From the course: Elearning Tips

Tips for developing an elearning prototype

From the course: Elearning Tips

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Tips for developing an elearning prototype

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- When you're ready to start developing your elearning course, I usually recommend starting with some sort of prototype. And a prototype is simply a sample of your elearning course which you can use to review with your stakeholders and subject matter experts to get some early feedback, as well as to make sure you'll actually be able to develop the course that you've envisioned in your mind. So with that being said, here are three simple tips you can follow that will help you develop a prototype of your elearning course. Tip number one, make your prototype as simple or as complex as you need. You know, it's easy to get caught up trying to figure out which tool or format you should use when creating your elearning prototype. And the truth is, there's no standard you have to follow. Whether you choose to create a simple mock-up of your elearning course on PowerPoint or you choose to develop it in your preferred elearning authoring tool, the purpose of your prototype is to help you get started with developing the functionality and the look and feel of your elearning course. Okay, so tip number two. Expect to make a lot of changes and be willing to iterate on your design. Usually, your prototype is the first time you and your stakeholders and subject matter experts will be viewing a functioning version of your elearning course, and as a result, it's likely you'll need to make some changes, either to how you're presenting your learning content or how your course actually functions. Either way, don't let this take you by surprise. Expect to make a lot of changes along the way and be willing to iterate on your design. Okay, so tip number three is a simple one. Always, and I mean always, create a prototype. Here's the thing. No matter how much you think you and your stakeholders and subject matter experts are on the same page about your elearning course and how it will look and how it'll function and how the learning content is going to be presented, there's always going to be something they didn't realize they wanted until after they've reviewed your prototype. What you don't want to do is wait until you've spent countless hours fully developing your elearning course until you review it with your stakeholders and subject matter experts. Although it might seem like an added step to an already complicated development process, creating a prototype will ultimately save you time and money and frustration by giving you a deeper understanding of your stakeholder's expectations. Okay, so those are three tips you can follow when you're developing your next elearning prototype.

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