Creating effective e-learning courses is complex, but it can be much simpler with the right partnerships. Partnership is crucial for successful e-learning, so you must assemble the right internal team, choose the right external partner, and ensure everybody communicates and collaborates productively.
In any e-learning development project, numerous stakeholders have roles to play, each with their own responsibilities and challenges. So, it’s vital that everyone—internal or external—can work together as a cohesive unit.
Getting the mix of team members wrong and poor communication or a lack of ownership can derail the project. But if you get it right, you’ll build strong partnerships that create high-quality e-learning resources and drive better learner outcomes.
Understand the Team Member Roles
At the team’s center are the project leads from the client and vendor. The client project lead must select the most appropriate internal team members, including a project manager to oversee planning and execution and ensure the team meets its deadlines and objectives. The internal project lead should also choose subject matter experts (SMEs) with specialist knowledge and insights into learners’ needs to ensure content accuracy and effectiveness.
SMEs must work closely with instructional designers who can develop engaging learning experiences that help learners easily acquire and retain knowledge. The team also needs graphic and user experience designers to turn concepts into effective e-learning modules.
Quality assurance professionals are also vital for ensuring seamless learning experiences. Some projects may also require other roles, such as multimedia practitioners, accessibility specialists, or legal and regulatory experts.
While SMEs will always be internal resources, other team members might come from inside or outside the organization. To ensure the project’s success, the partnership between all stakeholders must be built on four pillars.
The 4 Secrets
1. Clear Communication
Partnership starts with open and clear communication between internal and external stakeholders. It’s crucial to define project ownership and main points of contact on both sides, along with the responsibilities of each team member, to reduce delays and foster a productive relationship.
2. Effective Collaboration
SMEs must collaborate with design-focused team members to convert course content into e-learning modules that are accurate, engaging, and meet learning objectives. Regular meetings are vital for all team members to discuss the project’s current state and clarify the next steps.
3. Interactive Feedback
Regular feedback loops are essential for effective content development. SMEs should provide feedback on content accuracy, completeness, and relevance for designers to incorporate into revised versions. Flexibility is critical here; all stakeholders should be adaptable to change as projects evolve to accommodate new insights.
4. Mutual Appreciation
Successful partnerships depend on everyone acknowledging and valuing each other’s expertise and contribution. Working together respectfully and professionally strengthens the bonds of collaboration, helping teams create better content and streamline future projects as they align around shared objectives.
Build the Right Team and Foster Productive Relationships
A successful e-learning development partnership involves active involvement from all team members. It unites people with diverse skills and expertise, each contributing their unique perspectives to produce innovative ideas and creative solutions.
Great partnerships are built on strong engagement between team members, with clear responsibilities and a single point of authority for final decision making. These partnerships produce e-learning courses that meet learners’ needs, enabling organizations to nurture their talent and create high-performing teams.