How to Create an E-Learning Template That Works

Posted: 23 Apr 2013 12:30 AM PDT

Articulate Rapid E-learning Blog - make decisions about course design and templates for online training

Templates are great because they provide some structure to the design of your online training. But many times templates become so rigid that instead of helping the training design, they inhibit it.

In today's post we'll look at ways to build an elearning template that will guide the course design, but leave enough flexibility to create a course that best meets your needs.

How are Books and E-Learning Courses Similar?

Go to a bookstore and you'll find thousands of books. They look different and cover different topics. Yet, most books follow a similar structure. They have an attention-getting jacket, a cover, title page, table of contents, chapter sections, and an index.

Articulate Rapid E-learning Blog - parts of a book an dhow it relates to online training

So while the topics of the books may be different, the structure of the books is very similar. And so it is with elearning.

Identify the Core Structure of an E-learning Course

Elearning courses may look different and may cover different topics, but most courses have a similar structure. They include a title screen, a menu, instructions, objectives, content, assessments, and exit instructions.

Think of it like a sandwich. There's the top (welcome) and bottom (exit) with a bunch of stuff in-between.

Articulate Rapid E-learning Blog - common parts of an elearning course and how to build templates for elearning and online training

Since the structure of most courses is similar, create an elearning template that defines that common structure. Include all of the major parts of the course. Don't worry about the details like content, layouts, or the way the screens will look. That's not important at this step.

The main point is to identify the major parts of an elearning course. From there you'll be able to build a good starter template that helps guide the course structure without defining the specific look.

Create a Default E-Learning Template

Once you've identified the generic structure of an elearning course, you can build a starter template. Each software application is going to be a bit different in how it works. But if you use PowerPoint or Articulate Storyline, then you can follow a similar process which is to create a master template that has a placeholder for each core element.

Articulate Rapid E-learning Blog - example of a good starter template for elearning and online training

When you're ready to build a course, start with the default template. At this point, you're not trying to fit all of your content to match the template. That's what causes some problems. Instead, you're using the template to guide your initial development.

Here's how the placeholder screens help:

Placeholder screens make sure no major parts fall through the cracks during your project design. Often courses are designed and then during the pilot testing other screens (like instructions) are added. With the starter template, you know that they need to be a consideration.
Your course design is intentional when you step away from pre-existing content. And the starter template helps you do that. Many times we're working with existing classroom material and we let that dictate how to build the course. By starting with a blank screen, we're forced to be more intentional about our design.
Placeholder screens help us think through the user experience. Many elearning courses are very info-centric. So we easily get caught up in how to display the information. But often we neglect the experience from the user's perspective. By crafting a starter template, you build a sold framework for your content and consider how the user will go through it. A good example is what to do at the end of the course. What are the next steps? What's the learner to do? A starter template brings those questions out.

By thinking through the main parts of a course you'll be able to design a good starter template. The template provides structure for the course design to make sure key parts are considered and don't fall through the cracks. It also provides enough flexibility so that you're not forced to a specific design.

Tidbits

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Upcoming workshops for 2013:

Just added the details for the workshops in Philadelphia and Florida. Seats are limited so sign up before it's too late.

Also, if you're an Articulate user in Austin, check out the free jam session on April 18.

April 16 & 17: Austin, TX. Two workshops.
Day 1 – Rapid E-Learning Workshop.
Day 2 – Articulate Storyline Workshop
April 18: Austin, TX. Free jam session with the Central Texas Articulate User Group. It's a great time to get answers and meet your peers. Here are the details. Seating is limited so RSVP to reserve your spot.
May 14 & 15: London, UK. How to Become a Rapid E-Learning Pro: Two-day master class filled with lots of hands-on activities.
June 4 & 5: Philadelphia, PA. Two workshops.
Day 1—Rapid E-Learning Workshop
Day 2—Getting Started with Articulate Storyline
June 12 & 13: Davie, FL. Two workshops.
Day 1 – Rapid E-Learning Workshop.
Day 2 – Articulate Storyline Workshop.
June 26-27: Portland, OR. BlueVolt eLearning Conference. Join the Articulate community team for a series of how-to sessions using the Articulate elearning applications.
September: Greensboro, NC. Details coming.
September: New York, NY. Two workshops. Register here.
Day 1 – Rapid E-Learning Workshop.
Day 2 – Articulate Storyline Workshop. I'll also be presenting at the evening chapter meeting.
October: Baton Rouge, LA. Details coming.
October: Los Angeles, CA. Details coming.
November: St. Louis, MO. Details coming.

Download your free 46-page ebook: The Insider's Guide to Becoming a Rapid E-Learning Pro

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Tuesday, April 23, 2013

How to Create an E-Learning Template That Works

How are Books and E-Learning Courses Similar?

Identify the Core Structure of an E-learning Course

Create a Default E-Learning Template

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