- 16 Aug, 2023
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Convert Text-based Training Material into eLearning Module
Trying to convert your existing text-based training material to eLearning? In this blog, we will outline the need for eLearning and how you can transform your text-based training material into interactive and engaging eLearning modules.
Text-based training material
Training in organizations used to be primarily in the form of instructor-led classroom training. The corresponding training material was text-based, in the form of manuals, PPTs, word documents or PDF files. Many if not most, organizations around the world have text-based training materials in their content library.
Animation, graphical representations, and videos have made us re-think the way we train. If your organization is struggling with legacy text-based content, consider enhancing it by converting it to eLearning.
There are many reasons to convert your text-based material to eLearning modules:
- eLearning is more suitable to the needs of today’s learners because it can be very interactive, engaging, retentive and flexible.
- The graphical representations, scenarios, case studies, gamification, and simulations and other elements engages and retains the learner’s attention.
- All learners get the same information. The content is not dependant on the instructor’s knowledge or delivery.
- The learners can refer to the training whenever they feel they need a clarification or a refresher.
The eLearning Solution has been developing effective eLearning courses for its clients across the country. We create the best learning experiences while combining the best of instructional design and visual design strategies to create effective corporate learning solutions.
How can I convert my text-based training content to eLearning?
Fortunately, you can convert almost any text-based material into eLearning, including PowerPoint presentations, manuals, guides, and process documents.
This conversion doesn’t mean that you simply copy your existing content into some standard course templates. To get the best results, you need to follow a six-step process. Let’s look at each of these steps.
Step #1: Gather all relevant material
Once you start gathering the material, you will find a lot of content for your topic. Review the material you have gathered, and discard repetitive, irrelevant, outdated, and unnecessary documents. If you don’t find relevant material, you may need to create your own new content.
Step #2: Define the learning objectives and plan your content accordingly
Once all the relevant material is gathered, you can start the conversion process right away. Before you start however, plan out your learning objectives. This is one of the most important first steps.
Review your previous learning objectives. They may need to be updated based on any changes you have made to your content.
Step #3: Table of contents
Along with the changing times, learning has also changed. Long text on a screen with lengthy audio is not effective for today’s learners. Today’s students learn best by receiving short, crisp snippets of information in interactive courses.
To avoid lengthy topics, split up your topics in the table of contents (ToC). This will make each topic easily digestible and will certainly improve the learner’s experience.
Step #4: Review the content
Review the existing content and make sure it is relevant to the topics you have decided on. Check the content carefully to identify outdated, inaccurate information. Ensure that the content is not repeated and that it isn’t replicated in other eLearning courses you have already developed.
Fill in the content gaps wherever required. Use subject matter experts (SMEs) for this task if they are available. Additional content that may be useful can be added to a supplementary information section.
Step #5: Plan the content presentation by storyboarding
Once the content is finalized, assign an instructional designer (ID) to take over. The ID plans the overall content presentation approach and creates a storyboard representing this approach throughout.
The ID will:
- Break the content into smaller and more easily digestible chunks of information (for example into several PPT slides)
- Provide guidelines to the graphic designers on the presentation of the content
- Suggest the relevant media elements such as images, icons, vector graphics, animation and videos that best represent the content.
- Suggest ideas to make the content interactive – such as gamification, scenarios, simulations, and quiz questions.
- Plan formative assessments at the end of each topic
- Plan the summative assessment at the end of the course to assess the overall learning
Step #6: Now, it’s time for content development
The finalized storyboard is passed on to the development team to digitize the content.
The eLearning development team performs the following tasks:
- Choosing an appropriate rapid authoring tool to best design the content (for example: Articulate Storyline, Adobe Captivate, Lectora, Elucidat, etc.)
- Understanding the content explained in the storyboard and developing slides for the course.
- Using media elements to effectively present the content.
- Implementing interactivity as suggested by the ID in the storyboard.
- Using characters for scenarios or case studies or for avatars either from the authoring tool or from designing them graphically.
- Creating a SCORM version of the course.
- Launching the course into a learning management system (LMS).
The importance of effective rapid eLearning solutions has risen dramatically over the past few years. The eLearning Solution offers its rapid eLearning solutions for its diverse client base.
Conclusion:
Undoubtedly, eLearning provides various benefits over other training methods. Today’s students are attracted to the flexibility, engaging content, and interactive approach of these courses. Furthermore, there is greater retention due to the consistency of the delivery and the ability to re-take the course as needed.
FAQs – Training Material to eLearning
1. We have many PowerPoint presentations which we prepared previously for classroom training. Can we use them to create online courses?
Yes. Your legacy content in the form of PPTs can certainly be converted into online courses. For more details about PowerPoint to eLearning conversion, contact us.
2. When the text-based material is converted into an eLearning course, can it be accessed through mobile devices?
Yes. Every eLearning authoring tool allows the course to be viewed through mobile devices. The responsive feature allows the course to become compatible to any screen size.
3. What is Rapid eLearning Development?
Rapid eLearning development is primarily a faster way of designing and developing online learning courses. With the advent of rapid authoring tools, rapid eLearning development has changed the face of eLearning. Instead of spending many weeks or months to develop one course, we can develop the course in a week or sometimes, even a few days.
