Converting a SOP Manual into eLearning

Jan 18, 2023

Hi all,

Does anyone have any experience converting a manual into a eLearning?  I've been trying to figure out a way to condense a lot of information into a short eLearning.  

Any thoughts/suggestions?

1 Reply
Bianca Woods

Hi Robin and welcome to the community! Converting a manual into e-learning can seem overwhelming at first, but there are lots of ways to make it work.

One question that can help is how do you expect people to use this e-learning. Will they use it as a traditional course that tries to teach them all the material? Or will it be more of a resource they revisit when they need assistance (much like people do with paper manuals)?

If it's the former, you'll have to pare down the content a LOT so it's not too much for someone to take in and remember. If it's the latter, you'll want to break it down into small themed sections that make it easy for people to find the information they need in the moment. Also, if your content is searchable (like Rise 360 courses are), that's also a big help.

Either way, though, you'll want to streamline the manual copy. This article is on converting classroom training to e-learning, but much of the advice it shares about paring down content will also work for your situation. Also, look for opportunities where images, video, audio, or interactions can communicate information more efficiently than the text in the manual you're adapting. In many cases, that can help you trim your content significantly. And for content not every learner will need but is important to some, try tucking it away into "Learn more" buttons and course resources.