Designing for an online training course is very different from designing typical web pages. Web sites used for training should ideally have video, audio and a lot of interactivity.
\nBoth participants and trainers must be able to access learning materials, presentations and information from the website, make changes, additions and deletions as needed. The website must be attractive and interesting, yet pages need to remain uncluttered so participants can access needed tools on the web site.
\nTo get the interactivity required for such online training websites, there are times when other 3rd partysoftware applications can be implemented to enhance the user experience.
\nThe following 10 tips can help you plan for the design of your\u00a0 online training web site.<\/p>\n
1. Keep the number of clicks needed to get to your online training materials to a minimum.
\nEliminate unneeded folders. Most materials should be at root folder level.<\/p>\n
2. Un-clutter pages. Although you may have a need to use several tools for students, you may not need to use all of these tools for every training session.
\nRemove or high radon use tools to get them out other participants way.<\/p>\n
3. Implement some sort of LMS (Learner Management System)\u00a0 like Blackboard or Moodle.
\nThese software applications allow trainers to place assignments, information or quizzes on the web site, and participants to upload assignments and information for the trainer.<\/p>\n
4. Implement other applications that also make your training material interesting.
\nThis can include video, slide show presentations or Prezi presentations. Include podcasts and other training materials that can be used directly from the web site.<\/p>\n
5. Consider creating your own video to welcome and greet participants.<\/p>\n
6. Include course objectives with each activity and assessment.
\nAvoid unnecessary written material. Observe how participants approach each activity and how this helps them achieve outcomes from the cours.<\/p>\n
7. Make grading easier and remember that not everyone is going to be learning at the same pace.<\/p>\n
8. Implement a blocking platform on the web site, as this will allow you to post objectives, announcements, videos, discussions, news, and virtual office hours. Visit your courses frequently, if you don’t like going to your courses, chances are training participants won’t either.<\/p>\n
9. Update frequently to keep your participants coming back to your online training courses. Keep material interesting up-to-date and innovative.<\/p>\n
10. Give personalized feedback in small short sentences. Participants don’t often want to read pages long feedback material, but a quick feedback sentence or two improves their self-esteem. Not all training websites are created equally and you may want functionality that others don\u2019t require. This of course depends on your training material and courses offered.
\nIt depends on the number of participants taking online training and whether the training is wholly online or a combination of both online and hands on training methods.
\nThe\u00a0 tips\u00a0above are only a guideline as to the features you may need.<\/p>\n