Learning Content Development Guidelines

As we approach to the implementation of our Learning Management System (LMS), one thing we should never ignore of its importance: Learning Content Development. In this short article, the writer would like to list several ingredients of building a good learning content.

The spirit in the Content: We have reason to believe that User Needs Analysis has been (pre)planned and (pre)conducted (by your team), in order to reach the understanding your target audience. When we are dealing with Technology Training Courses, are we generating the content all on Theories or Step-by-Step Hands-on practice?

If it is on Theory of a Subject, do we clearly explain the concept of that theory and collaborate with auxiliaries elements, such as RFC 1531 Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. Is this type of theory a proven technology, or we tend to explore the possibility of more involvements? (That shows the strategies of our company, and of course, influence to any possible working activities inside an enterprise.) Does any specific mentioned term/technology being offered in our product line? If not, when would it be in the road map?

If the content is on Step-by-Step Hands-on configurations, does the content in parallel with hands-on equipment user interface? Most of the learners would position this type of training materials as a reference guide and conduct their job in the field with the assistance here. As a result, timely update the material and correctly identify setup steps is extremely cruel.

There is a great possibility that most of your learning content is on video/audio basis. When this type of learning content is hosted in a corporate LMS serving channel partners (Field Support Engineers), the exact step / configuration should be clearly illustrated. Field engineers are working under extreme pressure and you will KNOW if they are experiencing any harsh conditions. Yes, they will.

Amount of Content: What would be the optimal length of your training course as well as (e-Learning) training materials? When would be our learners attempt to this training course? At work during daytime, or after work, in the evening home resting periods. During night time self-study, 1.5 hours in writing and maybe another hour in practice. That probably would be a better arrangement. The writer used to attend several courses in Coursera. Self-promoted to learn is the motivation and that 2.5 hours during evening, 3~4 times on a weekly basis has been a routine schedule to get involved.

Learning Content Formats: In a corporate LMS, yes, the learning content should stick with the very same (or professional) format. It needs to follow the guidelines from Marketing Dept. or Public affairs Dept. However, if your are attempting to make some course in those fee-charged online education platform, such as Udemy, edX, Pluralsight, and many others, then, your personal brand should be packaged into a occupational style.

Role of Responsibilities: Are you playing multiple solos in learning creation, or you are the project managers on learning materials collaboration?

If you are doing all by yourself (which the writer admires your courageous to manage such magnificent responsibilities), make sure you have plenty resources to cover the project scope. In the writer's own observation (and humble opinion), people tend to be good at one of the following expertise: (1) understanding of theory framework, (2) equipment or device testing, (3) working result collections in a logical way, (4) overcoming language difficulties to put content into WRITING. Yes, it is one of them. Owning all of the characters definitely makes you a "Most Wanted Profession" in this modern society.

If you are working within a team, what is the size of this team? If the size of this team easily to be managed and controlled? (This bring the ideas how the publishers from those most popular newspapers perform their jobs. Again, they are working under the pressure on a daily basis) Are you good at quickly add and re-order stated content and categorize into appropriate display.

Lessons Learned: We believe that identifying the opinions of our training program’s participants is one the best ways to continuously improve our training program. Most of the Learning Management System (LMS) have the capability setting up "Feedback Form" to either proactive or reactive collecting customer satisfaction survey. Thus, technological constraints will not (and should not) make excuses not to do so.
As of learning content, some of the questions can be presented in feedback form should cover whether (1) the training content is completely presented during the training sessions, (2) the learning activities (i.e. exercise, hands-on practice) closely match to the materials being mentioned, (3) the knowledge being instructed can be digested within limited training time-periods, (4) the possible / achievable benefits that the learners can obtain reliable response from the learner's work (or potential employers). Making proper interpretation between the lines drives another success factor to improve your learning content.

Values being Generated and Recognized: The writer of this blog is administering a team in building training materials, for a popular networking equipment manufacturer. Brainstorming discussion is always fun, but extremely energy-consuming. Common stereotypes or frequently asked questions to the team include

• What have we learned from our content?
• What are the values being embedded in our contents? (What are the benefits our learners would receive from our work?) 
• How could we differentiate our work from others? (Excellent reference from a vast amount of materials in competitors' website / Youtube)

No matter which direction we are heading, in creating learning content, the conclusive goal is to ensure the final output meets the competencies proficiency to any specific knowledge and skill being required. And, your learners would be happy to review the same session, involve with other (or advanced) topics, and, most importantly, make recommendation to others.

Review Session: With the discussion on Artificial Intelligence these two years, would Learning Content being created and composed with the assistance of AI? If so, how would we prepare for such changes?