You think you want to make some e-learning? Before you start, make sure you don't get tripped up by the FIVE PITFALLS - 5 classic mistakes made when commissioning e-learning

1. The “big five”e-learning pitfalls and how to avoid them! Insider tips from Tribal’s Digital Learning Studio

2. The basic dilemmas for anybody buying digital learning ? Cost (£) Effectiveness of the learning

3. The “big five” e-learning pitfalls and how to avoid them! Easily overlooked when you buy or make your own ...

4. The right subject matter, but the wrong learning

5. Pitfall 1: The right subject matter, but the wrong learning “How the information is structured” is hardly ever the same as “How the learning is structured” Start from the learner’s perspective. Help them solve real world problems, not push the content

6. Pitfall 1: The right subject matter, but the wrong learning Typical structures for digital learning might include: Scenario based learning: set the learning message within a plausible problem-solving scenario Just-in-time learning / performance support: small chunks of learning available when you need it Hybrid reference/courseware: short, sharp courses, with far deeper reference material behind it to dig into if required These are typical learning design issues. To dig deeper, there are many great resources online.

7. Wasting your digital opportunities... not making the full use of digital, or even making the wrong use of digital

8. Pitfall 2: Wasting your digital opportunities Guerra Scale (2004) £££ Sweet spot? Learner Engagement Myths Paper behind glass is enough The more interactions the better Special effects = engaging

9. Pitfall 2: Wasting your digital opportunities Guerra Scale (2004) £££ Still useful as a way to rate interactivities but Discredited as a scale of good > better > best It is not the interactions themselves, but what you do with them that counts.

10. This looks like a great course, but... I'm going to need transcripts for the videos... and why did pressing that button delete all my work? Accessibility and usability- let it work for you!

11. Pitfall 3: Accessibility and usability Accessibility can be easier than you realise: ... If your content can adapt to many screen sizes ... and can work without a mouse (keyboard only) ... and you keep different formats of your media You are most of the way there! Experts say “Don’t be constrained by the standards; rather use them to focus on the learner’s perspective.”

12. Pitfall 3: Accessibility and usability Usability can be easier than you realise: Spend time with real users, testing out the interface

13. Excluding your champions- tutors are the very people who can help your course to succeed

14. Pitfall 4: Excluding your champions If you look after tutors’ needs, they can support your course better: 1. Make sure tutors have support & training so that e-learning empowers them. 2. Keep the content structure as open ended as possible, to encourage tutors / mentors to remix it into their own lessons. Future proofing your course! Good tutors will reuse and adapt as the needs change

15. But it worked fantastically in the labs!How to protect yourself from the unknowns

17. Use open standards

18. Plan ahead for mobile learners

19. Is the platform right?

20. Are learners (and tutors) ready for it?

21. Do courses integrate into your own processes?

22. Can you edit the content yourself?

23. Do you need to track learners / measure progress?