Tips and tricks

• Click for tips on selecting an LMS.

• Make sure any authoring tool you choose is able to publish the course in a SCORM format, so you can use it with your LMS
• If your LMS vendor has a list of third party authoring tools it supports, it is normally better to use one of the listed tools to avoid compatibility issues.
• Determine how much technical skill your development team has. Look at the learning curve for the different authoring tools you are reviewing. Ones with WYSIWYG environments tend to be easier to use and faster to master.
• What type of training do you need to develop? Are you looking to put some Power Point slides online? Are you looking for some simulation training?
• Look at the technical support and help files available for the product you are reviewing.

• Make sure the vendor uses standards when creating the course, like SCORM, especially if you already have an LMS.
• Make sure the course will work with your LMS.
• Keep in mind the ease and cost of updating the course content.
• Look for a qualified staff - Analyze what type of course you want. Making a virtual 3D simulation course versus one from Power Point slides is very different. Choose a company that has the skills to make the type of course you are looking for.

• Have clearly defined goals and know what you hope to achieve with your project. An RFP or project can fail if you don’t know exactly what you want or need. Creating use cases before you send out an RFP can help you succeed.
• Define the scope of the services you are requesting.
• Avoid being imprecise or vague.
• Be upfront with any system or software compatibility requirements. List any databases or software programs with which you will need to integrate. It is helpful to describe any programs and their function if they need to be integrated with the LMS.
• Be realistic with your project timeline. We know you want to see your project completed quickly but remember it take some time to all come together.

• Because of the smaller screen sizes on which mobile learning is delivered, short bits of information are much more suited to mobile learning than full courses.
• Mobile learning is good for delivering information to learners but not for teaching the learner new processes.
• Blackberries and devices that use Windows Palm OS are not compatible. Usually mobile learning is designed to work on one platform or the other.
• You don’t need an iPod to listen to podcasts.
• Your podcasts should be as professional as possible to help keep the learner’s attention. Think of radio talk shows.