Results and commentary from November poll:

What was the most important feature of an authoring tool for poll respondents?

a) Integrates with PowerPoint – 0%
b) Flexible and varied template – 18%
c) Publishes to multiple formats – 45%
d) Integrates with a content management system – 18%
e) Web-based, enabling collaborative authoring – 18%
n = 11

Although response numbers aren’t large, Publishes to multiple formats is the clear winner. And this is probably not surprising. We want to be able to reuse our content, and, with the corporate adoption of smartphones and tablets, many of us are exploring mobile learning. Additionally, in terms of format, many of us are looking to ensure our authoring tool doesn’t limit us to file type to such an extent that the learning object can’t be played across all platforms. Take the Flash v’s HTML5 issue as an example.

I was a little surprised by zero votes for Integrates with PPT. This may be a reflection of the authoring skills of respondents. If e-learning authoring is part of your usual day job, you want a sophisticated authoring tool, and one that integrates with PPT is probably not going to deliver this. However SMEs who are being tasked with  creating rapid e-learning can find PPT as a starting point quite useful – although fraught with instructional design danger.

I have worked with a couple of organisations who have adopted collaborative authoring, and this was how I began my authoring experience. When implemented properly, the workflow supports project efficiency. However, the workflow does require discipline and good team work, and this can be a challenge in itself.

A content management system can again provide discipline around managing files and learning objects. This can only be a good thing, as you develop a suite of e-learning over time. However, success is dependent upon the discipline of the content developers to file and name in a consistent manner, and this doesn’t always happen.

The more varied the templates, the easier it is to develop e-learning. Templates enable consistency of text and graphic layout, and layout is a very important visual consideration.

There are many many authoring tools, and Jane Hart has been maintaining one of the best list of authoring tools for a number of years now. I recommend people visit Jane’s website regularly.

Although authoring tools are important to make our job easier and to provide us with design options, they cannot save us from poor instructional design. I recommend people who are new to designing e-learning share their new courses with an expert for critique as part of the improvement cycle (and yes, I am happy to provide critique and advice at anytime).

There is a plethora of e-learning authoring tools available on the market. Each have their unique combination of features. As our sophistication about e-learning develops, so do our authoring tool requirements.

What feature of an e-learning tool is most important to you now? If it’s not one of the five listed, then please feel free to make a comment and I will respond. Your poll selection is anonymous. Results and commentary will be published first week in December. Thank you for your participation.

Results and commentary from October Poll:

What is your greatest e-learning skill development challengs?

a) Instructional design – 24%
b) Visual design – 33%
c) Authoring (using an authoring tool) - 14%
d) Project management – 29%
n = 21

Thanks to Richard who thought instructional design skills make or break an e-learning project. I agree. Even if your organisation uses an e-learning outsourcing model, you still need in-house e-learning instructional design know-how to be able to communicate effectively and collaborate with the e-learning provider.

Thanks also to Ann who lamented about client hesitation to engage a professional visual designer. The majority may agree with Ann. Visual design makes ot breaks whether a course looks professional and is congruent with content and context. A good visual designer will make your e-learning course look anything but PPT!

Project management polled second highest, and I’m happy to see this because it’s been my experience that managing a project – relationships, clarity of objectives and outcomes, managing quality and organisational change etc – are all vital activities for e-learning success. Sometimes project management skill requirements aren’t obvious to e-learning novices, but it soon becomes apparent.

The bottom line – developing and implementing e-learning is a completely different skill set to classroom based delivery. Learning professionals who are new to e-learning need the opportunity to play with the technology, immerse in the plethora of information on the web, and learn this new craft.

Watch this short video to learn more: Building E-Learning Knowledge and Skill

November Poll will be out in a few days “Which e-learning authoring tool feature is most important to you?”

What is your greatest e-learning skill development challenge?

We’re very interested in better understanding the challenges for learning practitioners and trainers as they transition from classroom-based skills to e-learning. Your poll selection is anonymous. Results and commentary will be published first week in November.

Please feel free to add a comment if you would like to explain your experience.
Thank you so much for your participation.