Rapid elearning is not about finding cheap and simple ways
with design, but rapidly translating a great design into a working product. Bad
design can never deliver a good final product. To begin with, the instructional
designers should be task centered rather than being content centered. Usually
clients are blamed for bad products, but one should realize that clients are
not designers, and therefore are not expected to know the best way to design
elearning.
Even today most elearning still focuses on content followed
by a quiz. The best way would be to involve learners in a real world activity,
and providing information only if required. Flash is a great multimedia
platform to present interactive content.
Interactivities are not only about mouse rollovers or click and reveal,
but to make learners do realistic work in a safe environment.
Learners should be treated as adults with the liberty to
choose what information they need. In real world you would not get information
easily, but you’ll have to seek out based on the needs of task in hand. People
like to explore things that look nice and appealing. An ugly and sloppy course
is not going to win you audience. However, you do not need to be a trained
graphic designer to make your course look good. Rapid authoring tools like
articulate PowerPoint are great for doing outstanding design work like layered
graphics, masking, vector graphics, and quick fix graphic effects.