eLearning content development can be compared to any other development of IT output, but not quite, and that's the beauty of it. It requires a complex, thorough, meaningful and creative approach. There are several necessary steps in this process.
1. Develop A Relationship
First, develop an honest and trustworthy relationship with a client and with learners, if possible. This kind of relationship will bring variety of knowledge, skills and attitudes to the table, with everyone having the same objective in mind.
2. Involve Your Client In The Process
Second, teach your client and involve them in the process. We, in eWyse, always invest time and money to visit the client before we start designing and developing. The purpose of our visit is to explain to all stakeholders what we are doing and why, but also to set up design guidelines. This speeds up the process and improves team work.
3. Focus On The Learner
Third, always think about the end-user, the learner. The learner is the one who will enjoy and learn from your course and, in the end, he or she should be happy about the knowledge gained. No matter how cool the design is, a learner will never judge a book by its cover, but rather by its value and usefulness.
4. Avoid Boring "Click Next" Content
Forth, use all the tools and technology you can get, especially if your learners are young. There are so many cool tools, gadgets and features out there, so there are no more excuses for making boring "Click next" content.
5. Get Feedback
Last, but not least, test your output. Do not just check if every button works or if the video is loading. Test the core of the content on everyone you can find, colleagues, other eLearning professionals, friends, even your mom. This will provide an objective feedback from different perspectives, something that you will definitely appreciate.
Don't be afraid to become an eLearning expert or developer. It's a rewarding job. One that makes you constantly learn and grow.