Converting Classroom Training to E-Learning

The journey from Instructor-Led Training (ILT) to Web-Based Training (WBT) is fraught with challenges, but it is undoubtedly a journey worth making. We at Microassist would like to serve as your guide. In 2011, Microassist hosted a five-part series of short seminars geared towards Instructional Designers converting ILT to Elearning. Great Voyages was so successful that we’d like to share those insights with you.

Are you beginning to explore an Elearning project? Do you have classroom training you’d like to be able to deliver with consistency at a lower cost? Find out what Elearning can do for your organization, or contact our training sales team.

We recently interviewed senior learning architect Kevin Gumienny and instructional designer Brandon Winston on what it takes to convert instructor-led training to elearning.   Topics we covered include:

• What is elearning?
• Advantages of elearning over classroom training
• How to make sure you create effective elearning when converting from classroom training
• How long does it take to create elearning?  How much does it cost?
• How effective is using elearning vs instructor-led training?

Listen to the interview on converting instructor-led training to elearning.

To receive a link to all ILT to WBT presentation files, fill out the contact form at the bottom of this page. 

Part One: Setting Sail

• What makes Elearning effective
• Fundamental learning strategies
• Instructional design considerations
• Best practices for online learning

Part Two: Getting Your Sea Legs

• Characteristics of web-based training versus other training modalities
• Demos of web capabilities, including augmented reality
• How a user’s previous web experience shapes their expectations

Part Three: The Lingua Franca

• How do people read online?
• Comparison of reading online versus in print
• Best practices for presenting text online
• How to facilitate online reading
• Basics of screen design

Part Four: Flying Colors

• Visual style – making the first impression
• Graphic design – applying principles the professionals use
• Color – selecting appropriate color schemes
• Informational images – communicating clearly
• Technical considerations – using appropriate file formats

Part Five: Land Ho! The Final Steps

• Usability and accessibility – the law, your image, and your elearning’s reach
• Accessibility basics – concerns for vision-impaired, color blind, hearing-impaired, and mobility-impaired users
• Testing and tools – where to find them, how to use them, and their challenges
• Usability considerations – demonstrations of poor accessibility, examples of good design and intuitive navigation

Jillian McCarthy is Microassist’s Elearning Production Manager. She is passionate about accessibility, and believes the internet provides a rare vehicle for communicating knowledge equitably and is excited to address the challenges that presents. Jillian is Microassist’s Lectora expert and has taught workshops at events like the Elearning Council’s Elearning Symposium. She also enjoys competing in Knowbility’s Accessibility Internet Rally, a web design competition focused on web accessibility.

Linda Warren worked at Microassist as our lead Instructional Designer.  She has since moved on to a new role as the Senior Instructional Designer at Thornton Thomasetti.   With a Masters in instructional technology and a Bachelors in biomedical communications arts, she has lent her Elearning expertise to graduate level courses at universities, state agencies, and corporations.

Before bringing her focus to Elearning, Linda worked as a visual communicator, using static and motion graphics to educate audiences about complex and abstract medical subjects. Her visual art background, college-level teaching experience, and web design work lend themselves naturally to her interest in Elearning.

To see more of Linda and Jillian’s work, check out the Elearning section of our website.

Have a question? Contact our training sales team.