cons to consider. Here’s a look at some drawbacks of rapid elearning development. 

Runs the risk of becoming dull or generic

As elearning courses often rely on pre-made graphics and templates, there is a risk of modules becoming monotonous over time. When an organization possesses an extensive library of elearning modules, learners may gradually lose interest due to the repetitive use of imagery or graphics. This is why intuitive rapid authoring tools, such as Elucidat, make it easy to create unique authoring in a flash. 

Less customization

The speed and efficiency of a rapid elearning authoring tool primarily stems from its user-friendly interface. These tools provide a wide range of pre-existing templates, themes, and assets that accelerate the course material creation process.

While many authoring tools offer customization options to include branded elements like logos and themes, there are inherent limitations to maintaining the rapid nature of the tool. These limitations can potentially hinder user creativity.

Lack of complex interactivity

Rapid elearning tools may not offer advanced interactivity options compared to more sophisticated authoring tools. This limitation can hinder the creation of complex simulations, branching scenarios, or interactive assessments.

3 examples of rapid authoring tools

When it comes to speed, efficiency, and user-friendliness, authoring tools that offer quick and simple solutions take center stage. Let’s explore three of the most popular rapid authoring tools that can significantly elevate your elearning development process.

1. Elucidat

Elucidat is a cloud-based rapid authoring platform that simplifies elearning content creation. Designed for both novices and experienced designers, its intuitive interface, coupled with powerful design capabilities, offers a seamless content creation process.

Pros

• Pre-built template and advance workflows allow for rapid authoring
• Highly flexible, allowing creators to craft unique, interactive elearning modules
• Powerful auto-translation tools
• Supports collaborative work, ideal for team-based projects

Cons

• The tool is designed for enterprise organizations, therefore it might be costly for small businesses or individual creators.

2. Articulate 360 

Articulate 360 is a comprehensive authoring tool that integrates the strengths of Storyline 360 and Rise. Storyline 360 is celebrated for its ease of use and wide-ranging functionalities, while Rise is known for its emphasis on speed and simplicity. Together, they create a good solution for any elearning project.

Pros

• Rise has an Intuitive interface
• It includes a built-in library of customizable templates
• It benefits from extensive community support and resources.

Cons

• Though it includes a wide range of features, it may not provide the depth of customization options seen in some other rapid authoring tools.
• It has limited integration with third-party applications, which might limit its usefulness in more complex elearning ecosystems.

3. Easygenerator

Easygenerator is a cloud-based elearning authoring tool that empowers you to create engaging courses without any prior learning design experience.

Pros

• Beginner-friendly interface.
• Includes features like quiz creation and learner tracking.
• Supports team collaboration for course creation.

Cons

• Not as feature-rich as some other rapid authoring tools.
• Advanced users might find customization options limited.

If you’re looking for a more comprehensive comparison of authoring software, read our article comparing the best elearning tools.

Currently comparing authoring tools? Let this handy comparison template do the hard work for you.

Wrapping up rapid authoring

In simple terms, rapid elearning is an approach that centers around learning objectives while eliminating any unnecessary and unrelated elements that could potentially overwhelm elearning experiences. Its deployment, of course, is made all the easier with the right authoring tool at your disposal.

To find out how Elucidat can support quick and easy elearning development, book a demo today.

You’re ready to get your corporate elearning out to learners. You know you need a SCORM-compliant LMS. But which LMS is best? How do you create SCORM-compliant content? And what does SCORM-compliant actually mean? In this review, we compare the main SCORM-compliant LMSs to help you make your decision.

SCORM: A quick overview

SCORM stands for Shareable Content Object Reference Model It’s a set of standards that set out how an elearning course must be built in order to be considered ‘SCORM compliant.’

For more info on SCORM in general check out our Back to basics: What is SCORM? blog.

What is a SCORM-compliant LMS?

A SCORM-compliant LMS is a form of LMS which is suitable for SCORM files. LMS stands for Learning Management System. It’s a type of digital elearning platform where online learning modules can be uploaded for learners to access them. The corporate elearning then ‘talks’ to the LMS, telling it things like who has completed which module, and what their score was.

A SCORM-compliant LMS means it’s set up in a way to ‘listen’ to the information the digital learning modules send to it. Both the LMS and the corporate elearning course need to be SCORM-compliant so that the data can be sent between them, and the person in charge of the LMS can run reports to see who has looked at the learning materials and how they’ve done.

How can I choose the best SCORM-compliant LMS?

SCORM is the most widely used industry standard, so many LMSs are SCORM-compliant. This means there are lots to choose from, so how do you choose the right SCORM compliant learning management system?

Ask yourself the following questions:

Which SCORM versions do I need and are they supported?

There are several versions of SCORM, from SCORM 1.0 which was set up in 2000, to the most recent SCORM 2004 (4th edition) from 2009.

The most widely used are SCORM 1.2 (2001) and SCORM 2004 (3rd edition). When choosing which version you want your SCORM LMS to support, you’ll need to consider which features you want from it, and which standard your corporate elearning content is built to.

You can find out more about the different versions of SCORM in this timeline of elearning standards.

Do I need the LMS to be SCORM certified and by who? If it’s not certified by ADL, which SCORM API elements are supported?

ADL is the governing body for SCORM. For an LMS to be SCORM-certified, it needs to have passed ADL’s testing process. If the LMS isn’t officially certified by ADL, you need to check which features it includes to make sure it can support the roll-out of your elearning in the way you need it to.

What will work best with my SCORM compliant authoring tool? How easy is it to upload and update my content?

Different LMSs will offer different ways for you to add your digital learning to the site. Some LMSs will offer bulk upload features, which will be important if you’re dealing with large numbers of files and SCORM packages. Others offer different ways of organizing and presenting your content so you can tailor your course creation to your learners.

Of course, you also need to make sure your corporate elearning itself is SCORM compliant. The simplest way to create SCORM-compliant content is using an authoring tool that automatically outputs courses as SCORM packages, like Articulate Storyline or Elucidat (compare SCORM compliant authoring tools here). Elucidat also offers a rapid release feature, meaning that any changes you make to your elearning will be automatically applied to the version on your LMS – speeding things up and saving your work.

How important is reporting to me and in which format do I want them to be in? How do the SCORM course data reports look in the LMS?

Think about what you want to know about your learners and their interaction with your courses.

Is it enough to simply know that they’ve accessed and completed a module? Or do you need more detail, like whether they passed or failed and what score they achieved?

Also, think about how you want to the data to be presented and what you need to do with it. For compliance training, for example, demonstrating that learners have completed certain learning will be crucial, so you will want to choose an LMS that clearly displays what’s been done it a way that be shared across the team.

Which LMSs use SCORM?

When it comes to delivering elearning content that’s SCORM compliant, it’s important to choose an LMS that can meet your organization’s needs. With so many options available, it can be tough to know where to start.

So, what LMSs use SCORM? The truth is most modern LMSs support SCORM to some degree. However, a few are particularly well-known for their SCORM capabilities, which you can explore below. 

By doing your research and choosing the right SCORM-compliant LMS, you can deliver more engaging and effective SCORM elearning experiences to your learners, while also streamlining your training and development processes.

Popular SCORM LMSs: Comparison and review

If you type LMS into Google, you’ll be faced with numerous options. Let’s take a look at some of the main SCORM-compliant Learning Management Systems out there and see how they compare:

Docebo

Docebo is a reputable LMS used by big companies like Thomson Reuters and Bloomberg. It has a user-friendly interface to make managing learning easier. Its API lets users easily integrate third-party applications into the LMS so it can be used with video-conferencing tools like Adobe Connect.

CrossKnowledge

CrossKnowledge is a powerful training platform designed for effective skill-building at scale. Its digital learning solution uniquely combines digital content for the most in-demand skills, a powerful learning platform, and expert capabilities to create impactful learning experiences.​

Fuse

Fuse combines LMS technology with social learning and community features. It offers advanced analytics and a fully-customizable interface. It supports SCORM 1.1 and 1.2, so might not be the best choice is you want to make use of the more recent SCORM standards.

Instancy

Instancy, or iLMS, is a configurable LMS that supports the delivery elearning, classroom training, social learning, blended learning, gamified learning and competency-based learning. Its Learning Record Stores keeps data on learners’ progress and performance in one place for ease of reporting.

Knowledge Anywhere LMS

Knowledge Anywhere lets learning managers create custom curriculums for different learners and groups. Data can be viewed from the reporting dashboard or exported to Excel.  It also users real-time reporting for really up-to-date information.

LearnUpon

LearnUpon offers a user-friendly interface and good customer support options to help learning managers get set up quickly and easily. It doesn’t offer any mobile-specific features so if you’re looking to make your learning mobile-first, there may be better options for you.

Litmos LMS

Litmos lets you easily customize the learner-view of the UI so you can make sure your training portal is on brand. There are options for both simple and more in-depth reporting, as well as a feature that gives external managers remote access to reports.

Spoke LMS

Spoke could be a good option if you want to harness the power of social learning as it offers a number of features to encourage discussion and collaboration between learners. It also adds gamification to the mix – as learners work through learning and share helpful content, they earn Spoke coins, unlock badges and level up their user profiles.

SumTotal

SumTotal offers two levels of offering: Maestro for small-medium businesses and Enterprise for bigger organizations. It offers pre-defined deployment templates for learning managers who want to get their LMS up and running quickly using an existing best-practice format. Its user interface can be complex though for those wanting to go it alone.

Totara

Totara is an open-source LMS that lets learning managers create learning plans for their users, based on tailored competencies and objectives. Content can be added directly to the LMS or uploaded as SCORM objects. It also allows for the management of face-to-face training courses and full graphical reporting features.

Creating a course: SCORM authoring tools

If you’re choosing a SCORM-compliant LMS, you need to make sure you also have SCORM-compliant corporate elearning to upload to it.

It’s a good idea to choose an elearning authoring that allows you to create courses to SCORM standards as then you will know your modules are easily portable, wherever you decide to host them. Online learning tools that offer SCORM compliance as standard include the Articulate 360 suite, Elucidat and Adapt.

Take a look at this full comparison of the various SCORM-compliant elearning tools out there.

If you’re currently using PowerPoint for your training materials, our PowerPoint to SCORM guide can help you quickly convert them into SCORM-compliant courses.

Some tips for using Elucidat with your LMS

If you choose to use Elucidat as your authoring tool, there are a few bits of advice we can offer to make your integration with your LMS go as smoothly as possible:

1. Use the online SCORM version.

You can choose between version 1.2 and 2004, We’re set up to have callbacks to our servers that makes sure learners’ progress it tracked. The online version also allows you to include features like social polling scoring and results pages.

2. Make use of our rapid release feature

We’re one of the only elearning authoring tools that offers rapid authoring features, and it means you can upload your course on the fly. You don’t need to manually download and then re-upload into your LMS each time you make a change.

3. Consider other release options too

For many users, the online SCORM version of Elucidat will perfectly meet their needs, but be aware that there are other options too. For example, xAPI can allow tracking features that outstrip SCORM’s offering, so if you’re LMS is compatible, you might choose publishing xAPI versions of your modules instead.

Summary

There isn’t a shortage of choice when it comes to SCORM-compliant Learning Management Systems. Take some time to consider the features that are most important to how you need to work and see which LMS prioritizes those.

Whichever one you choose, make sure your elearning authoring tool offers robust, fully SCORM-compliant output as this will be essential if your course is work seamlessly with your LMS.

Start producing SCORM-compliant content

Be sure you have the right tool to release SCORM-compliant content seamlessly to your LMS. Book your personalized demo of Elucidat today and get started with your free trial!

Learning and development on a global scale requires a learning management system, or LMS. From creating essential staff training software to deploying it across the organization, an LMS keeps you in control. But how do you know which LMS to choose? Discover the importance of an elearning LMS, how to decide which learning management system is right for you, and explore our LMS comparison.

• What is LMS software
• Benefits of LMS platforms
• Types of learning management systems
• How to choose the best LMS software
• The best LMS platforms
• LMS authoring tools
• Best learning management system integrations 

What is Learning Management System (LMS) software?

A Learning Management System (LMS) is a software application that provides a centralized platform for training management. An LMS enables organizations to deliver training content, track staff progress and completion, and generate reports on training performance. The system is designed to streamline the training process, making it more efficient, effective, and flexible.

With an LMS, you can effectively manage online training or elearning modules. This allows for personalized learning experiences, enabling you to recommend training content based on individual staff members’ needs, skills, and learning preferences. This ensures that staff members receive the training they need to excel in their jobs.

Put simply, a learning management system allows you to effectively and efficiently create, roll out, and manage learning and development at your organization.

Benefits of LMS platforms

LMS software has become an indispensable tool for many L&D departments. And it’s not surprising when you look at all the benefits it can bring you and your organization.

• Get responsive: Quickly and easily creating and rolling out online training means you can respond to new learning and development needs at pace.
• Reduce your costs: Easy-to-access online courses allow you to reduce more expensive classroom training and face-to-face mentoring and use them where they have the most impact.
• Use time more effectively: Automating your most time-consuming work, while reducing the hours employees spend away from their everyday duties for training – it’s a win-win.
• Personalize learning experiences: Providing a range of staff training and different routes through this blended learning creates more personalized experiences.
• Make it convenient: Enabling people to take courses at their own pace – wherever, whenever and on any device – creates a convenient learning experience.
• Create consistency at scale: Rolling out courses across locations, sectors and departments allows you to create consistent skills and knowledge on a global scale.
• Keep track and stay compliant: Reporting provides an audit trail and removes a degree of human error that could open you up to risk.
• Continuously improve: Using feedback, data and analytics to learn from each piece of staff training you roll out allows you to continually improve.

All these benefits add up to one big gain: Maximizing the impact of L&D at your organization.

Types of Learning Management Systems

While most training platforms for employees share a common purpose and many benefits, LMS system features can vary from product to product. When you’re researching LMSs, you’ll notice some key terms keep appearing. Understanding these are essential to making your choice of learning management system LMS software. Here’s our lowdown of the different terms and types you should look out for.

SCORM-compliant: SCORM stands for Shareable Content Object Reference Model. It’s a way of setting up an elearning course so that it can run from any (SCORM-compliant) LMS. Whether it’s off the shelf or built by your team, digital courses can come in different shapes and sizes. If you’re going to run elearning that adheres to SCORM standards, you need a SCORM-compliant LMS.

For more info on SCORM, take a look at SCORM – the complete guide. If you’re specifically looking for SCORM LMSs, check out our Best SCORM compliant LMS blog.

Cloud-based vs. Locally hosted: Choose between a SaaS (Software as a Service) LMS or storing your data on your own servers. If you host the system yourself, you’re responsible for all server specs, uptime and security. If you choose a SaaS, your data will be cloud-based and your vendor takes care of this work.

LMS vs Learning Content Management System (LCMS): There’s some crossover between LCMSs and LMSs. Both allow you to host and deliver web-based learning, and both are SCORM compatible. The main difference is that LCMS specializes in digital learning – allowing you to create and deliver elearning all in one place.

For more info on the difference between an LMS and an LCMS, have a look at our Learning Content Management Systems Guide: LCMS vs. LMS.

How to choose the best LMS software

As you can see, there’s lots of different LMS types to choose from. Narrowing it down to the best LMS platforms for your organization is all about understanding your key needs. Our friends at LearnUpon have outlined five steps to get you focused and identifying the best enterprise LMS solutions. Here’s a quick summary:

• Step 1: Identify your audience: Think about your learners and the type of training you need to deliver. For example, what are your key learning objectives? Do you need onboarding, compliance or customer training?
• Step 2: Focus on important features: List your “need to have” features. For example, is your focus going to be ease of use or complex reporting? Are you looking for the best mobile LMS, or is quick integration more important?
• Step 3: Evaluate each LMS: Do some high-level research to identify systems that appear to meet your needs. Evaluate each of these. Create a short list of LMS systems that you think could work for your organization.
• Step 4: Look beyond the LMS: Go deeper and do some more research. Look at LMS platform reviews. Explore the aftercare each LMS offers. Sign up for a free trial so you can try them out for yourself.
• Step 5: Choosing an LMS: Finally, it’s time to do an LMS comparison. If you’ve got two or three systems that meet your needs, take another look at those corporate LMS reviews. Share your decision with colleagues and stakeholders for feedback on your decision.

To find out more about each of these steps, check out the full article on LearnUpon.

The best LMS platforms

So, you’re ready to start your research and identify the best LMS tools for your organization. But with so many companies claiming to have top LMS platforms, where do you start looking? Whether you’re after corporate Learning Management Systems or open-source platforms, we’ve identified 10 of the best tools. Here’s a short LMS software comparison for each of them:

1. LearnUpon

LearnUpon is an award-winning cloud-based learning management system which focuses on the customer. An intuitive interface makes it easy for both admins and learners to use LearnUpon. Continuous feedback and roadmap input allow customers to shape the platform.

• USPs: Easy-to-use; Customer-centric; World-class support.
• Ideal for: Medium to large enterprises who want to maximize their growth through training of employees, partners and customers.

2. Docebo

Award-winning Docebo Learn is a cloud-based LMS that’s easy to use and configurable. Docebo applies new approaches and technologies, like social learning and Artificial Intelligence, to support the different ways people learn. A monthly active user price model makes it an affordable option.

• USPs: Highly configurable; Future-focused; Affordable.
• Ideal for: Fast-growing international companies looking to scale training for customers and partners.

3. Knowledge Anywhere

Knowledge Anywhere is a centralized learning platform that provides an award-winning end-to-end solution. From strategy to implementation, they have experts on hand to offer support whenever it’s needed.

• USPs: End-to-end solution; Customer-centric; World-class support.
• Ideal for: Organizations in any industry (except formalized education institutions) with over 50 learners.

4. Totara Learn

Totara Learn is an award-winning LMS. It can be adapted and extended to meet exact requirements and seamlessly integrate into technology ecosystems. With no expensive long-term contracts, Totara is an affordable and flexible option.

• USPs: Adaptable; Extendable; Cost effective.
• Ideal for: Organizations of all sizes across all sectors, but Totara is particularly popular with healthcare, government, non-profit and retail sectors.

5. SAP Litmos Training LMS

SAP Litmos Training LMS can be simply and quickly implemented. This award-winning LMS offers rapid automation and embedded Artificial Intelligence. It’s combined with a robust course library – SAP Litmos Training Content – which speeds up rolling out training.

• USPs: Simple integration; Robust off-the-shelf content; Easy to roll out.
• Ideal for: Large, global organizations with distributed workforces.

6. Cornerstone

Priding itself as the best LMS for business, Cornerstone provides a holistic solution. From HR to course content, find everything in one place with this corporate LMS. Use it to manage different delivery methods, as well as informal learning and reporting. Offering world-class support, Cornerstone is easy to roll out.

• USPs: A Holistic solution; Easy to roll out; World-class support.
• Ideal for: Large organizations with a global presence.

7. Absorb LMS

Absorb is a cloud-based LMS training system. This training platform combines forward-thinking technology that’s built to scale with organizations. It also offers great customer service and support.

• USPs: Future-focused; Scalable; World-class support.
• Ideal for: Small and medium organizations who are looking to grow.

8. Canvas LMS

Canvas is a platform for importing, building, and managing courses, as well as creating customizable communications. Specializing in supporting academic organizations, this LMS helps create optimized educational experiences.

• USPs: Mobile; Customizable; Secure.
• Ideal for: Schools, higher and further education institutions.

9. Chamilo

Chamilo is a simple and free open source learning management system. Describing itself as a virtual campus, this LMS was developed with a vision of collaboration and ethical development. The Chamilo community is on hand to offer plenty of support.

• USPs: Free; Easy to use; Community support.
• Ideal for: Small and not-for-profit organizations.

10. Efront

Efront is a cloud-based corporate learning management system that provides customizable options for growing organizations. It can securely integrate with, and support, the most demanding and complex learning ecosystems.

• USPs: Customizable; Secure; Resilient.
• Ideal for: Blue-chip and other growing enterprises.

LMS authoring tools

So, you’ve identified your organization’s perfect LMS, but your search doesn’t end there. Even the best LMS systems still need engaging learning content if they’re going to be effective. That’s where an authoring tool comes in. Use an authoring tool to produce engaging content, then deliver it on your learning management system.

As with LMSs, there are plenty of authoring tools to choose from. And they all come with different features and benefits. Take a look at:

• Elucidat: our cloud-based authoring tool packed with features and tailor-made for collaboration.
• Articulate Storyline 360: this well-known authoring tool provides a clean and simple approach to content creation.
• Captivate: a desktop-based authoring tool with some great features for producing basic learning content quickly.

You can find out more about each of these and some of the other tools on the market in our full authoring tool review.

Best Learning Management System integrations

Want your LMS to fit seamlessly with your existing technology applications? Check out our summary of the best integrations that can accompany your learning management system (LMS) to create a stronger learning culture at your organization.

1. Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

The right training management tool is the bridge between wasting a costly CRM investment and reaping better sales results. Integrating an LMS with your CRM can greatly increase adoption rates and allow you to fine-tune sales and product training through shared data for better results on both fronts.

A recent report found that sales rose 35% as administrative costs dropped 20% at one organization after it integrated an LMS with its CRM. At 10%-20% of the price of a CRM, an LMS is a cost-effective way to ensure that you’re getting the most value out of an expensive tool. Make sure your chosen LMS fully integrates with your everyday business tools, shares data, and offers simple navigation to a CRM like Salesforce or SugarCRM.

2. Web conferencing

Integrating a web conferencing tool into your LMS creates a cost-effective way to build synchronous, instructor-led training. It connects your learners with experts around the globe without renting a large classroom space or shelling out travel expenses. You can also repurpose webinars into learning videos and host them on the LMS to lengthen the shelf life of your training content.

Docebo integrates with many of the top web conferencing tools, including GoToMeeting, BlueJeans, WebEx, Adobe Connect, and more. Thus, you have a plethora of options and pricing structures to choose from.

3. Ecommerce integrations

Ecommerce payment gateways such as Paypal, Alipay, and Stripe can provide access to new customers in China, handle currency exchange, and ensure the security of payment information. Alipay alone adds a potential 500 million new customers to your online training business. Make sure to choose an LMS that supports multiple languages for the strongest possible market reach.

Ecommerce management tools like Shopify allow you to create a storefront in your LMS to simplify your elearning sales. With Shopify, you can easily create a professional and secure storefront in minutes, and then return your focus to creating relevant and engaging training material.

4. Video embedding

An LMS capable of embedding videos from hosting sites such as YouTube, Vimeo, and Wistia adds tremendous value by allowing you to choose from an endless number of free training videos and resources. Use video tutorials and lectures from experts around the globe, or easily embed your own video content.

5. Content authoring tools

Not everyone has an eye for course design. With content authoring tools such as Elucidat, you don’t have to. Elucidat and other, similar tools allow for a simple “what you see is what you get” approach to course design that anyone can use to create simple, elegant learning objects.

Integrating these authoring tools simplifies the process of adding newly created courses to your LMS. Rather than struggle with packaging standards like SCORM and xAPI, you can import and publish materials with a few clicks. Adding these learning objects to an LMS also allows you to take advantage of advanced reporting features in the LMS.

These trending integrations deliver tremendous power to your LMS. They can be the difference between better profits, cut administrative costs, and the creation of a learning culture at your organization. Docebo offers seamless integrations with all of these trending technologies. It simplifies your learning processes so that you can focus on achieving the results you want instead of the path that will take you there.

In summary

An LMS is key to effectively and efficiently creating, rolling out and managing learning and development within your organization. Cloud-based or locally hosted? LMS or LCMS? Packed with features or keeping it simple? When it comes to LMSs, there’s plenty to consider. If you’re going to choose the best training platform for your organization and maximize the benefits of an LMS, you need to start with your key requirements. Once you’ve identified your “need to have” features, it’s time to compare the best LMS tools out there.

Of course, even the best LMS systems won’t be effective if they don’t contain engaging learning content. So, don’t forget, you need an awesome authoring tool to complement your LMS.

Want to try out one of these great authoring tools? Book a demo of Elucidat to get started with a free trial.

Are you wondering what you can expect from making the switch from face to face to online learning courses? Elearning online training courses have never been more important and more widely used than today. All businesses are having to quickly learn how to harness the power of digital for training and development more broadly than before.

Can online learning replace face-to-face? What are the pros and cons of deploying an online training strategy? How can you make this transition a sustainable success? Read on to answer these questions and find out the next steps in your own move from face to face to online learning.

What is online learning?

Online training is the process of imparting knowledge virtually. When it comes to online training vs face to face learning, the main difference is where the training takes place. The term ‘online learning’ encompasses all learning that is conducted virtually, in an online setting. It’s basically any type of training that employees can do via a laptop, tablet or smartphone.

What is face to face learning?

Face to face learning is training that is provided in person, whether that’s a one-on-one session or in a group setting. This type of training is generally less flexible than online training, as it’s usually at a set time and place and cannot be accessed on-demand.

Your learners want digital

These days there is no question about it, your learners need digital. Organizations have to make the switch, often to survive. Online training for employees is an expectation as the workplace becomes more virtual.

Your learners have long been telling you that they are ready to make the switch from face to face to online learning. Back in 2018 Bersin by Deloitte, Fosway and many more revealed the learning habits of modern professionals. The number #1 reason workers join an organization is learning and 94% of employees say they would stay in a company if they invested in their learning and development. And, yet only 15% can access learning courses directly related to their jobs.

These results paint a picture of employees adapting to cope with the fast pace of modern working life. They are often busy and overwhelmed but still keen to learn; they value high quality content that’s personalized and relevant to their needs; and they are getting increasingly impatient and turned off by content and experiences that aren’t high value, relevant, and available when they want it. 

Never has this been more important than now. Modern working life for many has become even more fast-paced and overwhelming. With most of the workforce working from home and companies quickly reskilling and reshuffling roles, it is imperative that your online learning stacks up to expectations and ensures productivity.

Interested to find out what the modern learner is looking for? Check out the State of Digital Learning to explore how you can get ahead of the game

The business case for transformation

Let’s move away for a moment from necessity and think long term. The case for online learning doesn’t need to be made simply as a reactive strategy. The abrupt switch from face to face to online is very challenging. But the benefits of developing a sustainable digital learning strategy is a huge business benefit in the long run.

Most employees are keen to learn and improve but struggle to find learning to help them develop their skills when they need it most. What you are doing now is futureproofing your organization. Face-to-face learning will likely see a decline for a range of reasons – environmental impact of travel and cost savings being just two. 

Corporate elearning presents an opportunity to make personalized, relevant learning accessible to employees when and where they need it. And, at this time that ‘where’ is at home. Offering learners an online learning experience not only fulfils that need but also de-risks the organization. 

Want to level up your elearning design skills before you get started? Get certified with this online course design to help you create engaging elearning.

The big online vs face to face learning debate (post pandemic!)

The pandemic came as a bit of a surprise to everyone! What we all thought would be the biggest training trends when it comes to face to face and online learning, changed very abruptly. Industry research and our own survey data show how there are three distinct future training trends shaping up and marking the corporate elearning debate. Here’s the wash-up of the trends and the statistics to back it up:

• The “Zoom boom” and the rise and fall of virtual instructor-led training  – At the start of the pandemic we witnessed a sharp increase in the use of VILT. 67% of organizations moved their face to face training classes. A few months later though this dropped to 36%. The fact is that face-to-face training sessions don’t translate well directly into effective virtual learning experiences. And, they don’t scale well!
• The emergence of online training as a great alternative – Brandon Hall Group found that by mid-June 2020, 68% of organizations were turning to elearning online training as a sustainable alternative to face to face learning. In fact, our research shows that 82% of organizations plan to start producing more digital learning.
• The future of face to face learning is yet to be seen – The sharp rise in online learning will have a lasting effect on the L&D space. This Fosway survey found that only 5% believed that learning strategy, investment and resourcing would go back to what they were before the pandemic. And although 30% of the learning leaders we surveyed said their businesses would be returning to face-to-face training in 2022, they were also offering learners a choice of alternatives.

Looking back, it’s clear that L&D teams were essential to keeping pace with change over the last few years. LinkedIn found that nearly 75% of L&D leaders agreed that L&D became more influential – and overworked. Over 80% of the L&D leaders we surveyed highlighted that they struggled with the combination of responding at speed, maintaining quality and managing stakeholders. If businesses are going to future proof their organizations, they need an effective, sustainable and scalable L&D solution.

Online learning vs face to face learning in the workplace

The biggest differences between online and face to face learning have always been in the realm of fostering connection and collaboration between learners. The loss that Learning and Development Professionals experienced with this abrupt stop of face to face learning delivery is this positive social impact. This is a valid concern. The importance of face-to-face interaction in education, for example, is vital. In-person social interaction has a richness that might feel hard to replicate in the digital world – but, when it comes to the corporate world, it’s not impossible. 

Is online learning better than face-to-face learning?

In many ways, online learning is more effective than face to face learning. As research shows 80% of organizations believe their use of digital learning will remain the same, increase or decrease only slightly as restrictions on live training ease. It is unlikely that elearning will ever fully replace classroom learning. However, what is evident is that elearning is here to stay and organizations are increasingly looking at online learning as the future with no imminent plans to invest in more face to face.

What are the advantages of distance online learning compared to face to face learning?

Here are four clear advantages of online learning:

• Elearning will save you money and time  – with budgets being tight this is arguably the biggest advantage elearning has going for it. Brandon Hall found that online training requires 40 to 60 % less employee time than classroom training!
• Elearning is much more scalable – unlike face to face learning where they are always restrictions on the number of learners you can reach, elearning allows you to produce once and share with as many employees you need.
• Elearning can be accessed on your learners’ terms  – research shows that the modern learner spends 33% of their time in meetings already. They want to learn as needed, any time and anywhere. Not be constrained with a date and time.
• Elearning is consistent –  Classroom experiences largely depend on the instructor. The same course material can be delivered by two different facilitators with vastly different impacts on the learners. Elearning online training ensures a level of consistency that is not achievable with face to face learning.

Online learning is even more effective because many organizations are starting to incorporate the positive lessons from face-to-face into their digital strategy and creating online blended learning that tick all the boxes. A combination of self-paced learning and social group online learning, where it’s required, is the best of both worlds. The best blends tap into the opportunities offered by the different modes of learning. And, with the development of corporate elearning technologies, the old disadvantages of online training are no longer valid. Blends can be taken online and be just as effective. 

Face to face learning

Online learning opens up a world of possibilities, but face to face learning may have a place in your blend.

Biggest benefits: The key advantages of face to face training come from being synchronous. Synchronous learning occurs when a group is engaged in learning at the same time and location.

Face to face interaction with an instructor and other participants enables more effective non-verbal communication. Positive body language in a classroom setting has the ability to motivate, inspire and engage. Whether it’s eye contact or posture, being able to read people’s body language and adapt the content and approach leads to better learning results.

Face to face training methods offer the ability to discuss, collaborate, practice and role play, all ‘live’ and with guidance from a facilitator on hand. Being part of a group and being held accountable are powerful learning tools.  

Opportunities:  This social element of face to face learning can certainly be taken online. Technology, such as video conferencing and virtual classrooms, enables the workforce of today to still collaborate just as effectively. Plus taking learning online also means that people are not held from learning what they need, when they need it. With minor tweaks, such as smaller training groups, face to face trainers can still have the same impact online and the same level of social benefits. 

Blended online learning

Biggest benefits: Let’s face it, these days there is no other choice but to go online. But sometimes the best things come out of necessity. Online blended learning done right today will de-risk your organization for the future, make you more sustainable and save you time and money. Other benefits of strategies of blended learning include making your online learning:

• Flexible: A digital-first blend lets people take online learning wherever and whenever they want – perfect for hybrid working.
• Streamlined: A series of shorter learning experiences help you to reskill or upskill employees faster.
• Personalized: Blended learning offers the chance to create a range of routes through your online learning, leading to more tailored, relevant experiences.
• Social: Blends can have social learning woven throughout to keep connections going between colleagues.
  

Opportunities: The opportunities blended digital learning presents are wasted if your learning is a ‘one size fits all’ experience that doesn’t recognize the individual. It’s time we adopt a more modern blend – which is where flexible blended learning comes in.

A flexible blend focuses on what your business and employees really need now, rather than trying to maintain the approaches of the past. These blends are:

• Digital-first: Explore the formats available to you – such as VILT, elearning, video-based learning, etc – and identify which will be most effective for your needs, now and in the future.
• Concise: Make use of role selectors, diagnostics and microlearning designs to keep learning short and relevant.
• Paced: Maximize the impact of each intervention by pacing your supporting content. For example, offer the theory as elearning ahead of a VILT, so that session can focus solely on application.
• Social: Create digital spaces for sharing ideas and promoting reflection.
  

Best practice blended learning

Take a look at the three examples below to see how some common online training topics can be turned into digital blended learning programs. The examples show how blended learning online can incorporate face to face elements and seamlessly translate these into a digital space. They’re all designed to make a real-life impact and help learners achieve tangible goals. At Elucidat, we call this people-centered elearning.

Soft skills training

Let’s not forget that in these challenging times, many of our employees are feeling even more strain than usual. Making sure their soft skills training needs are met should not be put on hold. In fact, topics like delegation and time management are if anything even more important. People working from home often need more, not less, management if productivity and positivity are to stay high. 

1. Reflective digital activity

Some of your employees are currently working while at the same time looking after their children, others might be easily distracted with household chores. Learning how to manage one’s time is paramount! Online training offers a better blend which begins with a warm-up activity that asks learners to reflect on how they currently manage their time. Personal questions are engaging and hold people’s attention, and the smart back-end of this Elucidat project tailors the tips and feedback provided based on answers each learner gives. Have a go yourself to see how personalized digital learning can be!

2. Expert videos

Personal reflection could be followed up with expert videos that provide time management tips and techniques. Having reflected on their current skills, learners are more likely to be open to learning from the experts, and videos mean they can find a time to learn that suits them, whether that’s between childcare shifts or in between meetings. Do you perhaps have employees or contractors that have been working from home even before this crisis? If so they might just be the subject matter experts (SMEs) you need to share their experiences. 

3. Face to face role play with manager or mentor

A lot of soft skills success is in the execution, so the human element of a role play is useful here. This doesn’t mean this can’t be done online! It’s an opportunity for learners to put their reflection and theory into practice, getting feedback from a manager or mentor before applying ‘in real life’. Using a video conferencing platform, such as Zoom, is just as effective in providing that one-on-one care and support.

Product knowledge training

With so many people switching their job roles and recruitment in some sectors being done in a matter of hours just to fill in for people off sick, getting staff quickly up to speed with products is a must. 

Product knowledge is all about making facts easy to remember and easy to link with customer needs. There’s often a lot of detail for individuals to retain, so information should be easy to look up in the moment as well as revise ahead of time.

1. Digital product info-sheets

There’s no escaping the need to communicate a lot of facts and detail. Breaking this down into a modern, digital product sheet makes it more appealing to learners, easier to update and provides an opportunity for interactivity. Take a look at this example of a fresh, scrollable, digital one-pager.

2. 2-minute tutorials

When a customer asks a question that a newly appointed customer service rep can’t remember the answer to, a super-short, mobile-friendly refresher is more likely to do the trick. 

3. Elearning scenarios

Recalling facts isn’t enough; customer service advisors also need to be able to effectively recommend products to appropriate customers.  Particularly these days when new sales in some sectors are drying out – upsell and cross-sell become even more important for survival. An elearning scenario is perfect for making sure your team is ready for the challenge, allowing the learner to practice in a safe environment and receive feedback. Since video conferencing is a hot topic these days and many providers are bringing in new staff to cater for the demand, we thought a sales simulation for a video platform would fit well here.  This example shows how learners can practice a realistic sales conversation in a digital format. 

4. Digital pop-quiz

A competitive pop quiz every three months could help keep the learning alive. Add some offline rewards as motivation such as entry into a prize draw for some online vouchers – and suddenly your team are voluntarily revising this product knowledge every quarter!

Onboarding training

Onboarding employees is a hot topic these days with many organizations. Particularly for those working in food retail, where they might be frantically employing new staff to respond to higher demands and to cover sickness. With a modern, personalized digital blend, your onboarding training could go from reactive to a sustainable and valuable training experience that learners rate highly.

       1. Pre-boarding and knowledge-based online learning

Start your onboarding training by welcoming your new employees into your organization. 

This can be done while contracts and paperwork are being finalized. Introduce your new starters to fundamentals and common questions. For example, the organization’s values, how the stores are structured, expectations for their role, etc. 

Once you have introduced the new starter to the basics, it’s time to go a bit deeper. Take the simplest element of the job and introduce the new starter to the key steps that they need to know to complete it. For example, a quick overview of the process, a best-practice example and a list of dos and don’ts. It might only take 10 minutes.

       2. On the job training 

This is the point where you bring in some on the job learning. The role of the supervisor or the learner’s peers is essential here. The new starter buddies up with a supervisor or experienced colleague to shadow them and see their new knowledge in practice. They then practice themselves, with their buddy there to give feedback and answer questions. This might take half an hour. The new starter can then confidently move forward working on that task independently.

       3. Repeat for all core skills

Finally, later or the next day, the new starter takes the next piece of knowledge-based elearning for a different area such as customer service. They then buddy up with their colleague again. This cycle continues until all core job skills have been learned and applied.

This is a great example of a one-page digital onboarding experience that aims to get new or redistributed staff up to speed – fast!

The example has been built with Elucidat’s Learning Accelerator. This handy feature includes useful templates that make it easy for anyone to create awesome training, super-fast. The templates are recommended based on your project goals. In this example, we feature how this might work for onboarding but the possibilities are endless. The best practice is baked into the templates so your team can focus on content and the tool does the heavy lifting.

How to implement blended learning in the workplace

If the online blended learning programs above have got you excited, you’re probably starting to think about the practicalities – how can you design similar programs for your specific needs? There are three key steps to creating a successful digital blended program: understand your audience, analyze content and match it to your delivery channel.

Understand your audience and your goals

The first step in digital training design is no different to face to face training design – get to know your audience and the type of learning that will work for them. Before you kick things off make sure that you also understand your goals! 

With a fresh understanding under your belt, you’re ready to focus on your content.

Analyze your content

All the time invested in your current face-to-face training is not wasted. This is where it comes into play.  Do a spring clean and break down the content into smaller chunks, noting down the learning objective for each chunk.

Match your content with a delivery channel

This is where things get really interesting these days. You know what works offline but how can you create similar experiences with the digital channels available to you? Start by reviewing the channels you have at your disposal. Face to face might be off the table but there are many other ways to bring your content to life online. 

Blended online learning can come to life in many different ways, such as interactive elearning scenarios, microlearning modules, VILT sessions, online coaching and mentoring, pre-recorded videos, and informal social learning. Take a look at some more examples here.

Get the skills you need in your team

With a clear vision of what you need to produce, it’s time to assess whether you have the skills in house to create the components. If you’ve been creating and delivering face to face training, then the chances are that you already have Learning Design skills and Subject Matter Expertise. It’s the digital element that you might still be looking for.

At Elucidat we can provide learning resources and professional services to help upskill and empower teams to create great digital learning. Find out more about how our Learning Consultancy services can help you in this quick diagnostic (built in Elucidat!).

Final thoughts

In these unprecedented times face to face learning is no longer viable. Now that you are done with firefighting in the initial aftermath of the outbreak, it is time to future proof your organization. A successful flexible digital learning blend is the solution. By harnessing the skills you already have, upskilling your face-to-face team and taking inspiration from digital learning examples, you will be able to tackle the move head-on.

Remember that the most successful blends have a clear purpose and audience, utilize a range of digital channels and are created by a skilled in-house team, using elearning authoring tools.

Like the examples you’ve seen using Elucidat? Book a demo today to see how we can support your digital transformation. And, if you are still not sure which tool is right for your team, check out our comparison blog on the best elearning authoring software . 

Also, here’s a pick of our top guides, programs and articles in case you want to more tips on making the switch:

• Get certified in engaging elearning design with this online course
• The ultimate guide to designing best practice elearning
• How to boost elearning engagement with compelling content
• How to make enterprise elearning a success
• 4 steps to create an elearning course with impact