In a concise and simplified definition, an e-learning authoring tool is a software or application for developing digital e-learning content and courses. Although an e-learning authoring tool is essential, many people still think it is just a complex term without importance. No. It is not merely a term but an important tool ninety-nine percent of the businesses and organizations around the globe use today.
For example, most popular elearning authoring tools are mostly used by content developers to add graphics and video, format text, create quizzes with pre-programmed interaction like drag and drop exercises. This is one of the numerous things an e-learning authoring tool can do to solve the digital content of issues of any business. You will, however, discover the general benefit of e-learning authoring tools in your business as you continue to read this article.
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The Things e-learning Authoring Tools Can Do For Your Business
An e-learning authoring tool is significant to businesses due to the problems it amicably solves. The problem-solving role e-learning authoring tools play in content creation, research, and networking is responsible for their importance in businesses. The general things e-learning authoring tools do that make them important tools to instructional designers, Freelance, and SMB owners include the following:
- Improve the efficiency of developing e-learning without wasting time and money
- Helps in the conversion of content into the updated formats you seek
- Addition of interactivity to your digital e-learning courses and content making them engaging
- Ensures your e-learning is more accessible
- Incorporate organizational branding
- Incorporate collaboration features
- Build digital e-learning courses and content compatible with any device
- Facilitate translation
Improve the Efficiency Of Your e-learning techniques easily
There are various e-learning authoring tools, and choosing the most suitable one will go a long way to set you up on the digital path. It will eliminate the coding phase of developing e-learning without altering its efficiency and quality. What does this mean? It means there will not be a need for IT development, where you will have to send your storyboards to programmers to achieve your e-learning goals.
As an e-learning content creator, you won’t need to learn to program or communicate your ideas and intentions to IT. This is primarily because e-learning authoring tools will help in the optimization of your online training resources without wasting time and altering their premium quality. Therefore you do not need a professional programmer to recreate standard layouts and interactions on screen after screen with the best interface. An e-learning authoring tool is, however, sufficient on its own without programming.
Helps In The Conversion Of Content Into The Updated Formats You Seek
It is sometimes challenging to keep up with the advancement of technologies when considering the most suitable e-learning authoring tool to use. Meanwhile, it is always advisable to go for authoring tools designed with simplicity and are capable of importing and converting older files into the latest formats or versions. These types of e-learning authoring tools can convert PowerPoint slides into a SCORM e-learning module.
Furthermore, with the right tool, you can update, modify and edit your newly converted digital e-learning courses and content.
The Addition Of Interactivity To Your Digital e-learning Courses And Content Makes Them Engaging
E-learning authoring tools feature various interactions to make your digital e-learning courses and content lively and engaging. Hence, you can use any of your e-learning authoring tool’s interactions to make the PowerPoint deck you converted to a SCORM module lively and engaging. One of the mistakes most e-learning creators think is that they need a programmer to help them add interactions to their course.
Meanwhile, e-learning authoring tools offer a wide range of interactions they can use without the services of a programmer. Furthermore, most of these authoring tools come with quizzes, hotspots, full-on gamification, and drag-and-drop exercises.
Ensures your e-learning is More Accessible
This is one of the essential things e-learning authoring tools can do. These authoring tools feature some accessibility tools, such as captions, alt tabs, and alternative navigation options. Hence, there is no excuse for developing inaccessible e-learning content.
Furthermore, a few e-learning authoring tools provide a more accessibility feature. They offer settings to disable inaccessible but enable accessibility features for the development of digital e-learning content and courses.
Incorporate Organisational Branding
One of the most significant benefits of using e-learning authoring tools for your business or organization is the branding awareness feature they offer. Your organization can attach their logo to their content to develop and promote the services they offer.
Incorporate Collaboration Features
Keeping track and tabs on the contributions and comments of whoever is involved in the project—such as subject matter experts (SMEs) and Instructional designers—may be challenging. An e-learning authoring tool is the best solution to this problem because of its collaboration features.
In addition, a few e-learning authoring tools take the collaboration features further. They don’t only allow collaborators to make comments but also have the “track changes” feature which makes it easy for others to review, edit and remodify.
Build Digital e-learning Courses And Content Compatible With Any Device
Making a digital e-learning course and content compatible with any device is one of the many factors that make e-learning creators run to the IT department. Meanwhile, with a responsive e-learning authoring tool, you can achieve the all-devices compatibility you seek. You can automatically make the content compatible with every standard device, such as tablets, smartphones, and web browsers.
Facilitate Localization and Translation
A good digital e-learning course and content must be available locally and internationally with different language options. The most commonly used e-learning authoring tools for the localization and translation services include:
- Adobe Captivate
- Articulate Storyline
- Lectora Online
Conclusion
Generally, it is normal to experience a few problems in your e-learning development process. However, finding a lasting solution can be tricky without an authoring tool. Do you have problems improving the efficiency of your e-learning development process, enabling accessibility and branding, incorporating interactivity, updating legacy content, and facilitating collaboration, localization, and translation? An e-learning authoring tool is the most suitable solution to these problems. It’ll help.