As instructional designers, we know that a learning experience starts with great content. Then we use eLearning authoring tools to construct experiences. The goal is to help learners remember information. It must be relevant to their goals and educational journeys.
The range of eLearning authoring tools has grown. With increased competition, the tools have improved. But what does that mean? What makes one eLearning tool better than another?
It’s easy to get overwhelmed by what tools promise. You need to know how a tool will help you craft excellent eLearning experiences. Here are 5 features to consider when choosing your eLearning authoring tool:
1. Ease of use
The best eLearning authoring tools are intuitive. It’s worthwhile to pay a little more for maximum convenience, if necessary. It’s worth it to invest in an interface that immediately makes sense. With an effective eLearning tool you should complete your first mock-up faster than anticipated.
2. Learner access
The best learning is platform-agnostic. It should work seamlessly across mobile and tablet devices. Effective training should also available for all different kinds of learners.
The content you create should follow both ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) and WCAG 2.0 (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines). In fact, in many settings, it’s illegal for online learning to not be accessible!
The best eLearning authoring tools must offer responsiveness and meet accessibility standards.
3. Integration
Savvy instructional designers know that content is part of a bigger picture. Learners don’t experience the content we design in a vacuum. They experience it in a larger learning ecosystem.
Choose eLearning authoring tools that integrate well with content and learning management systems. They should support industry standards like SCORM and xAPI. They should offer strong learner analytics, out of the box.
Customizing the look and feel of content also falls under this category. The tool must allow the content to integrate with the identity of the institution or company you’re working for. The learning should not give the tool free advertising!
4. Flexibility
Learning is never one size fits all. Different concepts and subjects need different kinds of assessment. Even within a single piece of content, learners can get bored. Variety is essential.
An eLearning tool must offer flexibility. Is it all multiple choice and flashcards—or is there a variety of options? Does the tool support cutting-edge approaches like gamification and simulation-based learning? Can the content the tool produces scale or adapt to different scenarios? These are important questions to consider when you’re looking for the most flexible tool.
5. Support
Sometimes, even the most amazing tools are bound to stump experienced designers. You might struggle to get the settings right for integration with your LMS. That’s when support counts.
Leading eLearning authoring tools offer you passionate developers and tech support teams. The best products include educators and instructional designers on the development team itself! They understand your needs and challenges.
Along with a supportive development team, look for an active community of users. A healthy community means others have already solved the same problems you may encounter. They might even have new tricks you haven’t tried. The rule of thumb for restaurants holds true for eLearning authoring tools, too. If the dining room is full, the food must be top-class.
Finally, as you consider new eLearning tools, don’t forget the final important feature. That's you! If a tool serves your workflow, goals, or needs, that’s a sign to stick with it. While it’s important to experiment and break tired habits, you know your learners. Trust your skills and pick the tool that helps you create the best (and most accessible!) learning experiences. Quickly. Easily. Powerfully.
Find Tools That Work for You
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