Steps for Rapid Learning Design Success

Not too long ago, our hero Jacob, an instructional designer by profession, worked for a global organization that had a widely dispersed sales team and training needs. However, very few instructional designers and trainers helped develop and maintain the workload. The demand for training was high, however, their output was very limited. Given all of the techniques and strategies for Instructional design, creating quality training could take upwards of 2 full weeks for one module depending on the content.

What Jacob needed was a faster way to generate more output without sacrificing quality and the learning experience. This was a major gap that Jacob needed to bridge quickly, otherwise, the development of their salesforce would be adversely impacted. What Jacob needed was a tool that allowed him to develop at a higher pace and capacity than he ever had. What he found, was enlightening, to say the least. Enter the rapid authoring tool, a new way of approaching the overall design and development of training at a quicker pace.

So what exactly is a rapid authoring tool you might ask?

In the most generic of terms, a rapid authoring tool is an online training material development software that helps e-learning professionals create effective web-based training courses. These tools come with many built-in features that make the lives of the instructional designer easier. If you use the right tool, you can eliminate the need for coding skills and multimedia tool expertise and better enable Subject Matter Experts and instructional designers who have little knowledge of programming, make the best use of their unique features.

As technology advances, so does the approach to learning. This highly adaptive environment requires an agile approach to development, however it comes at a faster, more consistent pace than older, more traditional techniques did.

Here you will find a few tips and tricks that can help point you in the right direction as it relates to rapid authoring. As I have learned through the past few years, finding the right tool and approach can dramatically improve your productivity and output.

1. Use the right e-learning Authoring Tool.
2. Use an action map.
3. Stick to an authoring checklist for consistency.
4. Don’t be afraid of video development tactics.
5. Avoid the limitations of rapid e-learning tools.

Following these steps and being open to new tips, tricks, and ideas will help you continue to evolve your approach to rapid learning design. As the industry continues to adapt through technological advancement, trials, and travails, we can fine-tune our approach to the tactful design and delivery of our content. Keep watching out for new trends and discoveries that might serve to be fruitful for years to come.