I was innocently asked by a friend of mine recently which authoring tools I would recommend for her training team to consider when putting together an e-learning programme.

My conclusion, having thought about this for some time, is that firstly there are a significant number of authoring tools available on the market to fit a range of budgets; from freeware applications all the way ‘up’ to thousands of pounds and more, depending upon the number of licenses and additional functionality that are required.

Secondly, that the e-learning and online learning markets have developed significantly over the last ten years to the point where there are a number of software companies providing authoring tools that are, in reality integrated product suites which include the authoring tool, rather than providing only an authoring tool. And, of course we also now need to further consider the device that the student will be using to undertake their learning as we include tablet and mobile devices into the mix.

In making decisions on which authoring tool you need there are a number of considerations that I think are important in helping to inform your decisions. Though you may have great aspirations on what you and your team could deliver for your employees through online or e-learning; you must first consider whether the organisation’s capability and technologies support what you would like to achieve? As far as capability is concerned, it is important that you are able to source the skills necessary to get the most out of the chosen authoring tools.

When making your decision on an authoring tool, ensure that you also include budget for any training required by your authors. Otherwise, you could end up with great tools and no-one skilled to make the most of them. Secondly, if you decide to include multi-media applications, ensure that your users technologies actually support multi-media apps – i.e. do they have sound cards (and headphones!), does the network have the right bandwidth for your video files etc.

To be clear, consideration for the limitations that you have internally does not necessarily mean that you cannot make the most of authoring tools but rather will help to inform your decision on which tool to purchase.

Integration to your LMS

It is important that you consider whether to integrate the information or data that is stored within your e-learning with any other systems such as your Learning Management System. For example, do you want to provide the student with the audit trail for what they have learnt so far and what they need to learn next? Or, do you want to record pre or post learning test results in a central system for the line manager and employee to review?

If this type of integration is important to you, it may well influence the tools that you consider.

Use the trial periods wisely

Most of the common authoring tools available today, provide a trial version (free use of the software for 30 days). Many companies end up using the 30 day trials to produce a module of learning that is already required by their business, rather than actually putting together a formal test project to develop a learning module with specific criteria set out before starting the trial. Using the trial version in this way is a great opportunity to check and make sure that the tool is going to be fit for purpose and that your authors can deliver the content expected.

Engaging your students and audience is vitally important in the process in order to ensure that all your internal stakeholders are ‘bought into’ your approach. Using this trial period to highlight the proposed approach will create focus and generate feedback internally that will save you time and considerable investment in the future if handled well.

Consider all the options

The final consideration is to understand if the amount of learning design you have, warrants the expense, integration, upgrades and application that will be required to maintain it. Don’t forget that an external provider with experience in rapid authoring may actually save you money in the long run. Whereas a bespoke supplier who provides ‘authoring rights’ to their software will enable you to make your own amendments at no additional cost.

Either way; take your time, involve all of your stakeholders, use the trial periods wisely and above all consider all of the options available to you before investing.