Process changes
In addition to using tools to help shorten the duration of development time,
some advocates of rapid e-learning development also propose a change to the
design process., Some organizations have their SMEs develop the content and
work directly with these rapid e-learning tools to design the courseware. This
process can work very well for content management. It does not work as well
where more complex instructional design is critical. Furthermore, many SMEs
- such as university faculty or K-12 teachers - have neither the time nor
inclination to learn these tools and the design process. This is where the use of
templates provides a solution to SME development,
The prototype development process is another situation where rapid
e-learning tools can add value. Typically, the prototype phase can be a very costly
and frustrating phase of development because the client needs to approve the
design specification before implementation. Unfortunately, man-y clients are
uncertain of their requirements at the beginning of the design process and
continue to ask for changes to the prototype in the early ...“ phases. This leads to a
costly and time-consuming iterative cycle in which' developers must continually
tweak the prototype code. '
By using rapid e-learning development tools, a true prototype that represents
an actual vertical slice of the courseware early in the design cycle is possible. By
being able to develop this quickly and inexpensively, courseware designers/
developers can get feedback not only from the sponsor, but also from represen-
tatives of the end user group. This allows the feedback on the design, language,
and metaphors from the end users, to be integrated into the design cycle early in
the process when it is most useful and least expensive to make changes.
` Rapid e-learning development is most useful for low- to mid-range levels of
e-learning complexity in which knowledge and comprehension is key. It’s
typically considered less effective for high-end solutions in which evaluation
and synthesis are critical. However, many rapid e-learning development tools
have the capacity to embed more engaging and rich media for projects that may
need a blended solution. This easy interoperability increases the versatility
of the product. Also, as rapid e-learning development continues to grow in
popularity, additional tools will be available to the market.