With quickly evolving trends and changing market needs, training materials that were years in the making could become obsolete almost as soon as they are introduced to learners.
At the same time, most companies don’t have the time or even resources to spend on designing highly complex and expensive course content.
Fortunately, technology has evolved to a point where rapid e-learning course development is becoming a reality.
In this article, we’ll be taking a closer look at what a rapid e-learning development process is, how it works, and the benefits of using one.
We’ll also be throwing in a list of five rapid authoring tools for designing and developing engaging e-learning content in a fraction of the time compared to traditional methods.
Disclaimer: The information below is accurate as of July 31, 2024.
What is rapid e-learning development?
Rapid e-learning development is a method of designing highly engaging and interactive online training materials and course modules as quickly and as cost-efficiently as possible.
Instead of spending months or years on e-learning courses and content development, companies can quickly address their training needs in days or weeks.
Microlearning is a term often used interchangeably with rapid e-learning, even though it’s just a part of it.
That’s because microlearning is about designing and deploying bite-sized snippets of factual information known as learning pills.
A well-designed and implemented rapid e-learning development process also embodies the principles of instructional design.
It doesn’t sacrifice high quality, engagement, or the learning experience for the sake of expediency.
Rapid e-learning development also moves away from a generic, one-size-fits-all approach to learning modules.
Instead, it adopts many learning and development innovations such as automation, gamification, interactive elements, and personalization, as well as multimodal or microlearning methodologies.
As expected, there are many benefits to rapid online course development.
What are the learner benefits of rapid e-learning development?
Companies that roll out a rapid e-learning development program can experience several benefits in terms of addressing their employee training and learning objectives.
They get a cost-effective and less time-consuming alternative to more traditional training programs.
Rapid e-learning projects are also much easier to update and maintain, and they also scale up much faster.
Yet, learners also stand to benefit from rapid online learning development in a number of ways.
Let’s explore each of these in a bit more detail.
Learner engagement
Instead of always having to sit through hours of in-classroom training sessions and PowerPoint presentations, learners now have access to a quick and accessible alternative to their continuous learning opportunities.
By introducing interactive elements such as quizzes, assessments, simulations, and gamification elements, as well as multimedia content, rapid e-learning has the potential to enhance the learning experience.
Rapid e-learning is generally better at making a company’s learning and development programs more memorable and fun.
Put simply, rapid e-learning development focuses on the fast building and delivering of training material while also keeping the learner’s needs top of mind.
More traditional e-learning development, on the other hand, prioritizes the bigger picture but takes longer to plan and execute.
Needless to say, rapid e-learning development helps keep learners interested and actively involved, increasing learner engagement with the course material.
Consistent learning experiences
Every individual learner is different in terms of work experience, preferred learning style, job position, cultural background, and other factors.
For this reason, generic course materials are not guaranteed to provide the same level of positive learning experience to everyone.
Some rapid e-learning solutions, like Docebo, counteract this by personalizing the learning experience.
They achieve this through automated content recommendations, virtual coaching, adaptive learning paths, and AI-suggested upskilling and reskilling opportunities.
And with the ability to quickly and effectively translate the course material into multiple languages, companies can deliver consistent learning experiences across a culturally or geographically diverse workforce.
Knowledge retention
According to the forgetting curve, learners typically forget as much as 90 percent of the information they’ve been presented with a month after learning it.
Cognitive overload, a front-loaded onboarding process, and information dumps can all lead to learners not remembering most of what they’ve learned.
By enabling just-in-time training, leveraging gamification and multimodal learning, and even adding social learning into the mix, on the other hand, rapid e-learning can boost knowledge retention.
Mobile-friendly
Mobile learning is taking the online training industry by storm.
Together, millennials and Gen-Zers make up the bulk of today’s workforce, and both prefer using their mobile devices to conduct business, entertain themselves, and learn.
Mobile learning and microlearning go hand in glove, boosting learner flexibility and engagement.
Just like doing a quick Google search, learners can access microlearning content (learning pills) from their mobile devices, accessing useful and quickly digestible knowledge in their moment of need.
It’s an AI-powered rapid-authoring tool that turns internal and external knowledge like PowerPoints, case studies, white papers, or blog posts into learning pills of various formats and in different languages.
And since it’s AI, it only takes minutes to do so.
What is the role of instructional design in rapid e-learning?
Instructional design is a systematic process of creating and delivering e-learning courses and content.
Instructional design aims to provide consistently positive learning outcomes that ensure optimal acquisition of knowledge.
Many instructional design models are based on the ADDIE framework.
Developed in the 1970s for the US Army, ADDIE is a 360-degree approach to learning and development that focuses on careful analysis and evaluation of training materials.
The acronym stands for Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation, which describes the five stages of modern instructional design.
Since the ’70s, the ADDIE methodology has been exported outside the military and was adopted by business and higher education entities to design and implement highly engaging, effective, and learner-centric learning experiences.
Thanks to its flexibility and effectiveness, the ADDIE model has found great use in rapid e-learning development.
Let’s now take a look at the five ADDIE steps and how they apply to instructional design.
Step #1: Analysis
The analysis stage is all about doing your due diligence.
It’s about setting the right goals and finding the appropriate strategies to fulfill them.
As a highly learner-centered educational methodology, this process places a lot of emphasis on the learner and their ability to absorb information as efficiently and effectively as possible.
This involves identifying and analyzing the learner’s background, current knowledge, skill, experience, and existing knowledge gaps.
Based on this data, instructional designers will pick the right strategy going forward, the right content format, and the type of learning model that best addresses the learner’s needs and objectives.
Depending on the variables, a blended learning approach may be a better alternative than the more traditional face-to-face in-classroom learning, for example.
Step #2: Design
Once the analysis stage is complete, instructional designers will work together with subject matter experts (SMEs) to decide on the type of media they’ll use, such as text, video, or audio.
Course designers will also decide on the type of lesson plans they’ll use as well as the assessment methodology that will be implemented.
At this stage, instructional designers also commit to the delivery option, be it fully online, blended learning, face-to-face training sessions, etc.
Once everything is in place, instructional designers will put together storyboards to get the bigger picture.
While the analysis phase focuses on learner needs, the design phase is on the learning experience and how it can best address those needs.
Step #3: Development
At the third stage of instructional design, it’s time to put everything into action and begin creating the course material.
After getting the green light from the SMEs, decision-makers, and relevant stakeholders, instructional designers can begin development.
By and large, this stage includes drafting, production, and evaluation.
It’s also at this stage that you’ll be using a learning management system (LMS) with an integrated or built-in content-authoring tool.
Step #4: Implementation
The second to last step of ADDIE is to upload the course modules into the LMS system and determine their effectiveness.
This stage is heavily dependent on feedback from designers, subject matter experts, and learners.
Based on the information gathered, instructional designers will go back to analyze, redesign, and enhance training modules.
This stage also takes into account the content delivery tools used, whether learners have easy access to the training modules, and pretty much everything else that involves a smooth rollout of the e-learning project.
Step #5: Evaluation
Finally, at the evaluation stage, companies need to determine whether their training course goals have been met and figure out ways to improve the program’s success rate.
Instructional designers need to decide on which e-learning metrics and KPIs to track.
These include things like engagement levels, course completions, attendance rates, dropout rates, etc., and can highlight the overall effectiveness of the learning module.
Most modern LMSs include robust feedback and data analytics capabilities to track, gather, and analyze this information.
With custom LMS reports, you can also evaluate learners’ progress and the effectiveness of the training course.
By following these five stages of instructional design, companies can roll out and constantly improve upon e-learning and training courses in far shorter times than other course design methods.
Below, we’ll be going through five LMSs that can help you with your rapid e-learning course and content development.
5 Examples of rapid e-learning development tools
We’ve compiled a list of five of the best e-learning content-authoring tools currently available on the market to help you on your rapid e-learning development journey.
Tool #1: Docebo
Docebo is a user-friendly, SCORM-compliant, cloud-based LMS with automated content-authoring capabilities.
Docebo Shape is an AI-powered authoring tool that allows instructional designers to use templates and storyboards and turn PDFs, white papers, or PowerPoint presentations into learning pills for microlearning purposes.
The platform also includes interactive elements and gamification features, as well as blended learning and social learning capabilities.
Additionally, Docebo incorporates robust data analytics, surveys, feedback, and reporting functionalities through its Learn Data and Learning Impact platforms.
These allow course creators to keep track of key performance indicators, measure e-learning module effectiveness, and uncover actionable insights.
Top Features
- AI-powered microlearning content-authoring functionality.
- SCORM and xAPI integrations.
- Mobile and microlearning capabilities.
- Robust data analytics and reporting capabilities.
- Multi-language support.
Tool #2: Elucidat
Elucidat is a cloud-based content authoring platform with an intuitive user interface and mobile learning functionality.
It also includes an auto-translation tool, localized content, customizable templates, and multimedia assets.
Elucidat allows instructional designers to include interactive elements such as quizzes and assessments, as well as gamification features.
The platform is SCORM-compliant and has learning impact measurement, tracking, and analytics capabilities.
Top Features
- Ready-made and customizable templates.
- Image and video manager.
- WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) content editor.
- Co-authoring functionalities.
- Interaction and gamification features.
Tool #3: Articulate 360
Articulate 360 is a three-in-one suite of content-authoring and feedback tools. These include Storyline 360, Rise 360, and Review 360.
Storyline and Rise are the e-learning authoring tools, with Rise being the mobile version of the two. Review is, as its name suggests, the feedback platform.
Storyline includes interactive elements such as quizzes, simulations, interactions, and assessments, as well as a screen-recording functionality.
Rise is not as complex as Storyline but still includes course templates, text, video, multiple choice, and numerous interactive graphics.
Review 360 helps with gathering feedback from learners and other stakeholders on any given e-learning project.
Top Features
- Dynamic and personalized content.
- Mobile-friendly content authoring.
- Text-to-speech functionality.
- Screen recorder and video editor.
- Significant content library.
Tool #4: Easygenerator
Easygenerator is a cloud-based authoring tool with text-to-speech functionality, AI summarization, and auto-translation capabilities.
It includes pre-built templates, drag-and-drop course-authoring capabilities, and a course outline builder.
Easygeneartor is both SCORM- and xAPI-compliant and integrates with numerous third-party tools and apps.
Top Features
- Drag-and-drop content-creation capabilities.
- Course outline builder.
- Auto-translation capabilities.
- Text-to-speech functionality.
- AI-powered summarization tool.
Tool #5: iSpring Suite
iSpring Suite is a cloud-based content authoring tool with screen recording and text-to-speech capabilities.
Instructional designers can convert PowerPoint presentations into mobile-ready courses and SCORM or xAPI files.
iSpring Suite also includes 14 templates for interactive courses and flexible scoring, as well as quizzes, hotspots, and drag-and-drop features.
Top Features
- Screen recorder and video editor.
- E-learning interactive assessments.
- PowerPoint presentations (PPT) to SCORM and xAPI converter.
- Pre-built templates.
- Interactive elements.
How to choose the best e-learning authoring tool for your organization
When you’re going over different e-learning authoring tools for rapid online content development, you need to ensure that they can handle all the requirements of instructional design.
You also need to make sure that:
- The platform is suitable for your use case, be it healthcare, finance, manufacturing, retail, or any other industry you’re in.
- It includes all the necessary features and functionalities required to address your content-authoring needs.
- It can scale alongside your business and not be affected by growing demands.
- It has good customer support able to help you with any issues or questions you may have along the way.
You can use our free Request for Proposal (RFP) template to get the best quotes from prospective rapid e-learning authoring tool vendors.
Also, feel free to schedule a demo with Docebo to see how it can address your content authoring needs.
