In a previous post I looked at small to medium sized organisations tackling the development of online courses can run into problems when selecting the development team from amongst relatively inexperienced staff members who don’t always have the skills or time required to complete the development tasks.
In this post I want to quickly look at the second area where small to medium sized organisations often fail: the course development cycle.
That is, a coherent and applied strategy for the development process. This is often either poorly implemented or, more frequently, simply ignored by team members rushing to pull the disparate strands of the development process together at the last minute.
The development process requires time and management – the two assets, from my observation, that the team members in these organisations often lack. However, if any semblance of a successful online course is to be produced the development process must be adhered to.
So let’s take a closer look at the development cycle.
In the next article we’ll take a look at how AI tools can help streamline the development cycle and provide a much faster course development flow.
Outline of the Online Learning Development Cycle
This document provides a comprehensive outline of the online learning development cycle, detailing the key stages involved in creating effective online educational experiences. The cycle emphasizes the importance of iterative design and continuous improvement to meet the needs of learners and educators alike.
1. Needs Assessment
- Identify target audience
- Analyze learner characteristics and needs
- Determine learning objectives and outcomes
- Evaluate existing resources and gaps
2. Planning
- Define course structure and content
- Select appropriate delivery methods and technologies
- Develop a project timeline and milestones
- Allocate resources and budget
3. Design
- Create a detailed course outline
- Develop instructional materials (e.g., videos, readings, quizzes)
- Design assessments and evaluation methods
- Ensure alignment with learning objectives
4. Development
- Build the online course platform (e.g., LMS setup)
- Upload and organize course materials
- Implement interactive elements (e.g., forums, discussions)
- Test functionality and user experience
5. Implementation
- Launch the online course
- Facilitate learner engagement and support
- Monitor participation and progress
- Provide ongoing communication and feedback
6. Evaluation
- Collect data on learner performance and satisfaction
- Analyze feedback and assessment results
- Identify areas for improvement
- Conduct a formative and summative evaluation
7. Revision
- Revise course content and structure based on evaluation findings
- Update instructional materials and resources
- Implement changes for future iterations
- Document lessons learned for continuous improvement
8. Maintenance
- Regularly update course materials to ensure relevance
- Monitor technological advancements and integrate new tools
- Provide ongoing support and resources for learners
- Foster a community of practice for continuous learning
Importance of the development cycle
If any of these steps are ignored or rushed through there is a good chance that the end result will be a poorly implemented and poorly conceived course.
Although trying to allocate time for any task is a bit like asking ‘how long is a piece of string?’ given that all courses are different in both length, content, design and development requirements as well as technical implementation, a very rough idea can be given in the information and chart below:
Rough Guide to the Development Time Cycle of an Online Course
Needs Assessment (1-2 weeks)
Identify the target audience and their learning needs.
Conduct surveys or interviews to gather information.
Analyze data to determine course objectives.
Course Planning (2-4 weeks)
Define course goals and learning outcomes.
Create a course outline and structure.
Determine the format (e.g., video, text, interactive) and technology to be used.
Content Development (4-8 weeks)
Research and gather materials relevant to the course topic.
Develop instructional materials, including lectures, readings, and assessments.
Create multimedia elements such as videos, graphics, and quizzes.
Course Design (2-4 weeks)
Design the user interface and overall course layout.
Ensure accessibility and usability for all learners.
Integrate interactive elements to enhance engagement.
Pilot Testing (2-3 weeks)
Conduct a pilot test with a small group of learners.
Gather feedback on course content, design, and delivery.
Make necessary adjustments based on feedback received.
Final Revisions (1-2 weeks)
Implement changes based on pilot testing feedback.
Finalize all course materials and ensure quality assurance.
Prepare for the official launch of the course.
Course Launch (1 week)
Publish the course on the chosen platform.
Promote the course to the target audience.
Monitor initial enrollment and engagement.
Ongoing Maintenance and Updates (Ongoing)
Regularly update course content to keep it relevant.
Address learner feedback and make improvements.
Monitor course performance and engagement metrics.
Total Estimated Time
Adding up the estimated time for each stage, the total time from start to completion of an average online training course is approximately 12 to 24 weeks. This timeline can vary based on the complexity of the course, the resources available, and the experience of the course developers.
Conclusion
Creating an online training course involves a systematic approach that requires careful planning and execution. By following this rough guide, course developers can better manage their time and resources, ensuring a successful course launch and a positive learning experience for participants.
