| There are several hundred e-Learning tools out in | | | | AICC courses), they will work together. |
| the marketplace today. Selecting the proper | | | | Factors to Consider When Evaluating |
| course-authoring tool for developing your | | | | Content-authoring Tools |
| company's online training content is no small | | | | Situational Parameters |
| undertaking. Today we are going to look at some | | | | Remember that not all tools are appropriate for all |
| solid strategies to help you select the | | | | training delivery methods. It's important to |
| course-authoring tool that is right for you and for | | | | consider the context in which course-authoring |
| your company's e-Learning / Learning | | | | tools will be used. As you gather information, |
| Management Systems initiative. First we will start | | | | keep in mind that as long as your online training is |
| with some basic concepts. | | | | founded on good instructional design principles, the |
| What is a Content-authoring Tool? | | | | interactivity produced by the authoring tool you |
| According to Wikipedia.org, "a content-authoring | | | | choose will strengthen the learner's experience. |
| tool is a software application used to create | | | | Training Objectives & Delivery Methods |
| multimedia content typically for delivery on the | | | | What type of training are you providing? Is it a |
| World Wide Web. Content-authoring tools may | | | | blended learning experience? Will some training be |
| also create content in other file formats so the | | | | online and some in classrooms? This will help |
| training can be delivered on a CD (compact disc) | | | | determine which course authoring tools and LMSs |
| or in other formats for various different uses. | | | | you can use. Will you provide training on a CD |
| The category of content-authoring tools includes | | | | Rom? Are your learners certifying on a product, |
| HTML, Flash, and various types of e-Learning | | | | service, or procedure? Are you teaching someone |
| authoring tools." | | | | to use a certain software program? |
| Course-authoring tools can create online courses, | | | | Media Needs |
| while content-authoring tools create subject | | | | What types of media will you use? Does the |
| specific online content. Subject Specific Online | | | | content-authoring tool of your choice support |
| Content more than likely has less features and | | | | those file types? |
| functionality than an online course created with a | | | | Resources and Ongoing Support |
| course-authoring tool, but, this depends upon the | | | | Do you have the resources to support the types |
| software used to create the content. In the | | | | of online training you wish to develop? Graphic |
| e-Learning industry, we generally use the two | | | | designers? Appropriate subject matter experts? |
| phrases interchangeably, and in this article, I will do | | | | Voice talent? Video producers? Models? Production |
| so also. | | | | Designers? Outside user testing? Etc. |
| What is a Learning Management System? | | | | What about after the training is developed? Does |
| Learning Management Systems (LMSs) are | | | | the training need to be refreshed periodically, |
| web-based software application platforms used to | | | | anywhere from in 6 months to a year or |
| plan, implement, and assess learning processes | | | | beyond? Will any tests associated with the training |
| related to online and offline training administration | | | | change on a regular basis? Will you have the right |
| and performance management. LMSs provide an | | | | resources and support in place for any ongoing |
| instructor a way in which to create and deliver | | | | e-Learning content development needs? |
| content, monitor learners' participation, and assess | | | | Funds & Timing |
| student performance. LMSs also provide learners | | | | How much is budgeted for the project? Will you |
| with interactive features, such as threaded | | | | have a team of people to develop the training? |
| discussions, web conferencing, discussion forums, | | | | Should you outsource? What things are specific to |
| and other methods of communication. | | | | the type of training you will be developing that |
| Generally, a Learning Management System has its | | | | may be compromised by outsourcing? How steep |
| own online content-authoring tool as part of the | | | | is the learning curve associated with the tools you |
| overall system. There are content-authoring tools | | | | are thinking of using for the project? |
| systems out there in the market that call | | | | Interactivity |
| themselves "Learning Management Systems", but | | | | What level of interactivity is required for the |
| really are just front-end and / or | | | | training? Simulations and other dynamic learning |
| presentation-authoring tools, with little or almost | | | | activities are great to have, but are they really |
| no LMS functionality. A good Learning | | | | appropriate or needed for the type of online |
| Management System should work with many | | | | training you will be developing? Flash has become |
| types of content-authoring tools. | | | | the standard tool used for many interactive |
| In fact, many companies may start out using one | | | | learning activities. If your authoring tool works |
| or two content-authoring tools along with their | | | | with Flash, how much more do you need? |
| Learning Management System. As their e-Learning | | | | Plug-ins |
| initiative grows and changes over time, they use | | | | Some course-authoring tools may need plug-ins, |
| different types of content-authoring tools to | | | | but this has become much less of a problem in |
| achieve the various effects needed. This is often | | | | e-Learning today than it was just a few years |
| due to business changes and the fact that in | | | | ago. Obviously, if you are dealing with a group of |
| many corporate training scenarios, a Learning | | | | learners who are not technically savvy, have older |
| Management System or other larger, more | | | | browsers (IE 4.0 or below; Netscape 4.0 or |
| complex enterprise software systems use | | | | below), or mostly use slow dial up connections, |
| content-authoring tools to develop the online | | | | plug-ins become a real liability in regards for |
| training content that is managed. | | | | delivering online courses. |
| What does SCORM/AICC compliant mean? | | | | Platforms |
| SCORM stands for Sharable Courseware Object | | | | What platforms will the training be delivered on? |
| Reference Model (SCORM), which is a set of | | | | Does the online training you develop have to |
| specifications that, when applied to course | | | | work across a combination of platforms such as |
| content, produces small, reusable e-Learning | | | | PC, MAC, UNIX or others? Does it have to work |
| objects. A result of the Department of Defense's | | | | across a variety of operating systems and / or |
| Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) initiative, | | | | browsers? |
| SCORM-compliant courseware elements are easily | | | | Total Cost of Ownership |
| merged with other compliant elements to produce | | | | It's always best to evaluate any software or |
| a highly modular repository of training materials. | | | | systems acquisition by looking at the total cost of |
| AICC standards apply to the development, | | | | ownership (TCO). TCO is a financial metric |
| delivery, and evaluation of training courses that | | | | designed to help assess direct and indirect costs |
| are delivered via technology. AICC stands for the | | | | related to the purchase of any capital investment, |
| Aviation Industry CBT [Computer-Based Training] | | | | such as (but not limited to) computer software or |
| Committee (AICC), which is an international | | | | hardware. In this case, the TCO would include the |
| association of technology-based training | | | | cost of the application, training, upgrades, |
| professionals that develops training guidelines for | | | | maintenance, and any other costs associated with |
| the aviation industry. | | | | the company owning the product over its lifetime. |
| Many e-Learning content-authoring tools are | | | | Conclusion |
| SCORM/AICC compliant. A rule of thumb is, as | | | | The course-authoring tool that best meets your |
| long as the content-authoring tool is SCORM/AICC | | | | needs will depend entirely upon your situation. In |
| compliant (creates SCORM/AICC compliant | | | | the long run, applying due diligence during the |
| courses) and the Learning Management System is | | | | evaluation process will save you time and money. |
| SCORM/AICC compliant (works with SCORM | | | | |