How To Create Amazing eLearning Templates: 4 Steps You Should Follow
eLearning templates are easy to reuse and repurpose, which makes them a cost-efficient and time-saving solution. They help you ensure quality across the board by creating a master layout. The process involves developing a default eLearning template, adding the essential pages, and then assigning your placeholders. In this article, I'll walk through the 4 key steps of the process so that you can design an amazing eLearning template for your next eLearning course.
Step 1: Choose The Best eLearning Authoring Tool
You need a reliable, versatile eLearning authoring tool to create a top-notch eLearning course template. Ideally, this tool should have a great asset library and themes. Some may even feature pre-built eLearning templates that you can use as a springboard for your customized eLearning design. Lastly, look for a responsive design tool that automatically adjusts the layout based on the learner's device. All of these features will save time and resources in the long run, as you won't have to purchase additional software.
Step 2: Create The Layout
After you've found the ideal eLearning authoring tool, it's time to create the "bare bones" of your eLearning template. This default layout provides a framework for you to build on. The master eLearning template should contain the basic building blocks of your eLearning course design. For example, borders, text boxes, and logos. Avoid formatting elements that are too targeted or specific, such as fonts or graphics that you'll switch out for each eLearning course. The goal is to create a reusable eLearning template that you can easily customize based on your needs.
Step 3: Add The Essential Layout Elements
The eLearning content, activities and assessments will vary depending on the subject matter. However, all eLearning templates should have the following pages:
1. Introduction
Welcome online learners to the eLearning course and provide them with a brief overview of what to expect. Remember, this introduction page appears for all of your eLearning courses. If you aren't using the same welcome message for every eLearning design, simply integrate a text box and leave it blank.
2. Learning Objectives And Desired Outcomes
This usually calls for a bulleted list that highlights all of the key learning objectives, goals, and desired outcomes. Preferably, create a separate text box for each section and leave space in between to expand. Also, incorporate headers to keep the page organized.
3. Instructions
In most cases, you can already write the text for this page. Especially if you are using similar instructions for every eLearning course. You can always make minor adjustments if there are special directions for online learners.
4. eLearning Content And Activities
This is where the process gets a bit tricky, as each eLearning course requires different eLearning activities and text-based content. For example, your safety online training course features numerous interactive online exercises. When in doubt, leave room for eLearning activities and then remove them if they are unnecessary.
5. eLearning Assessment Pages
Before you can integrate eLearning assessment pages, you need to finalize your eLearning assessment strategy. For instance, are you going to test after each eLearning activity or wait until the end of the eLearning course? Also, which types of eLearning assessments are you going to include? For best results, create a different template for the assessment formats you commonly use. For example, multiple choice, open-ended questions, or true-false. You can simply plug-in the eLearning assessment template when it's time to create your eLearning course.
6. Recap And Review
This page contains the summary, recap, or review of your entire eLearning course. To make it easily digestible, incorporate bulleted lists, clickable links, and subheaders. You may even want to make room for an online resource library at the end.
Step 4: Incorporate Placeholders
Once you've assigned a page or section for each element, incorporate placeholders to ensure that there is enough room for your eLearning content. You can also integrate reminders for yourself or your eLearning team members so that you don't forget important elements. For example, leaving notes for your graphic designer so that they know where to place certain icons or buttons.
Top Tip For Creating eLearning Templates
You don't have the time or resources to create your own master eLearning template? If starting from scratch isn't an option, there are a variety of sites that offer free eLearning templates and themes. However, you should look for more generic eLearning templates that you can customize to suit your needs. A botanical-themed layout may be ideal for your "go green" eLearning course. But you need something more professional for an upcoming compliance online training course. Also, make sure that the eLearning template you choose is compatible with your eLearning authoring tool. Certain layouts are difficult to customize because of formatting issues. They may also include permanent elements that you can't remove. Last, but not least, ensure that you have usage rights for the template before using it in your eLearning course design. Some eLearning templates require attribution or clickable links that redirect to the creator's site.
It's a good idea to update your eLearning templates periodically to add modern elements. This also allows you to keep up with your online learners' needs and make room for new eLearning activities and assessments. Also, bear in mind that the bigger the better. You can always remove extra placeholders and pages, but it's more difficult to expand your eLearning templates once they're finalized. Also, bear in mind that you can always choose the one that suits your needs from an extensive eLearning templates library with 1000+ aesthetic layouts from our good friends at eLearningDom.
Does your eLearning course have all the essential elements? Read the article The Ultimate eLearning Course Design Checklist to discover the ultimate eLearning course design checklist that can help you improve your eLearning deliverables.
