If you are creating online training courses, you will need to have the best possible content and courses fast. You have to meet the needs of your learners, and this requires you to have a specific list of content development tools to ensure that your attendees can learn something. To be able to do this effectively, you will need a range of software tools in your toolkit that will enable you to create your online course properly.
In your online course creating toolbox, you will need to have a range of tools, including:
- Video development tools
- Animation tools
- Learning platforms
- Graphics creation tools
- Podcast/Audio tools
- Authoring tools
With that in mind, we’ve put together a list of tools that you could utilise the next time you have to write online courses. Let’s take a look!
Video Development
Capturing screenshots and videos is a powerful way to get your online courses across to your learners. Tools like Snagit can capture videos and static imagery, and many elearning pros find Snagit to be an essential tool in their creative toolbox. Developing videos with revision tips and tools can be the best thing that you do for your learners to get the most out of the course you are providing. If you have access to the Adobe Creative Cloud suite, then the video development tools like Premier Pro and After Affects can assist in your video development process.
Animation
If you want to get the attention of your learners, you need a little fun. Animating your presentations and learning aids is the best way to ensure that you get their attention in the right way. There are plenty of animation tools out there like Vyond or Powtoon that will ensure that your online courses are interesting and exciting to watch. Alternatively, go more 3D with tools like Vyond or Plotagon. Whiteboard animations can apply another dimension to your video and with tools like Videoscribe this becomes quite easy.
Learning Platforms
Plenty of tools have self-hosting options, but you need a learning platform to deliver the online courses to your audience. You can also create personalised learning journeys and track the way that people are working. There is a variety of learning platforms including Learning Experience Platforms like Stream LXP that take your courses to the next level, hosted LMS options such as Bloom or other online learning platforms such as LearnWorlds.
Graphics Creation
You don’t have to be a professional graphic designer to deliver graphical elements for your online learning, but you do need to have infographics, layouts and presentations that will capture the attention of your audience. Tools such as Canva or PicMonkey provide easy solutions. Infogram is another tool that allows you to make infographics simply and easily.
Podcast/Audio
One of the most effective ways to learn online is with video and podcasts, which means that you need audio tools that work well for your online courses. They don’t have to be expensive pieces of equipment, either, you just need to be able to record your tips, use talking to communicate with your learners and create scenarios to put learners in the spotlight.
Look at options such as Adobe Audition or Audacity for recording and editing your audio, and host your podcasts through services such as Buzzsprout, Anchor or Podbean.
Authoring
The authoring tool that you use is your secret weapon in creating online courses. It’s the most essential tool that you have, and it should be flexible, responsive and easy to use. The whole idea of authoring tools is that they have to meet the needs of your end-users, and there are options like dominKnow One, Storyline, Evolve and Captivate that can do this easily.
Interested in building your Edupreneurial Toolkit? Check out our free ebook of 79 Content Creation Tools.
