WHAT IS ELEARNING?
What is an eLearning Course?
eLearning, also known as online distance-learning or web-based training (WBT), is online education with interactive elements. eLearning presents information in a highly visual format, allowing students to interact with their lesson content via drag and drops, click and reveals, hotspots, and other engaging interactions. Students also have the opportunity to test their knowledge retention via test questions and quizzes online and receive immediate feedback.
Online distance learning is now known as the best educational platform for reaching as many learners as possible at minimal cost and upkeep. It has become a valuable educational tool for:
- Institutions in need of long-distance learning solutions
- Companies and nonprofit organizations requiring employee training
- Training companies
- Schools at the elementary, secondary, and university level in need of long-distance learning solutions
- Sole proprietorships
- Certification agencies
Who Develops eLearning?
Typically, the development of an eLearning course requires a group of experts, although one individual can take on more than one role:
- Project Manager – an individual who oversees an eLearning development project
- Subject Matter Expert (SME) – an expert on the lesson topic. SME’s are professionals in their field of expertise and can provide extensive knowledge on the course content
- Instructional Designer (ISD) – an expert at writing lessons who can take the content from a SME and turn it into a transcript ready for eLearning conversion
- eLearning Developer – an expert at building eLearning courses who can take a transcript from the ISD and turn it into an interactive online course
The Four Stages of eLearning
eLearning generally consists of four stages of development:
Stage One – Project Planning
The Project Manager assesses the need for eLearning. With the help of Instructional Designers and Subject Matter Experts, they identify the needs of their students, set goals for the courseware, and pin down project requirements, financing, and scheduling.
Stage Two – Instructional Design
With the aid of Subject Matter Experts, the Instructional Designer creates a lesson plan, develops learning objectives, and writes a course transcript or storyboard in Microsoft Word or PowerPoint to share with the eLearning Developer.
Stage Three – eLearning Development
The eLearning Developer uses the script or storyboard from the Instructional Designer to build an eLearning course with interactivity, client branding, images, video, and sound. When the course is finished, it is published as a SCORM file – a zipped folder containing all the lesson content.
Stage Four – eLMS Hosting and Distribution
The SCORM file containing the lesson is then uploaded to an eLearning platform or LMS (Learning management system) where it can be tested or assigned and distributed to students who can access it using their own LMS login credentials. Results of student progress can be viewed and tracked by the LMS administrator.
BrainBox Education is an eLearning Developer Team
What part does BrainBox play in this process? BrainBox Education™ L.L.C. is a group of eLearning Developers who can take a finished transcript and turn it into an online course. After we receive a completed storyboard or script, we can create a course using Articulate Storyline 360 software. We deliver the course as a SCORM file ready for you to upload to your preferred Learning Management System.
Do You Have A Transcript Ready to be Submitted?
If you have a transcript ready to submit, you have reached the final stage of eLearning development! Let us help you turn that transcript into an online course.