eLearning Maintenance Review Cycle Checklist

For my main client, we use a review document with a table that has screenshots from the entire course in the left column (one image per row). The right column is for entering comments. Typically, the SMEs just review everything and are responsible for indicating where changes are needed. Depending on the content, we provide guidance about what to look for. For example, have any process steps changed? Are the screenshots still accurate?

It seems like you could really use a checklist for analyzing the software updates to determine if the updates will impact training. In other words, the review cycle should be based on when the software is updated and what the changes are.

For some software that gets updated a few times a year, I prepped a document describing typical changes and their likely impact. For example, updating buttons and/or fields (changing names, adding, deleting, moving) will definitely affect training materials that have screenshots, as well as text related to process. Adjusting the options in a drop-down might have an impact; that would depend on how detailed the training materials are. Adding types of Reports wouldn't have an imact, because, for this software, the training materials don't provide details about each report.

I can't share the actual document; it's proprietary. But I hope this helps.

Great question Kristin!

I don't have a review cycle checklist template for you, but here are some of the things I would personally look out for:

• outdated screenshots
• references to outdated events, products, people, etc..
• outdated information on internal processes

I'm sure there are many other things that could be added to this list! I'm curious if anyone in the community has any ideas.

Thanks, Allison! With the feedback I get here and some other research, I am
creating a checklist now. I will post when complete.
Kristin

*Thank you, Judy this helps a lot. I am in the process of creating a
checklist and will share when it is complete.*
*Kristin*

Great! Looking forward to seeing it :)

Hi Kristin! 

Just wanted to let you know that your question inspired me to write this article: https://community.articulate.com/articles/e-learning-maintenance-checklist/ 

Let me know what you think and if you have anything else you would add! :)

Allison,

That is great! Let me think about it and see if there is anything I would
add. I am glad I could inspire you - we are going through eLearning course
maintenance right now and I will have to say, it is almost as hard as
creating the course!

Thanks.
Kristin
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I believe it! I would love to hear about any issues you've run into and any ideas you have for making avoiding those in the future. 

Hi Kirstin,

We really need to move to a more planned maintenance process. Currently we are in a constant state of build, launch and the maintenance is on demand as the business process and software get updated. We have a maintenance schedule but it's moving people into that process which is the challenge. 

We used to use Excel but it's not too efficient when you don't see what the reviewer is seeing. So I use Articulate Review which is great for reviewing and saving comments all in one place.

Allison, thanks for the maintenance checklist, I'm now thinking may be I just need to add these points to the email when I send the link to the Articulate Review module, or even add a extra slide to the module in Articulate Review with this information upfront, so they get an Introduction to their Maintenance Review then it's all in one place.

Thanks for the ideas.

Ruth

You're welcome, Ruth! Great idea to add an extra slide in the beginning of the course to explain what people should be looking for. :)