How to Successfully Implement Learning Resource Development

Now that I'm more familiar with learning resource development, what are the next steps to implementing it at my organization?

There are many ways in which vendors develop learning resources. A highly skilled learning resource development team uses an effective eight-step process. These steps include:

1. Complete project kick off
2. Create development standards and templates
3. Develop learning guides
4. Complete draft storyboards, in-person training materials, and assessments
5. Complete development
6. Complete validation
7. Move training materials into production
8. Complete pilot project

What are the types of learning resources?

Learning resources can be broken down into four separate categories:

1. Self-study online or eLearning: These are online materials, courses, or learning activities developed by instructional designers. Typically, interactive online learning resources are built using authoring tools, such as:

• Articulate Storyline 360 or Rise
• Captivate
• Camtasia
• Lectora

2. Online synchronous or in person (face-to-face) training materials: These learning resources refer to training packages most often used for face-to-face, facilitated workshops. Training materials may include:

• Facilitator guides: Guides that are used during a facilitated session by the facilitator
• Participant guides: These are guides that are used in a facilitated session by participants
• PowerPoint presentations: PowerPoints may act as learning resources that support facilitated delivery

3. Other learning resource development options:

• Video and audio resources
• PDF manuals
• Practical evaluations
• Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) documents
• PowerPoint presentations with audio track (to be delivered online)
• Links to external learning resources
• External vendor training

4. Evaluation: Evaluation is a critical component for learning designed to meet specific performance-based objectives. Any number of different assessment types, depending on the learning needs of an organization, can be developed and incorporated into evaluation resources.

How do I evaluate my learning resources?

Good question. Once a learning resource has been developed and delivered, you will need to evaluate how the learning resource is working. How else will you know if your materials are actually benefiting your learners? Depending on the learning resources that have been developed, evaluation can be completed by asking a few questions (Ontario Ministry of Education, 2011):

• Is the content at the appropriate level of quality for the learner?
• Do the learning resources have a clear instructional purpose?
• Are the learning objectives clear?
• Is the content current, relevant, and accurate?
• Do the resources present opportunities for different forms of learning?
• Do the resources present possibilities for meeting individual and/or group needs?
• Do the resources present content in appealing and clear ways?
• Are the resources flexible in their use, form, and style?
• Do the resources support self-directed learning?

How do I recognize learner success?

Also a good question! Once the learner has successfully completed their evaluation, it is necessary to recognize their accomplishment. This recognition can take the form of:

• Formal certificate acknowledging the completion of their learning
• Verbal support and praise from an instructor or supervisor
• Open badges
• Continuing education credits
• Gamification

Gamification - the awarding of points and badges for completing learning activities - has become a popular trend in online learning. Gamification is supported by the use of Open Badges - the verifiable and portable digital badges with embedded metadata about skills and achievements. These badges can be awarded to recognize the learning accomplishments of individuals moving through a competency-based learning program.

You'll be able to find lots more information about learning resources online - but the tricky part is finding the right company, and learning resource development team, to trust as an investment into your organization's learning and success. Read our next post to find out more.

This is the second article in a three-part series covering Chapter 21 of our Skilling Up textbook. To access other articles in this series, please navigate below.

Article 1 - What Exactly Is Learning Resource Development?

Article 3 - Choosing the Right Learning Resource Development

Curious about enhancing your learning resource development skills? Get our free eBook, covering essential topics such as creating accessible content, choosing the right voice and tone, incorporating meaningful graphics and videos, and developing quality narration.

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