eLearning creation is an elaborate task. And while a single individual can build an eCourse in a day and serve it to the learner it takes quite a few steps and skills to do it right. Think your smartphone video clip versus a silver screen production. Chances are the latter is the more impactful. So let's meet the team and hopefully appreciate the importance of each role.
This is where it all starts. With defining a problem and a solution. Sometimes a learning intervention is not the best means to helping people perform better. Or if learning is required, eLearning might not be the only (or the best) solution. The front-end analyst first makes sure that eLearning is the way to go. Then they profile and ensure the right content for the learner.
This is the person who makes sure what needs to be taught is done so in the most effective and appropriate way. They employ instructional techniques to make the learning process engaging and memorable.
I'm coupling UX and UI for simplification purposes only. They are very much separate disciplines, but usually go hand in hand – process and position-wise. The UX/UI designer is in charge of the layout, the navigation and all the intricacies that make taking an eCourse a smooth sail.
The Graphic Designer
Meet the beautifier. Captain Aesthetics. From creating the look and feel of the whole piece to forging the illustrations, photos and all visual assets, the graphic designer makes sure the learner feels good and the eCourse leaves a good taste in their mouth.
The Video Production Specialist
Although quite a broad term, this is the person who is in charge of all video. Either creating it by organizing and executing filming or animating, or editing and preparing existing videos for integration into the eCourse.
The Sound Production Specialist
The person who takes care of your auditory perception. Often neglected, audio is a powerful eLearning tool that elevates a module even further when done right. Typically, the SPS records the voice-over artist, edits the audio and mixes and masters all sound assets to a polish, ready to be used by:
The Developer
Also known as the Author or Programmer, the Developer is the wizard mechanic that builds the whole machine and breathes life into it. Being lower on the funnel they usually optimize assets and ensure interoperability and compatibility.
The Quality Assurance Tester
This is the detective of sorts. The sieve that makes sure everything looks and works the way it is supposed to. The man with the iron. They check every possible integrity angle and help deliver a finished product.
The Subject Matter Expert
SMEs are the necessary evil. Just kidding. This is easily the most important role that usually gets neglected the most. The subject matter expert is the essential bringer of knowledge and the go-to person in times of doubt. That said, they sometimes tend to overdeliver volume-wise and that's where we meet:
The Project Manager
This is the organizer of the whole creation process. The supervisor of the design and development. The connective tissue of the entire team. The one who knows everything there is to know about the project.
I understand this was just a peek into the eLearning content design and development kitchen, but I do plan to go into more detail on each role. Until then, don't stop creating.
