Creating Online Training: DOs and DONT'S

by Karen Massetti Miller

As a technical communicator, you may be asked to create online training for your organization. Your first attempt at online courseware development may seem a bit daunting, but take heart. Here are a few online training DOs and DON'Ts that can help you avoid some common development pitfalls.

1. Don't assume clients know what they want. We all work for clients. Some are external (customers) and some are internal (members of your organization). Whether external or internal, clients may request specific things—large graphics, streaming video, animations of dancing clowns, etc.—when they ask you to develop online training. But they may not be familiar enough with online development to understand the implications of their decisions:

  • Clients may ask for things that are technically unfeasible.

  • Clients may ask for things that are instructionally unsound.

  • Clients may ask for unrealistic deadlines.

Do assume that you are the expert—and if you aren't, find one! It's up to you to inform clients when something they ask for can't—or shouldn't—be done. If you don't know whether something is doable, find a team member who does, and involve that person in the conversation.
2.

Don't assume that creating online training is a one-person show.

Creating online training involves a variety of skills, including instructional design, graphic design, script writing, programming, and project management.

Though some remarkable people may be able to do all of these things well, you may not be one of them.

Do assume that creating online courses is a team effort.

When you begin developing an online course, assemble a team of people whose skills complement each other. Don't be afraid to call on other team members when you don't know how to do something.
3.

Don't assume that the production process will run smoothly. People get sick, have family emergencies, smash up their cars, and have their houses blown away by tornadoes—and that's the minor stuff. You may also encounter technology problems. Remember, no technology is foolproof; fools are too ingenious.

Do assume that Murphy's Law is a Universal Truth.

When you negotiate deadlines, try to project a best-case scenario and a worst-case scenario. Shoot for a deadline somewhere in the middle.

Let your client know as soon as you realize you won't be able to meet a deadline.
4.

Do BE CREATIVE and HAVE FUN!

Yes, there are many things in the development of online training that can go wrong, fall apart, and make you miserable, but that's because no one has ever done these things before.

Remember, you are part of a technological revolution!

Karen is the Instructional Design/Information Design Director at GeoLearning, Inc., in West Des Moines.