What is E-Learning software development and how can you get started?

First off, think about if you really need your e-learning content to be SCORM compliant. It's not always a must, but if it is, don't try to make it from scratch. Getting SCORM right is tough. A better way is to use authoring tools like Articulate Storyline, Rise, or Adobe's New Captivate - (I find the UI for the latter a bit difficult). Authoring tools make your job easier. Sure, there are free options out there, but in my experience, the paid stuff usually works out better. That said, remember sometimes a simple video can be just as effective as a big, fancy interactive e-learning course. For that, you can use whatever free tool you've got if it fits the bill. Always think about your main goal and what your audience thinks is helpful.

From a practical perspective, there are a number of different tools you will need. The first is an eLearning authoring tool - There are 2 main packages used by industry; Adobe Captivate - This package can do many things, but I've found it is best used for software training, with it's powerful ability to record system interactions then create complex system simulations and assessments with relative ease. Articulate - Best utilised for soft skill training and other situations where learners need to understand concepts rather than more complex processes. Articulate allows quick and easy creation of very visually attractive learning content. Also consider using PowerPoint 365 for creating custom images, giving that personal touch!

I should add that there is a lot that can be done with free development environments, which is an important asset for those who are just starting out and often have a limited budget. A free text editor like NotePad++ allows you to set up html pages very easily, highlighting the different tags and their attributes. Gimp is a very powerful image editor to fine-tune your visuals. Audacity allows you to record your voice... Today, when you have a limited command of the syntax of a language, all you have to do is ask a generative AI to provide you with a first draft, which you can then improve by continuing to exchange with it. So don't hesitate to get started, even if you're a beginner.

When reading this section, one may fear that it will be very difficult to start developing e-learning solutions. My experience is that this is not the case because on the one hand you can start with simple things, and on the other hand there are now very powerful and user-friendly graphical development environments that make your job much easier. However, it seems to me that knowing a programming language is an undeniable asset, especially an object language, because their underlying logic is now ubiquitous.

You can start developing eLearning with fairly limited knowledge of development languages, by utilising a tool such as Captivate or Articulate. Really, just a basic understanding of how webpages work and the concept of hosting on an LMS. More advanced users would benefit from understanding HTML, CSS and JavaScript for creating more complex and custom learner interactions, however with modern eLearning authoring tools much of this can be done using inbuilt functionality. Ultimately, the more you know the more you can do, but not being a whizz at coding shouldn't put you off exploring creating eLearning packages yourself!

A golden rule for me is to keep things simple in e-learning developments. Overly sophisticated presentations require a lot of time to make and are generally of little pedagogical interest. Once a first draft of a course has been produced, it is generally necessary to gradually enrich it afterwards, according to the reactions of the learners who use them. This makes it possible to split the creative process and benefit from feedback from learners. It also allows you to learn about edTech even if your e-learning skills are limited at the beginning. A few skills in HTML and possibly CSS are all you need to get started. In addition, your motivation will be reinforced when you see the reception given to your achievements by your students.

I'm a little surprised that this section directs readers directly to commercial products without pointing out that there are many resources available for free, often open source. I think it is essential to talk about open educational resources or OERs. Unesco and OER Commons can be very good entry points to find out what exists on the subject. If there are OERs in the field being taught, it avoids the need to develop existing resources. The big question is whether the ones that are available can be included in a pedagogical device easily and seamlessly. Their reappropriation may require some redesigns.