How do subject matter experts create high-quality eLearning resources?

It has become increasingly easy to create eLearning resources. Software tools such as authorware, learning management systems and social web applications allow those without programming or design skills to produce their own eLearning courseware. More and more organisations are making use of this potential, in particular because it can support the spread of knowledge and best practice internally from subject matter experts to colleagues. However, though this process may lead to a higher quantity of available resources, they are often of low quality and thus end up having little impact. The epprobate initiative supports organisations in making the most of their internal capacity and in producing high-quality courseware for internal and external use.

Whilst eLearning production has been a rather exclusive business for specialised companies over the last 10 years, organisations are now starting to build up their own in-house infrastructures to create and facilitate the use of learning content. Rolf Reinhardt, Managing Director of the Learning Agency Network, is convinced that “clients thrive for being more independent and we encourage them in doing so, not just because they can save costs, but also because they can take an important first step towards becoming a learning organisation”.

It is clear that the processes of developing eLearning have changed. Until recently a whole team consisting of a project manager, a didactic expert, a storyboard writer, a programmer, a graphic and an audio designer was needed in order to create an eLearning application. Today, it is possible for a Subject Matter Expert acting alone to develop the whole course. However, the optimal solution is not that easy, and quality is key.

Harvey Mellar, Director of epprobate, the international quality label for eLearning courseware. and Emeritus Reader at the Institute of Education, University of London has many years experience of eLearning and quality assurance and he argues that eLearning quality is not just about ticking a number of quality boxes. A team of leading quality experts from research and practice have worked with him to develop the epprobate Quality Grid which sets out a series of criteria which can be used to interrogate courseware, enabling judgements to be made about the quality of courseware, and acting as guidelines to enhance the quality of internally produced eLearning.

The epprobate Quality Grid includes four key areas: course design, learning design, media design and content. Whilst the subject matter expert starts from some expertise in the content area, the other elements of the quality grid point to areas where outside help may be needed. One of the first steps will often be a needs analysis in which the target group is defined, and a process of participatory design is initiated in which the learners are centrally involved.

Ebba Ossianielsson, who is one of the team of 18 current epprobate Head Reviewers, highlights the importance of the course design: “The learner needs to clearly understand right in the beginning what objectives shall be reached by going through the course.” This includes both suitable instructional guidance and alignment of the learning path.

The experiences gained within the first epprobate reviews have clearly shown that high production values of the learning content are not the most important element of courseware. Even when the pictures, videos and audio files are created by a Subject Matter Expert with limited design skills, providing they are ‘fit for purpose’ they still can be of great value to the learner – a good example of this is simple video recordings of interviews with the learner’s line manager or other people in the learner’s work place. The incorporation of formative assessment can be a vital element, when elaborated carefully and where it encourages reflective activities. The epprobate Quality Grid calls attention to the possible use of a variety of forms of learning within courseware including acquisition, inquiry, practice, communication and construction.

Through our many partners including universities, governmental agencies and private companies, consultations on the epprobate grid and process are now available in more than 35 countries all around the world.