Choosing an eLearning Authoring Tool

I have gone through plenty of articles and websites that talk about choosing an elearning authoring tool that’s right for you, your team and company. However detailed information they provide, they only focus on comparing the features of selected tools. I agree that it is important to understand the capabilities and features of the authoring tool you choose; but its not the only consideration.

You also need to consider the cost of the tool, the people who would be using the tool, as well as the type of content you want to create and publish. These elements which play a critical role in elearning are easily forgotten in the rush to understand the intricate details of the authoring tool. From the very beginning you should be clear about your budget, as the costs of different tools vary largely.

Whatever your starting budget may be, there should be some flexibility in it. A lot of times it happens that after assessing your requirements you realize you have exceeded the budget. On the other hand you may also start off thinking you’ll need something sophisticated and expensive, only to discover less is more. Some elearning authoring tools are available by annual subscription – particularly the larger development tools, while standalone desktop tools can still be bought as per copy. Both models have their own pros and cons, but both of them are legal means of meeting your requirements.

You also need to consider the type and number of people involved in the development. This is directly related with the solution you can afford. For example – a standalone desktop solution for each user would be very expensive if it s big development team. Check whether the people using the tool are skilled at learning it, or they are going to need extensive training. Are the people comfortable to embrace change or is it a difficult task to get them involved? Do you have the kind of budget and resources to provide technical support if your team needs it?

 

Will people developing the learning be experts in the subject matter?  Do they have the right skills to do this? The importance of analyzing audience and shaping the content accordingly should be highlighted, or else it will be simply telling the audience the stuff they already know. The SME’s might be good at scoping content, but do they understand the importance of good instructional design and the specifics of elearning?