how to write an elearning course

by Zechariah Kovacek 4 min read

eLearning Script Writing Tips To Perfect Your eLearning Course Narrative

  • Writing is a careful balance of planning and execution. The secret to creating truly powerful and immersive content is all in the planning. ...
  • Make it fun, entertaining, and relatable. ...
  • Simple and straightforward is the secret to a successful eLearning narrative. ...
  • Remember that writing styles should be fluid and adaptable. ...
  • Choose words that paint a picture. ...

Tips for writing an e-learning course with high learning impact
  1. Know your audience. ...
  2. Put key information at the top. ...
  3. Write in short simple sentences. ...
  4. Create content that is easy for your target audience to find. ...
  5. Use the active voice. ...
  6. Use images and video if possible. ...
  7. Always have your course reviewed before you publish it.

Full Answer

How to build a better eLearning course?

Aug 26, 2019 · Our experience shows that using e-learning templates is the fastest and cheapest way of building e-learning content. PERIOD. E-learning templates are predesigned and preprogrammed pages that you can use to build your course faster, usually you just need to copy / paste texts, add audio and video materials, if you have any, delete the parts you don’t need, …

How to design an eLearning course on a budget?

1. Be conversational and use simple and direct language. The best way to engage a student online is to give him or her the impression that someone is talking to him or her directly, as if the course was built especially for him or her. Listening to someone reading is in fact quite alienating.

How to start creating an online course?

Apr 03, 2015 · eLearning Script Writing Tips To Perfect Your eLearning Course Narrative Writing is a careful balance of planning and execution. The secret to creating truly powerful and immersive content is... Make it fun, entertaining, and relatable. An eLearning course narrative, regardless of the subject ...

How can I create my eLearning courses faster?

How to Create an eLearning Course in 12 Steps Step #1: Start with Why: Do a Need Analysis. Contrary to popular belief, deciding “we need eLearning because everyone... Step #2: Know Your Audience. Writing a course entirely in Spanish to a group of people just beginning to learn Spanish... Step #3: ...

How do you make an eLearning course in 12 steps?

Create an eLearning Course in 12 Steps InfographicStart with Why: Do a Need Analysis. Conducting a needs analysis. ... Know your Audience. ... Content Analysis: Get the Right Content for the Right Audience. ... Set Learning Objectives. ... Define Your Instructional Design Plan. ... Storyboard your Content. ... Choose your Technology. ... Prototyping.More items...•Jan 23, 2017

What are the 4 stages of eLearning?

A well-defined e-learning development process comprises four phases viz. Content analysis, developing a storyboard, developing a prototype, and course submission.Sep 9, 2016

What is e-learning process?

Definition: A learning system based on formalised teaching but with the help of electronic resources is known as E-learning. While teaching can be based in or out of the classrooms, the use of computers and the Internet forms the major component of E-learning.

What are the disadvantages of online classes?

Disadvantages of Online LearningOnline Learning May Create a Sense of Isolation. Everyone learns in their own manner. ... Online Learning Requires Self-Discipline. ... Online Learning Requires Additional Training for Instructors. ... Online Classes Are Prone to Technical Issues. ... Online Learning means more screen-time.Dec 28, 2021

What is learning platform?

A learning platform ensures user logon/authorization, tracking, assignment of learning activities or allows users to choose the learning path themselves . LMS allows all user management to be done. There are many LMSs that also include ...

What to look for in an LMS?

Before we move on to content creation, here are 7 factors to consider if you need to select an LMS. There is a whole science behind it, but these, in our opinion, are the most essential: 1 Usability – You definitely don’t want an LMS that’s complicated and confusing, as this will have a negative impact on the learning experience. 2 Accessibility – Think about the devices and browsers that your learners will use and make sure that the LMS supports their needs. 3 Support – If the LMS is hosted by the provider, they ensure user support as well as saving and backing up data. If the LMS needs to be hosted by you, you need to be able to provide sufficient infrastructure and support internally. 4 Compliance – It’s essential to select an LMS that is compliant with the type of content objects that you want it to host (for example, SCORM). 5 Reporting – You need to consider what information you want to receive in terms of learner progress and performance. Make sure that the reporting that the LMS provides is sufficient for your needs. 6 Features – There is a variety of features that you may (or may not) need for your eLearning, such as integration of other systems, social features, visual customization and so on. 7 Pricing – Of course, affordability is also always a factor. Don’t rush into a decision before doing proper research and evaluating several options.

What is a script in eLearning?

The script of an eLearning course contains the texts that make up the audio track of your course. It can be read by a voice-over (usually a professional speaker ), by an animated character or directly by the teacher.

How to write a script for a course?

To write an effective script, you need to know the target audience for the course. Discover the characteristics of your students and identify the style and language best suited to them. Also evaluate your students' level of knowledge of the topics covered and make sure you provide the right amount of information without dwelling too much on already acquired knowledge and, at the same time, without skipping essential concepts.

How to engage students online?

The best way to engage a student online is to give him or her the impression that someone is talking to him or her directly, as if the course was built especially for him or her. Listening to someone reading is in fact quite alienating. Your goal should therefore be to address the student directly as if they were right next to you and not let them feel that the speaker is reading a script.

How to make sure your script is read in the correct mode?

To make sure that your script is read in the correct mode, give precise directions to who will have to make the audio recording. Then provide a separate field in the storyboard called " voice instructions " where you can specify if there is something that could be misinterpreted, such as the pronunciation of acronyms, person names or foreign words. Finally, remember to remove these notes from the script if you will also use it to create subtitles .

Why is elearning important?

It will also show gaps in current training and how you can close the breach and get results. This also prevents you from throwing eLearning at a problem it can’t solve. Elearning is perfect for addressing gaps in skill or knowledge but is typically not an effective cure for lack of customer satisfaction or a job design problem.

What is a prototype in eLearning?

A prototype defines the representative look-and-feel and functionality of the entire course. It also is used to test out technical functionality. This allows eLearning designers to create and discard multiple versions quickly to get the best fit before wasting too many resources on designing the whole course then finding out something doesn’t work.

What is need analysis?

A need analysis make sure you aren’t doing training just for training’s sake. Conducting a needs analysis: This analysis can range from a simple interview to broader, more in-depth data collection methods that include looking at past training, desired results and the current state of your workforce.

What is a storyboard?

A storyboard is a rough, visual outline that helps map out how text, pictures, and other elements will look on a page. This will help you see how your page will look before you waste time putting together the final design only to find out the elements don’t fit together right.

How many words should a sentence be?

In general, any sentence that is over 55 words becomes difficult to follow and understand so aim to have your sentences around 20-30 words. You should still vary your sentences to keep the writing flowing and interesting but if you are in doubt over a sentence, it likely needs to be shortened and/or rewritten.

Why is it important to have a title?

While fun or clever titles can be eye-catching and memorable, it is even more important that a title provides structure to your course. Once again, because students skim, a title is a good way to help them find the info they need. Titles also help give a good first impression to students about what is coming up.

Do you use colons in titles?

Do: Create Compound Titles. The colon (:) is your best friend when creating titles because it allows you to push the most meaningful words to the left and makes good, descriptive titles possible without making them too wordy. They also draw attention to the second half of the title, which can sometimes get ignored.

1. How To Write Compelling Content That Informs, Enthuses, And Motivates

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2. How To Use Storytelling To Make Your Content More Memorable And Effective

Storytelling isn’t just for children. Incorporating stories into your learning content can make it more memorable and more effective.

3. How To Write For A Global Audience With Translation And Localization

When writing for a global audience, translation is the relatively simple part. Localization is what can really ensure your content is relevant and impactful across regions and cultures.

About Our Courses And Learning Design Experts

Elucidat’s Masterclass HQ is a free training product that covers a variety of different eLearning disciplines. It is delivered online as a set of bite-sized inspirational modules (powered by Elucidat, of course).

Step 1: List All of Your Course Topics

The first step for organizing your eLearning content by creating an eLearning course outline is to list all of the topics you need to cover in the course. Whether you do this with sticky notes or using an online whiteboarding tool like Miro or Jamboard, the goal is to simply get everything listed on the screen.

Step 2: Organize Your Course Topics

After you’ve identified and listed all of your course topics, the second step for organizing your eLearning content by creating an eLearning course outline is to organize your topics. Use this time to identify which items should be main topics vs. sub-topics.

Step 3: Identify Where You'll Include Interactivity

The third step for organizing your eLearning content by creating an eLearning course outline is to identify where you’ll want to include interactivity.

Step 4: Indicate the Flow of Your Course

The final step for organizing your eLearning content by creating an eLearning course outline is to indicate the flow of your course. This is where you’ll outline how the learner will flow from one topic to the next. Again, if you’re creating your outline on paper or with sticky notes, you can do this by simply drawing arrows between each topic.

The Bottom Line

Taking the time to create an eLearning course outline not only can help you start to organize your eLearning content, but also help you start to write the initial draft of your eLearning storyboard.

Do you put a hyphen in email?

Traditionally, the term “e-mail” should have a hyphen, but today most people write “email”. According to Mary Morel from onlinegrammar.com, “Hyphens are often used when new words are invented out of existing words.

Is "e-learning" hyphenated?

The first piece to unravel is whether the constructed word (“e” “learning” is a constructed word for electronic learning, similar to email and e-commerce) should or should not have a hyphen. According to the Oxford dictionary, the term is “e-learning – learning conducted via electronic media, typically on the Internet” with a hyphen.

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Know Your Audience

  • Before you can answer the question of how to write an e-learning course, ask yourself who you’re writing for. What is their existing level of knowledge on the subject matter? Answering this question can help you write with a clear goal in mind and avoid irrelevant tangents.
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Put Key Information at The Top

  • No matter how engaging your course is, your reader’s attention will diminish over time. Attention spans online are simply shorter. That’s why it’s important to position the most necessary information at the start of your course. You can mention minor details last.
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Write in Short Simple Sentences

  • Break complex ideas up into short sentences, and use words that almost anyone can understand. This makes it easier for learners to digest new information and keep up with your course. We recommend sticking to short sentences of 20 words maximum. Here’s a cheat sheet with the ideal writing parameters.
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Create Content That Is Easy For Your Target Audience to Find

  • Your learners need to be able to find your course in their Learning Management System (LMS). That’s why you should include relevant keywords in your content to make your course more searchable. Consider what questions your learners likely have about the topic and then frame your content accordingly.
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Use Images and Video If Possible

  • Images can illustrate complex ideas in a quick and engaging way. Similarly, videos combine visual and audio elements to deliver a multisensory learning experience. Including a mix of media can help your learner to engage with the e-learning content, but only if it is relevant. This e-bookdescribes how to use video and images effectively.
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Always Have Your Course Reviewed Before You Publish It

  • Even the best authors who already know how to write an e-learning course benefit from proofreading. We recommend having at least one other person look over your content. While you may have reviewed your material multiple times, it helps to have a fresh set of eyes look at your work objectively. Each reviewer offers a unique perspective to help catch errors you may have m…
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