Rapid E-learning Is it really different ? Mark Harrison

What is the difference between rapid content development and the usual process of creating e-learning? When and how do you decide you need some rapid e-learning?

E-learning development is traditionally a software creation model

Programming is time-consuming and so you get it specc’d fully first

Rapid Development does not need you to get it right first time

It is about Speed

It’s about simplification

It’s about bringing interactive designers back into the development stage

It’s about sharing ownership

It’s about ‘professionalising’ informal learning

It’s about effectiveness and being ‘fit for purpose’

It’s about using what is out there – Rapid E-learning meets Web 2.0

Knowledge Sharing/ Discussing Ideas Experts online Sharing ideas through Blogs Interactive Presentations – when you need user control/visuals Podcasts & Vodcasts – easy to access, easy to learn Building ideas through Wikis Learning 2.0 components

It’s about avoiding the traditional problems of e-learning “Avoid the Generic i.e. not specific enough and Glacial syndrome i.e. it takes too long to arrive”

It’s starts with the Tools… Desktop authoring – often using Powerpoint Articulate, Captivate, Raptivity Server-based authoring Mohive, Atlantic Link, Xyleme

Desktop authoring – often using Powerpoint Articulate, Captivate, Raptivity

Server-based authoring Mohive, Atlantic Link, Xyleme

It then needs the people… Instructional design Graphics Not programming A challenge to the popular ‘outsourced’ development model?

Instructional design

Graphics

Not programming

How do you make it work? You need to embed instructional design into the process Provide guidance Provide templates Provide tools

Provide guidance

Provide templates

Provide tools

Save time and maintain design integrity with Templates… Powerpoint masters Authoring tool templates E-mail/discussion templates

Powerpoint masters

Authoring tool templates

E-mail/discussion templates

Product knowledge template

Why is writing for rapid e-learning different? Very restricted word count per screen Restricted word count per screen display Limited scope to layer information and build it progressively Facility to create multiple layers of information through progressive builds and revealing panels of text and images Limited range of simple presentation options Large range of presentation formats available from templated interactions Shortened process involving: Objective setting Script directly to PowerPoint Iterative process involving: Objective setting Storyboarding Script writing Voice over script creation Rapid e-learning Traditional e-learning

Shortened process involving:

Objective setting

Script directly to PowerPoint

Iterative process involving:

Objective setting

Storyboarding

Script writing

Voice over script creation

Rapid e-learning is adult learning Rapid e-learning is fast, focused, and pragmatic. G oal-oriented : Be clear that the learning will enable them to achieve a specific goal or objective R elevancy-oriented : To engage, be relevant. The task at hand is the most important P ractical : Focused on what is most useful to them in their work Use stories : Stories are excellent for taking others’ experience and packaging it to root itself in the memory more deeply than facts and procedures.

Rapid e-learning is adult learning

Rapid e-learning is fast, focused, and pragmatic.

G oal-oriented : Be clear that the learning will enable them to achieve a specific goal or objective

R elevancy-oriented : To engage, be relevant. The task at hand is the most important

P ractical : Focused on what is most useful to them in their work

Use stories : Stories are excellent for taking others’ experience and packaging it to root itself in the memory more deeply than facts and procedures.

£6k or less*/hr Needs to be at least 10k/hr Budget Team of one or two Project manager, instructional designer, writers, SME, graphics, developer, tester… Team size High Low Opportunities for re-use Generally short to medium, often ‘disposable’ Long (expected at least 2 yrs) Shelf-life Very low High Use of external developers High Low Use of authoring tools Often the author with support Primarily contributor/reviewer SME involvement In-house Commissioned Development process One to four weeks Three to four months Timeline for development Rapid E-learning Traditional E-learning Development Factor

Aim must be to accelerate through the phases whenever possible

Do this and it will be quicker (and less expensive) But… manage stakeholder expectations!

The new ‘blend’ for the 21 st Century? Learning 2.0 and Rapid E-learning

Knowledge Sharing/ Discussing Ideas Experts online Sharing ideas through Blogs Interactive Presentations – when you need user control/visuals Podcasts & Vodcasts – easy to access, easy to learn Building ideas through Wikis The New Blend? E-learning built ‘rapidly’ Workshops Coaching

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