Training curricula using eLearning courses provide a cost effective way to ensure your students obtain required educational programs whenever and wherever they need it. Providing course materials via the Internet, CD-ROM, or an intranet allows you to create a virtual classroom environment accessible by diverse groups of people. Because eLearning requires no travel, it is cost effective as well. Effective eLearning programs give students the chance to learn new skills, refresh their knowledge, or enhance current skills to a more advanced level. Training to learn how to manage an eLearning course environment involves learning how to build and manage the infrastructure.
- Establish your course hardware and software infrastructure. This involves purchasing or programming your own learning management system. A learning management system typically provides mechanisms to store course materials, register students, track student progress, and solicit student feedback regarding course materials. Self-assessment and testing tools enable students to correctly choose the best materials to meet their personal learning objectives. Reporting mechanisms typically provide data on course completion and student satisfaction.
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Step 2
Populate your learning management system with courses relevant to your target population. Purchase and upload off-the-shelf courses or develop your own materials using authoring software such as Adobe Captivate, Lectora, or Captivate. These software tools allow you to record lectures, software demonstrations, and other instructional presentations. Incorporating online exercises in different formats such as multiple choice or matching allows students to check their reading comprehension. Audio, video, animation, and graphical materials ensure students can select materials that suit their personal learning style.
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Step 3
Allow your students to search for courses by identification number or browse through curriculum maps. Categorize courses appropriately so students can find them easily. For example, professional skills development courses such as managing change, making difficult decisions, communicating effectively, and leading effective teams should be listed together.
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Step 4
Promote your environment and motivate students to use your alternative to classroom education. Set student expectations regarding availability and system performance.
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Step 5
Provide administrative support for your students by maintaining a list of frequently asked questions and troubleshooting procedures.
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Step 6
Provide a collaborative environment including wikis, blogs, forums, and other social media tools to enable students to connect with subject matter experts and other learners. Supplement eLearning with face-to-face or live events to maximize learning achievement.