How can you cut e-learning costs without sacrificing quality?

Like Edward said: It can be done by sifting through free resources. But, instead of sacrificing quality or cost, you will be sacrificing time. Remember the Iron Triangle: Good, cheap, fast – You can only have two. :)

Nowadays you can learn almost anything online, for free. The downside of free is that it takes time to sift through the resources and check that they're quality and work. But we're talking about cutting costs, not cutting time. Platforms like youtube, reddit, coursera, udemy, and more have free resources to learn so much. If you have the will and patience to face the downsides of free resources, there is usually great results at a low/zero cost.

A direct path is frequently deemed the most efficient. While I don't endorse Microsoft Office alone, its diverse range of products can achieve remarkable outcomes, often complemented by various Adobe tools. For instance, within the LMS, I utilize iSpring for its robust PowerPoint plug-in and delivery platform. Focusing investments on a select few quality products can yield exceptional results.

Be a curator, not a creator. Creator takes time and money, and you need your own audience to win in the long term. You'll get there eventually but you should start by curating content that's already out there. There's so much already on YouTube, Twitter, and other platforms. Save your audience time by being the curator.

Utilize open-source or free learning management systems (LMS) and authoring tools. Repurpose existing content and materials instead of creating new ones from scratch. Implement a "bring your own device" policy to reduce hardware and software expenses. Leverage online resources and free educational content through open educational resources (OER) repositories. Embrace self-paced learning models to reduce the need for live instruction. Outsource non-core functions like content development or technical support to freelancers or contractors. Negotiate volume discounts with vendors or explore cost-sharing arrangements with other organizations.

While templates offer structure, learners thrive on variety to prevent stagnation. Avoid excessive uniformity in learning material; think creatively and step outside conventional bounds. Maintain consistency across courses by using similar elements but introducing subtle differences. Instead of a monotonous pastel background, consider altering tones to engage the mind, transitioning from light blue to green, for example. Break free from rigid backgrounds dominated by white and boxes. Adjust AI voice-overs, alternating between male and female, experiment with accents like British English. Move away from a mundane learning environment filled with clicks and transform it into a vibrant spectrum of colors and experiences.

Maintain a comprehensive database detailing each course and necessary material updates. Just as a tree evolves with the shifting winds, a software product continually grows and changes. Similarly, the learning tree requires periodic pruning to align with evolving teaching methods and new knowledge. This ensures that as teaching develops new branches and knowledge roots deepen in users' minds, the learning experience remains guided and relevant.

Establish an annual goal to enhance your material incrementally each year. Begin with version 1.0, and as your knowledge grows, update lessons to 2.0 status or prepare learning notes for handoff to new team members. For example, transitioning a project from 1.0 to 2.0 over two years, and subsequently to 3.0 when a new team member assumes ownership. Moreover, integrate individual or group reviews into your teaching approach, incorporating feedback from clients and in-house stakeholders. Their questions will unveil areas for improvement, which you can then note and address accordingly.

Use AI to augment your words, spelling, and structure. Please do not be lazy and give commands to a machine to build an outline or give it key points. Write naturally and let your thoughts flow. Use intelligent machines to edit your work, but always maintain your voice, and afterward, edit that machine to keep that human element. Sometimes, there are wonderful examples of a word suggestion or wording that has been changed. Then, as it is being proofread, ask yourself if you would genuinely use that word or phrase. Always be human; machines are tools and use them wisely.

Do not overload information. Know your audience and provide only as much information as they need. When taking a course, we often find ourselves skipping over many screens and fast-forwarding content to get to what we, as adult learners, need to know. On the development side, adding all these screens and putting in all this information costs... a cost that can be prevented by better needs analysis.