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The Basics of E-Learning Course Creation Apps

CommunityTeam's avatar
CommunityTeam
Staff
11 years ago

Picture this scenario: Your boss sends you an email asking you to research e-learning course creation apps—also known as e-learning authoring software—so your department can purchase a tool to develop e-learning. You hardly know anything about e-learning, much less course creation apps. You search online, but quickly become lost in the sea of information, opinions, and product specifications. All you want is some general information about what e-learning course creation apps are all about, but you can’t seem to find it!

If this sounds familiar and you’re looking to learn what e-learning course creation apps are all about, you’ve come to the right place. Read on to find out the main things you need to know.

What Are E-Learning Course Creations Apps?

E-learning course creation apps allow you to develop e-learning courses—also known as computer-based training, online training, online courses, and distance learning. There are lots of different apps to choose from, but they all have one thing in common: they help you build a “learning experience” that’s viewed on a computer, tablet, and/or smartphone.

What Can You Create with E-Learning Course Creation Apps?

Specific functionalities will vary from app to app, but the range of things you can do with e-learning course creation apps includes:

  • Presenting information using text, shapes, photos, characters, animations, video clips, and audio.
  • Building engaging interactions and games that challenge and motivate learners.
  • Crafting realistic scenarios to help learners understand how to apply what they’re learning to real-life situations.
  • Creating 360° immersive experiences that empower learners to build skills in realistic virtual environments.
  • Recording your screen to create software training.
  • Designing quizzes, assessments, and tests to measure learning.

You can use any combination of these things—and more—to create your online courses.

Do You Have to Be an Expert to Use E-Learning Course Creation Apps?

No! A wide range of people with varying backgrounds use e-learning course creation apps. Some applications—like Rise 360 and Storyline 360—require no (or minimal) coding or programming knowledge. This means subject matter experts—or anyone with average computer skills—can use e-learning course creation apps to build online training.

Wrap-Up

As you continue your research into finding the best e-learning course creation apps for your needs, you’re likely to stumble upon more questions. What types of course creation apps exist? What factors should I consider when choosing a course creation app? Not to worry! We’ve got answers for you.

Check out the resources below to help guide your search. And be sure to come back to the E-Learning Heroes community regularly for more helpful advice on everything related to e-learning. 

And remember to follow us on Twitter and come back to E-Learning Heroes regularly for more helpful advice on everything related to e-learning. If you have any questions, please share them in the comments.

Published 11 years ago
Version 1.0
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E-Learning Essentials
  • MarkS's avatar
    MarkS
    Community Member
    11 years ago
    Lots of considerations that don't make this list. Desktop tools are notoriously bad for collaboration with other authors or contributors, and they are also weak in enabling reviewers to add commentary (Storyline is no exception). There's a lot more to authoring than whether or not you can import PPT. For example, can you define objectives and link them to activities? Can your objectives define the design? Can you enable an immersive experience for your learners?
  • KeithRichardson's avatar
    KeithRichardson
    Community Member
    7 years ago
    Good article. Subject Title does not match the text though. For the text presented the Title should read 'Some Key Requirements for any E-Leaning Software' The present title is incorrect since not all probable requirements are mentioned (see others comments for examples) and the text only mentions requirements without mentioning how to match them up with any or some or all of the e-leaning authoring software out there (other than to tell the reader to match with the 'Features" listed by the software vendor). Since all vendors do not "sell" or "explain" their software using the same terminology as used in the text (some don't even use the word or provide a list of "features") this article does not give the reader sufficient description of elearning software itself. This is like a wish list of what the author thinks E-LA software SHOULD do but relates no information of what available software WILL do: hence cannot be considered as an 'Overview of of E-learning Authoring Software". Your problem you identify is quite correct though - picking the correct software to use/buy is a big problem. A clear and nearly-correct "Needs List" is the first step (your article). However the effort to do this will be to no avail if the second and equally time consuming and important step is not done - matching the means provided by the software to the needs list including an means to hve vendors customise their software to get a one to one match. In my experience most software vendors in this arena do a poor job of explaining the methods/means imbedded in their software (what they programmed the program to do. Most just default to presenting their tool as the swiss army knife (i.e. - meeting all needs common for the arena). If you argue for a specific need (feature) they just say that your need was not common therefore not included in 'their' offering - yea who does get to decide "common" anyway? Most vendors do not adhere to the belief that "the customer is always right". They belive that the way to Perhaps an article from you on "How to match Your needs list to Vendors offerings" should be your next article after you retitle this one. From reading your other articles you seem to have a great knowledge of the subject arena and I for one would be interested in your ideas and perspective on picking the correct software BEFORE doing the time consuming trial and error thing that the vendors favor.
  • PeterRushton1's avatar
    PeterRushton1
    Community Member
    11 years ago
    This is a very helpful series - and, for me, definitely an e-learning experience. Do we underestimate the "click and scroll" methodology?
  • DGraham's avatar
    DGraham
    Community Member
    9 years ago
    Are the bullet points under "Here are some resources to help guide you" meant to be links? If so, the links aren't working currently.