| Are you developing online training content (eLearning)? | | | | Designers have a base to work from and are all using |
| Do you want to save money and time? Are there | | | | the same files. |
| multiple members on your team and you need | | | | You can also develop a template interface player. This |
| everything to be consistent? Are there varying levels | | | | would ensure that learner always have the same |
| of technical expertise on the team? | | | | navigation options on each course. You could also |
| These are just a few questions that we come across | | | | standardize where links to jobaids, outlines, |
| while building online training content. Using templates to | | | | bookmarking, and other features appear. The learner |
| build eLearning can address many of the questions | | | | become familiar with navigating your course and |
| above. Before discussing a few points let me describe | | | | doesn't need to waste time trying to figure that part |
| what I mean by eLearning templates. | | | | out. They can jump right into the training. |
| Templates can include many different assets. Many | | | | Technical Functionality |
| common ones are PowerPoint master slide layouts | | | | Are there certain requirements that your Learning |
| that have many different pages ready for you to | | | | Management System has for courses to function |
| insert content. There are also various tools that create | | | | properly? Are there guidelines that the IT department |
| template interfaces and GUIs for courses. Templates | | | | has? Templates are a great way to build a file that |
| can include buttons, icons, color schemes, images, | | | | works within all guidelines and then to share it with the |
| quizzes, games, and more. Basically they can be used | | | | entire department. As designers use the template is |
| over and over in different projects. Now let's discuss a | | | | cuts down on troubleshooting time trying to determine |
| few benefits. | | | | why something isn't working. That effort has already |
| Save Time and Effort | | | | been done and only needs to happen once. |
| Wouldn't it be nice to have the interface, page layouts, | | | | Move Beyond Your Talent |
| buttons, icons, colors, and the most often used | | | | There are some amazing multimedia designers that |
| components of an online course ready to go? Right | | | | can create some great content for online training. Not |
| there on your desktop and ready to drag and drop into | | | | all instructional designers are good at creating |
| place? | | | | multimedia. Templates can be created to add a lot of |
| Having templates ready to goes means that you don't | | | | professionally designed interactivity and games to |
| have to waste time re-creating the same pieces for | | | | courses. All you have to know how to do is edit the |
| each course. This can be very valuable for those who | | | | template and then you can add content that is beyond |
| may not have a strong background in multimedia. It | | | | your skill level to create on your own. |
| could take a novice designer a long time to create a | | | | Increase Output and Creativity |
| flash movie or design an asset that an expert could do | | | | I touched on this earlier but templates allow designers |
| in minutes. Also, the quality will be very different. | | | | to spend time on what they do best...writing course |
| Another huge plus is that the designers can now | | | | content. Templates can allow you to spend project |
| spend time focusing on writing good material and less | | | | time on the "meat" of the course and not on the |
| on how to make a button look pretty. | | | | "administrative" parts. This has two consequences: 1. |
| Consistency | | | | You can spend time thinking of creative ways to |
| Many organizations want their online courses to be | | | | make your course interesting and 2. You can build |
| consistent. They should have the same colors, look | | | | more courses in a shorter amount of time. |
| feel, quality, etc. no matter who the individual designer | | | | I hope that this article gave you a few ideas around |
| was. Templates can help achieve this desire. | | | | how eLearning templates can help you and your team. |