In a previous article, we talked about how important it is to conduct a self check on your training program. In this article, let us discuss tips on how you can conduct these self tests.
Some companies or educational institutions wanting to create an elearning course would hire a professional to do the task for them. Some would begin the project in house by creating the content. Some would rely on their own skills to explore and create their own course. While this can sometimes work, you cannot fully succeed unless you get input from an elearning professional – or at least someone knowledgeable about this method of learning. You need to at least have them run tests on your course – for quality review.
However, it is wise to conduct your own self-checks (as discussed in a previous article) to expedite the creation of the course before you ask a professional to check it out. For those who created their own course, it might be too tedious to add this to the job. That may be the case but it is still an important step that you need to learn. Sometimes, all you really need to do is to understand the steps for you to be motivated enough to do this task on your own.
To help you accomplish this task, here are some things that you need to remember.
Have a plan. This can merely be based on the structure of your course. In every elearning program, learners usually have the choice to go to various potential paths. If the latter is true for your course, make sure that you test every scenario to ensure that each of them will go where you want them to. Simply identify the paths that you will take for each test so you are sure to cover all possibilities that learners might take.
Have a form. This form will help you monitor each path that you take so any spotted errors can be recorded properly. It is encouraged to go through the whole course first before you act on any mistake in the original course. Once you have everything recorded, it should be easier to go back to each error and work on them one by one. The purpose of the form is primarily to help you organize all corrections and the effect of these changes to the course. If the effects of your corrections are not as intended, then it should be easy to retrace your steps through this form.
Have test identifiers. After these two steps, it is now time for you to conduct your test. Before you start, make sure that each test (we expect them to be many), has their own identifier. That should help you keep your review form more organized. Go through every path that you planned early on. Check what happens if you make the right choices in the course. Then, you should also check what will happen if you select the wrong choices. Ensure that in each path, the intended structure is followed. Try to restart at random points during the course to see what will happen. Click on every link that you have to make sure that they lead to the right location. Check all grammatical and typo errors too.
After you have gone through all the paths in your test plan and everything is recorded in your review form, you can now start fixing the errors. Make sure to mark revisions in your review form. That way, you only have this form to refer to throughout the elearning course self check that you are conducting.
As soon as the corrections are done and all the errors are fixed, you need to run the test again – according to the plan you initially made. That way, you can be sure that your corrections are in order. Keep the cycle going until you are satisfied with the results.
Once you are satisfied, this is the time for you to have someone else run the self check for you. They might be able to take note of errors that slipped your notice before. Following all of these steps will help you create a foolproof elearning course.
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