In today’s fast-moving digital world, engaging, interactive eLearning content is in high demand. Legacy courses, created several years ago on what was then progressive technology and pedagogical approach, barely meet the expectations of the modern learner. The migration process of such legacy courses to interactive eLearning modules includes updating the content for higher effectiveness and engagement. Not only the content but also revitalizing the learning experience.
Understanding Legacy Courses
Legacy courses are educational materials that were developed using technologies and methodologies that are considered older. Some of the courses may have been delivered via CD-ROMs, traditional classroom settings, or early eLearning platforms. Such courses normally had valuable content but usually presented delivery methods and interfaces that were not interactive, nor engaging when compared to what modern-day learners would expect.
The Need for Conversion
Improved Learner Engagement:
The modern learner wants an interactive, immersive experience. Interactively designed eLearning modules, incorporating quizzes, simulations, and multi-media, have been shown to engage the learner much more than static, text-heavy legacy courses.
Updated Content:
Legacy course content becomes outdated after some time has passed. Conversion allows one the capacity to refresh information with new knowledge, along with the best practices of an industry.
Improved Accessibility:
Most of the interactive eLearning modules are designed to be accessible, thus making them more usable for people with disabilities. Converting legacy courses helps you be sure your content meets current accessibility standards.
Analytics and Tracking:
Many of the newer eLearning platforms come with some pretty robust analytics and tracking abilities, through which one can easily keep a tab on the learning progress and outcomes of the learners. Legacy courses may or may not support these capabilities, thus rendering them difficult to gauge on certain parameters.
Steps to Convert Legacy Courses into Interactive eLearning Modules
1. Evaluate the Current Content
Begin by evaluating your legacy courses in as much detail as possible. Next, identify the core content and learning objectives that are still relevant. Determine what needs to be revised and what can be retained. A good assessment at this stage will enable you to determine how to go about the conversion.
2. Select the Appropriate Tools
One of the key aspects that will ensure the conversion of legacy courses is choosing appropriate authoring tools. Articulate Storyline, Adobe Captivate, and iSpring Suite are a few options that guarantee a person powerful functionality in the creation of interactive eLearning content. Such tools will help you with the integration of multimedia elements, simulation, and designing engaging quizzes.
3. Course Structure Redesign
Legacy courses tend to be linear and often lack interaction. Rebuild so the course architecture now contains interactive components including things like branching scenarios, interactives, and game-based for a more dynamic learning experience.
4. Incorporate Multimedia Components
That is, integrate multimedia such as videos, animations, and audio to make learning more appealing. Such multimedia would depict concepts that for them are not easy to understand. Again, the integration of such multimedia needs to be relevant to the learning objectives.
5. Incorporate Interactivity
Drag-and-drop activities, hotspots, and other forms of interactions or simulations render the learning experience to become more engaging for the learner. In this case, the learners are engaged in an active learning process rather than just passively going through the content.
6. Testing and Iteration
Before finalizing the conversion, test the interactive eLearning modules with a sample group of learners. Gather their feedback and make such adjustments to enhance the effectiveness and usability of the course. Iteration is what will help in ensuring that the output meets the learner’s needs and expectations.
7. Implementation and Monitoring
Deploy the updated modules on your eLearning platform once the conversion is done. Further, the analytical tools will help in tracking learner engagement and performance. The continuous collection of feedback for the above shall be done as a continuous process for improvement.
How to Revamp Your eLearning for Better Engagement
To further help you enhance your eLearning strategy, check out our blog, How to Update Your eLearning for Improved Engagement. You’ll find more on strategy and best practices when creating eLearning content that better engages your learners.
Additional Considerations
1. Responsive Design
Ensure that your interactive eLearning modules are responsive, meaning they will be able to function properly on desktops, tabs, and smartphones. This is where responsive design ensures a continuous experience for the learners across all devices.
2. Learner-Centric Approach
As far as possible, be learner-centered, drawing attention to the needs and preferences of your target audience: learning styles, technological proficiency level, and accessibility needs in designing your interactive modules.
3. Continuous Improvement
The eLearning environment is in continuous flux- new technologies, and pedagogical approaches. Stay abreast of what is new and continuously update your eLearning content so that it stays relevant and engaging.
Conclusion
Conversion of legacy courses into interactive eLearning modules is an investment in the future of your training programs. Update outdated content with fresh and modern interactive elements that will offer more learner engagement, better access to content, and reporting on learner performance. Such a revision will do much more than just breathe new life into your training material will also guarantee that learners receive a quality, engaging experience.
Take a moment to head over and read our related blog, How to Revamp Your eLearning for Better Engagement, to further facilitate your optimization of an eLearning strategy. Within this detailed guide, you will find more tips on how to make your eLearning engaging.
