There’s a lot of focus on eLearning courses and their ability to boost eLearning ROI. But how important is the eLearning team behind eLearning courses, and what characteristics does it need to embody?

6 Traits Of A Successful eLearning Team

eLearning teams come in all shapes and sizes, depending on the scope of the eLearning course. The dynamics of an eLearning team also depend on budgetary restrictions. However, certain key elements are non-negotiable when you’re gathering eLearning collaborators. The members of your eLearning team need to be on the same page and speak the same language to lead to eLearning course success. They may have different paths and tactics, but they need to be headed in the same direction. In short, they must all have the same vision for the eLearning course to produce high quality eLearning content.

1. Clear Hierarchy Of Tasks

In the modern world, flat leadership systems and open-plan workspaces are all the rage. The idea is that every team member is on the same level. There are no corner offices or opportunities to pull rank. Every team member has an equal say. That’s all well and good, but when it comes to eLearning there needs to be an effective chain of command. In order for the eLearning course to be developed efficiently and effectively, there must be a clear division of tasks. Everyone should know who is in charge of specific eLearning challenges. It’s also important to know who has the final say on important decisions like eLearning course design, upgrades, and eLearning course material. It’s a key facet of quality control.

2. Strong Team Ethics

The eLearning development machine consists of a number of moving parts, and they all need to run smoothly. You must think about the eLearning course design and breakdown of eLearning content. Tone is important, and so is layout. There are hundreds of tiny decisions to make throughout the eLearning course development process. Often, these decisions are made concurrently, and one choice may interfere with another. For example, the graphic designer might make a color choice that is not in accordance to the design document approved by the client. Because of all the tiny interdependent cogs involved in eLearning course development, teamwork is the biggest defining bond. It holds everything together and ensures optimal work flow.

3. Diversified Strengths

We’ve already highlighted some of the task segments involved in putting together an eLearning course. A lot of them might be taken for granted but they are all essential to the final product. You know that you need a top-notch eLearning content author to write eLearning content and a brilliant Instructional Designer to structure the eLearning content in a learner-friendly manner. You need a graphic designer to make it pretty, and at least one eLearning developer dedicated to testing eLearning content to check for bugs. Each of these roles are filled by an expert in their field. You should take the time to identify the key strengths of your collaborators and then assign tasks accordingly.

4. Effective eLearning Project Management

When you have so many creative people working together, tempers can flare and styles can clash. A good eLearning Project Manager will help all the different elements fit together. They also help to maintain timelines and resolve conflicts, as well as spot any hold-ups in the system and find a way to work past them. The eLearning Project Manager has the duty of keeping everyone motivated. They need good communication skills and the ability to work well with others. The role of an eLearning Project Manager stretches into quality control, as well. They will monitor progress and tweak the system as necessary for optimal results.

5. eLearning Course Development Guidelines

The content of any eLearning course has several subsets. The Instructional Designer, with the help of a Subject Matter Expert, decides what the eLearning course is about and what exactly will go into it. They decide what topics will be taught, how many modules there will be, and how it will be broken down. Then an eLearning content author takes all that course material and puts it in written form. They write the actual text that will go into the eLearning course, as well as the script for the narrative sections. After that’s wrapped up, the Instructional Designer reviews the eLearning content to ensure that it’s clear and concise. A storyboard is developed, and eLearning developers create and test the eLearning course based on it. This is teamwork. Everyone needs to be able to follow pre-determined eLearning course development guidelines to stay on track. This process also upholds the continuity of the eLearning content so that online learners receive a cohesive eLearning course that’s fragment-free.

6. Purpose-Driven Visual Design

Visual design handles the final look and feel of the eLearning course. It covers illustrations and graphics, but it also deals with page layout, choice of color, and font type. The graphic design team may include photographers, sketch artists, graphic designers, and even web developers. Especially, in the case of gamification, visual design is very important because it’s the first thing online learners notice about an eLearning course. Besides setting the right tone, it can inspire, encourage, or demoralize an online learner. A strong visual design team is the basis of any eLearning course.

eLearning teams cover a wide range of expertise, and each area of expertise is essential to the success of the eLearning course. Mandatory team members include Instructional Designers, eLearning content developers, graphic artists, eLearning course developers, QA testers, and administrative personnel, under the supervision of an eLearning Project Manager, who is the go-to person in any particular situation. These team members need to work together to facilitate the smooth flow of the eLearning project.