what are the main sections in a elearning course

by Prof. Van Gaylord III 6 min read

The Simple Anatomy of an Effective eLearning Course
  • A Clear, Attention-Grabbing Introduction. ...
  • Fully functional learner interface. ...
  • Support and communication. ...
  • Simple and clear language. ...
  • Continuous assessments and knowledge checks.

What should be included in the introduction of an eLearning course?

The role of the instructor is very important in the e-learning process because it’s in his hands to encourage, inspire and ensure students don’t feel like they have embarked on the learning trip alone, and also because it will ensure that students will be tracked and given proper feedback which is very important throughout the learning process.

How many types of e-learning are there?

Jul 06, 2016 · Here are the core elements that belong in every master eLearning template. Introduction. The first page of your eLearning course should be a brief introduction that gives online learners a glimpse of what they can expect. As is the case with all pages in your eLearning template, it should be customized to reflect the tone, subject matter, and ...

What are the 6 components of an online learning environment?

With level 3 e-learning courses, the interactions become even more sophisticated. In this level, you can expect to include extensive audio, video, transitions, animations, and more. Quizzing can involve branched, scenario-based questions that allow learners to explore multiple paths and feedback levels.

Do all eLearning course templates have the same instructions?

Dec 18, 2014 · The following list contains 6 important components of a successful Online Learning Environment: Curation and addition of your own resource s. Educators spend a lot of time reading, researching, and getting involved with other educators in online Professional Learning Networks. This paired with personal experiences can lead to the curation of ...

What are the main components of e-learning?

As seen in this picture, e-Learning consists of two main elements, (1) on-line training and (2) knowledge management, which are supported by learning architecture (coordination with other learning activities) and infrastructure (from Web access to learning management system).

How do you structure an e-learning course?

Decide what material to cover. ... Group subject matter into modules. ... Break down each module into sections. ... Links between sections for a self-directed learning approach. ... Create a roadmap for the course. ... Develop a theme that reflects course structure.Sep 11, 2015

What are the 5 parts of E content?

Images, text, videos, animations, and audio – all these elements comprise content. Your e-learning needs to balance all these elements to generate appealing, relevant content.Oct 27, 2016

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

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

How do you create a module?

How to create the best training modulesStep 1: Establish your training objectives. ... Step 2: Define your audience. ... Step 3: Decide on the right content format. ... Step 4: Create your training module template. ... Step 5: Test and test again. ... Step 6: Upload and launch your training module.Aug 2, 2021

What are the 6 types of learning?

Without further ado, here are the types of learners:Visual Learners. Most learner types lean towards a specific sensation when learning. ... Auditory Learners. ... Reading/Writing Learners. ... Kinesthetic Learners. ... Group/Social Learners. ... Multimodal Learners.Apr 26, 2021

What are the phases of E content development?

In e-content development aspects consists of six phases viz., analysis, design, development, testing, implementation and evaluation. skill, budget of the e-content, delivery methods and its constraints with due dates.

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 are the advantages of online classes?

Ten Advantages of Online CoursesOnline courses are convenient. ... Online courses offer flexibility. ... Online courses bring education right to your home. ... Online courses offer more individual attention. ... Online courses help you meet interesting people. ... Online courses give you real world skills.More items...

What is a lesson in a course?

Lessons build on each other so that learners are more informed with subsequent lessons. They are the areas of a course where actual learning takes place through several strategies.

What is a module conclusion?

The module conclusion provides a summary of the module and a transition to the following module. Revise all objectives one more time. This module ties your lessons neatly. It is a final opportunity for the learner to revise everything they have studied. Provide a list of key terms introduced in the module. Provide access or links to supplementary material. Provide options for the learner to navigate back to the start of the module or move on to the next one. Describe the upcoming module by relating current information with the future one.

What is a learning objective?

Learning objectives (LO) define the KSA (knowledge, skills, and attitudes) your learners will achieve after completing the course . There are two types of learning objective. Terminal Learning Objectives (TLOs) are the objectives for LESSONS and are a statement of the course developer’s expectations of the Learner’s performance at the end of a specific module. The flowchart below shows how the objectives sequence:

What is the first screen in a module?

The first screen provides a brief overview of the module and a brief description of what the learner will learn and the second screen lists the module objectives. A great idea to start a module is to use a story or a real-life vignette to provide an overview of the problems to be solved in the module.

How long does it take to create a DCO?

This detailed document aids IDs in determining the scope of the course. Depending on the content of the course, a DCO can take about 5 days to create. The notes generated in the initial meeting you had with all stakeholders are ideal for creating the DCO. The purpose of the detailed outline is to provide eLearning IDs all of the content information, broken down into Modules, Lessons, and Topics to design a course. Distribute the DCO amongst all stakeholders. Ask for their suggestions. Refine the DCO and resend. Be patient. This is the fundamental step in ensuring everyone gets what they want from the course AND your efforts move in the right direction.

What is an eLearning course?

An eLearning course can be defined as a set of interfaces and instructions designed and shared with learners to teach them specific skill or knowledge. Based on the instructions and design, learners can be made to browse the courses in a specific fashion or any random order.

How to develop a good eLearning course?

One can develop a good eLearning course by completing the above four stages in a sequence. Using the right tools and methods, you can always streamline an effective course content and structure. Just remember to study your target audience and prepare a course focused on the corresponding requirements. Teaching is a great responsibility. Better teach less than teaching wrong. Always perform a quality check by preparing the materials in a subject matter expert's guidance. Finally, keep updating your course materials with the changing facts and trends.

What is an authoring tool?

eLearning authoring tool is an eLearning software that supplies all the tools required to create and design a course on the whole. For example, a particular eLearning authoring tool might come with tools like slide creators, image editors, video editors, quiz programmer etc. All these tools are combined together to form a full-fledged authoring tool in one package.

What is learning management system?

Learning management system is an eLearning software responsible for automating the aspects of physical classroom training ( teaching and assessment). Most of the authoring tools and eLearning marketplaces come built-in with LMS features. Additionally, there are also independent LMS available in the market.

Is e-learning a profitable niche?

E-learning is gradually becoming a profitable niche for starting an online school. A majority of audiences who relied on traditional classrooms are now moving online in search of knowledge and training. From digital marketing or computer programming to Yoga training, one can find an online course developed for each genre.

Why is it important to make eLearning courses accessible?

Making eLearning courses accessible is important for many companies as it ensures there are no barriers to staff being able to complete training. Some courses also need to meet the USA’s section 508 requirements. Check the Top 10 Accessible eLearning Tips to find more.

What is assessment in elearning?

eLearning Course Assessments Resources. Assessments are critical elements of instruction; they determine accomplishment of lesson objectives. However, you can design assessments to be more than an evaluation of what has been learned. You can design them to be a part of the learning process itself.

How to improve eLearning course design?

How To Improve eLearning Course Design Usability By Adopting The 10 Usability Heuristics . Asynchronous eLearning is different from traditional classroom studying and requires strong motivation and self-discipline from learners. As there is no person-to-person contact and immediate reaction to problems emerging in the process of learning, eLearning professionals should pay special attention to eLearning course navigation and usability. To help you remove all the barriers to effective eLearning course design the article provides an idea of what eLearning usability is and how to improve it by applying common usability heuristics.

How has the multimedia age changed the role of teachers?

Multimedia age has changed the role of teachers. The need for audiovisual aids to support e-learning, mobile learning, distance and blended learning have reformed the role of educators, who are now becoming producers to enrich their teaching with mediums like podcasts, videos, animations, interactive presentations, etc.

Why is the role of the instructor important in e-learning?

The role of the instructor is very important in the e-learning process because it’s in his hands to encourage, inspire and ensure students don’t feel like they have embarked on the learning trip alone, and also because it will ensure that students will be tracked and given proper feedback which is very important throughout the learning process.

Why is keeping it simple important?

To avoid discouraging learners, keeping it simple is preferable to overextending ourselves and possibly hitting an incompatibility roadblock. All of these key elements have the ability to foster a supportive, effective e-learning environment.

How To Create The Best eLearning Template

Templates are valuable timesaving tools that allow eLearning professionals to develop engaging and aesthetically pleasing eLearning courses . Best of all, you don’t necessarily need graphic design or coding experience, as the eLearning template comes complete with pre-built layouts.

About Christopher Pappas

Christopher Pappas is founder of The eLearning Industry’s Network, which is the largest online community of professionals involved in the eLearning Industry. Christopher holds an MBA, and an MEd (Learning Design) from BGSU. eLearning Blogger | EduTechpreneur | eLearning Analyst | Speaker | Social Media Addict

What is level 1 e-learning?

Level 1 (Basic) Some refer to level 1 e-learning as the “click next” style of e-learning. It has very low amounts of interactivity (i.e., clicking the Next button is as interactive as it typically gets) and there is a lot of static text and images. Level 1 quizzes are usually basic multiple-choice and true-or-false questions.

What is a level 1 quiz?

Level 1 quizzes are usually basic multiple-choice and true-or-false questions. Level 1 e-learning, while basic, does have its place: it can be a quick and inexpensive way to cover simple rules or procedures. View Example. View Example.

What is online learning environment?

Online Learning Environments are becoming increasingly available for learners in all areas of education from primary grades right through to higher education. They require key considerations to be cultivated to promote success.

Why is online learning so difficult?

Often, it is very difficult for primary students to navigate and understand because it requires abstract thought. As learners progress and develop, more features can be added depending upon learning needs. By contrast, online learning courses for higher education tend to be very textual based.

What are the two types of e-learning?

They identify just two primary types of e-learning: computer-based e-learning and internet-based e-learning. This method of classification could be seen as more accurate because it differentiates e-learning ...

What is fixed e-learning?

“Fixed” in this context means that the content used during the learning process does not change from its original state and all the participating students receive the same information as all the others.

How does computer managed learning work?

In the case of computer-managed learning (CML), also known as Computer Managed Instruction (CMI), computers are used to manage and assess learning processes. Computer managed learning systems operate through information databases. These databases contain bits of information which the student has to learn, together with a number of ranking parameters which enables the system to be individualized according to the preferences of each student. As a result of two-way communication between the student and the computer, determinations can be made as to whether the student achieved their learning goals on a satisfactory level. If not, then the processes can be repeated until the student has achieved their desired learning goals.

What is CAI in education?

Computer Assisted Instruction (CAI), also sometimes referred to as computer-assisted learning (CAL), is another type of e-learning which uses computers together with traditional teaching. This could mean interactive software for the students or the kind of training software used by Patrick Suppes of Stanford University in 1966. Computer-assisted training methods use a combination of multimedia such as text, graphics, sound, and video in order to enhance learning. The primary value of CAI is interactivity – it allows students to become active learners instead of passive learners, by utilizing various methods such as quizzes and other computer-assisted teaching and testing mechanisms.

What is adaptive learning?

Adaptive e-learning is a new and innovative type of e-learning, which makes it possible to adapt and redesign learning materials for each individual learner. Taking a number of parameters such as student performance, goals, abilities, skills, and characteristics into consideration, adaptive e-learning tools allow education to become more individualized and student-centered than ever before.

What is linear communication?

Linear E-Learning. When referring to human-computer interaction, linear communication means that information passes from sender to receiver, without exception. In the case of e-learning, this becomes a very limiting factor, as it does not allow two-way communication between teachers and students.

What is individual learning?

When practicing individual learning, the students study the learning materials on their own (individually), and they are expected to meet their learning goals on their own.

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Course Welcome Or Opening

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This is the first thing your learners see when they open your course. In addition to welcoming learners visually, it usually provides options for navigating the different sections of the course. Remember that the welcome content sets the tone for your course, so it’s important to start off strong! Here’s an example of a welcome scre
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Instructions

  • Depending on the type of course you’re creating, you may want to include instructions to help learners understand how to navigate through the course. If you’ve built your own custom navigation using a slide-based authoring app, you could use arrows, callouts, and text to point out the important features of the course player. Noteworthy features include navigation buttons, res…
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Learning Objectives

  • Objectives give learners an overview of the course goals. Usually presented in bullet point format, the list shows actionable tasks the learner should be able to do after completing the course. However, objectives don’t haveto be listed in bullet point format. Often, it’s the client, business partner, or organizational style guide that requires objectives to be presented that way. There’s …
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Practice Activities

  • The purpose of practice activities is to help learners strengthen their skills and knowledge. As such, they should include content presented earlier in the module so learners can apply what they just learned. Here’s an example of a practice activity you can create in Rise: And here’s another example created in Storyline 360:
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Knowledge Checks & Assessments

  • Knowledge checks and assessments are quizzes at the end of each topic, module, or course, where learners can test their progress during a module. The main difference between the two types of quizzes is that knowledge checks do not generally count toward the final score, while assessments do. They might look like typical quizzes (i.e., true/false, multiple choice, etc.), or ta…
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Summary

  • At the end of each topic, module, and course you’ll often find a summary of the key points from that section. They can include links to additional resources to help highly motivated learners take their knowledge to the next level. In Rise, that could look something like this, for example: Or if you’re working in Storyline or another slide-based app, you could create a slide like this one:
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Contact Info & Resources

  • At the end of each course you’ll usually find contact information for the trainer or subject matter expert (SME) as well as some additional resources to help support learners as they apply the skills they’ve learned in the course to their jobs. Typically they include one or more of the following: 1. Contact information: People to contact for help or questions about the course 2. Co…
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Final Thoughts

  • As a course designer, you have unlimited options for combining e-learning elements in your courses. Your experience level, combined with expectations for your course and learners, will influence many of your choices. If you’re a new e-learning designer, try covering these common elements to start. Good luck! Leave a comment or post in the forums if you have any other quest…
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