Knowing what to look for is half the battle when you’re seeking a good e-learning development company. Are you supposed to look for the cheapest, fastest, or someone who knows your industry well?
Maybe none of those fit the bill that will uncover the best e-learning development company for your job. You could even seek out a generalist or perhaps a specialist instructional designer!
If you don’t know much about e-learning, how are you supposed to know who to choose? Not only that, is e-learning even the right solution for your problem? Most e-learning companies will always tell you that e-learning can solve your problem, or even worse, they’ll do what they’re told without using critical thinking to consult with you on the best solution.
Don’t worry. This post will help you understand the details about choosing a good e-learning development company. It’ll even help you somewhat on the side of thinking deeply into whether you even need e-learning at all. Sometimes there are better and more affordable training options available.
If you know that e-learning is the solution for you, identifying a good e-learning development company can be the cornerstone of success. A well-crafted e-learning course can harness a significant amount of power tailored to your specific needs.
E-learning isn’t always the solution to workplace issues. Work with a company who knows the difference between their specialty and the right solution.
Finding the right e-learning developers can make or break your project. Working well together and achieving success requires a partnership with a company that truly understands the intricacies of e-learning development and how it can help your organization succeed.
The stakes are high, and the choices are many. So, how do you distinguish a good e-learning development company amidst a sea of contenders?
It’s not merely about flashy presentations or impressive client lists. The essence lies in combining expertise, innovative thinking, and a deep understanding of adult learning methodologies. This post outlines the key traits that define an exceptional e-learning development partner.
From their ability to customize content that aligns seamlessly with your company to their proficiency in leveraging cutting-edge technology, we’ll explore the attributes that set the best apart from the rest.
Without further ado, let’s jump into what you should look for and how finding a development company can bring your e-learning vision into a reality that’s impactful, sustainable, and scalable.
Specializing in Industry or Subject?
Do you choose an e-learning development company specializing in your industry or perhaps in the topic for which you want a course developed? There are so many specializations that it could make your head spin.
Most e-learning development companies seem to be generalists; their specialty is simply e-learning. Unfortunately, for someone looking at e-learning developers, e-learning development isn’t a specialization.
So, the goal shouldn’t necessarily be to specialize too narrowly (it must be in the aviation industry), but rather to find another specialization that works well. Therefore, the specialty is ideally based on the overall topic of the e-learning course that needs to be developed.
Never choose an e-learning development company that’s also an expert in the subject.
If you only go into industry specialists, you could end up with a subject matter expert (SME) rather than an e-learning developer or instructional designer.
Remember, when looking for a company, you’re the SME, and the company is the expert in e-learning. Never choose an e-learning development company that’s also an expert unless they employ the expert rather than use them to create the e-learning.
A good example of this is that we’re not experts in any specific technical topic (such as cybersecurity or particular applications), but we’re experts in technical training. That means we know our skill in developing technical e-learning that we can work with an expert to build.
On the other hand, working with a company that serves your industry but isn’t an expert in the specific topic may sometimes be beneficial. An e-learning development company that works with healthcare organizations might better understand the needs of healthcare workers.
A company that specializes in your industry may have a deeper understanding of the challenges and goals you face, which could be critical for the project. They will be familiar with the terminology, regulations, and best practices unique to your industry. This specialized knowledge may make them more attuned to your specific needs, enabling them to create content that is more engaging, highly relevant, and effective.
While we can’t tell you which is the perfect choice, now you know what to look for. Some projects might require an industry specialist, whereas others may benefit from different expertise.
Proficiency in Instructional Design
Instructional design is at the heart of effective e-learning development. It involves creating learning experiences that engage employees and facilitate knowledge retention for adults. A good e-learning development company should have a strong foundation in instructional design principles and methodologies.
Without quality instructional design at the core of the e-learning development process, everything falls apart. E-learning is not merely a visual medium and shouldn’t be left to designers alone; they must understand how adults learn and know the adult learning process. That means a thorough knowledge and deep skill in instructional design, including the ADDIE process, which many instructional designers follow as a general framework for their work.
Effective employee training is more than only e-learning.
The instructional design process encompasses analyzing learning needs, defining learning objectives, designing content and assessments, and evaluating the effectiveness of the course. It requires expertise in structuring information, sequencing content logically, and employing interactive elements to enhance engagement.
E-learning is only a microscopic part of the instructional design process and effective training for adults. Find an e-learning development company that excels in the entire training development process, not just e-learning.
E-learning and instructional design are distinct, but you need a company that goes beyond simply developing e-learning. An e-learning development company with proficiency in instructional design will be able to create courses that are visually appealing and effective at creating or improving employee behavior.
Understanding of Adult Learning
Adult learning and the science behind it dictate the organization, design, and delivery of training content. Workplace training is very different than schools and such. A good e-learning development company should have a deep understanding of adult learning methodologies and be able to apply them appropriately to create impactful learning experiences.
Whether it’s behaviorism, cognitivism, constructivism, or any other learning theory, the company should know how these principles apply to e-learning. They should know how to align instructional strategies with the desired performance outcomes and adapt their approach based on the target audience.
A development company ensures effective performance-based training by incorporating the science of adult learning into e-learning solutions. This understanding of adult learning distinguishes a good e-learning development company from those that rely solely on technology without considering the science behind workplace training.
Collaboration and Communication Skills
A successful partnership with an e-learning development company requires effective collaboration and communication. Look for a company that values open communication channels, will accommodate your preferences, actively involves you in the development process, and seeks your input at every stage.
The ability to collaborate effectively ensures that your vision is translated into reality. There’s nothing worse than being unpleasantly surprised at the end because of a lack of communication.
Successful collaboration and open communication are essential to a successful e-learning project.
A good e-learning development company will listen attentively to your requirements, ask clarifying questions, and provide regular updates on progress. They will work with you to achieve the perfect balance between content structure, visual design, interactivity, and assessment methods, while also leveraging their expertise in adult learning.
Clear communication is essential for managing expectations, addressing concerns promptly, and ensuring everyone is aligned throughout the project. It allows for timely feedback and course corrections if needed. By fostering a collaborative environment built on trust and transparency, you can maximize the potential of your partnership with an e-learning development company.
Understand Customization Needs
Customization is one of the key advantages of working with a custom e-learning development company over off-the-shelf options. While off-the-shelf training has its place in some workplace training, it shouldn’t always be a replacement. It often requires a combination of the two, rather than just one or the other.
A good e-learning development company should have a thorough understanding of your needs and be able to create a completely custom e-learning solution. Customization can range from incorporating your branding elements into the course design to adapting the content to reflect your organization’s processes and procedures.
The company should work with you to create a custom e-learning course in all the right places. By understanding your customization needs, an e-learning development company can create courses that resonate with your employees and address their unique requirements. This level of personalization means training that better resonates with your employees and meets or exceeds performance goals.
Emphasis on User Experience Design
User experience (UX) design is crucial in creating engaging and intuitive e-learning experiences. The importance and success of user experience design led to the emergence of the term “learning experience.” While a very good instructional designer should have always created quality learning experiences, it’s now part of a whole movement.
A good e-learning development company should prioritize UX design to ensure employees have a seamless and enjoyable journey while learning.
A good user experience is essential which is why the term learning experience was coined.
UX design involves considering factors that span the entire experience, from before the course begins. It also addresses navigation, accessibility, visual appeal, interactivity, and responsiveness across various devices. The whole experience should be user-friendly, including an interface that’s easy to navigate, provides clear instructions, and offers intuitive interactions.
An emphasis on UX design ensures employees can focus on the content without being hindered by technical difficulties or confusing interfaces. It enhances satisfaction and encourages people to actively participate in the learning process rather than being bogged down with a poor experience.
Expertise in Multimedia
Multimedia elements, such as videos, animations, simulations, and interactive exercises, can significantly enhance the effectiveness of e-learning courses. A good e-learning development company should have expertise in integrating multimedia elements seamlessly into its solutions.
When relevant, multimedia can clarify topics, provided that it considers the overall user experience. When used properly, videos can effectively demonstrate complex concepts visually; animations can simplify abstract ideas; simulations can provide realistic scenarios for practice; and interactive elements can reinforce learning through hands-on experience.
An e-learning development company can use multimedia effectively to create effective e-learning experiences that align with the project’s goals and hopefully improve employee performance. Look for a company that understands how to use multimedia strategically to enhance learning while not hindering it.
Understanding Cutting-Edge Technology
The field of e-learning is constantly evolving, with new technologies and tools emerging regularly. A good e-learning development company should stay current with the latest trends and utilize cutting-edge technology to deliver innovative solutions when appropriate.
On the other hand, they shouldn’t use cutting-edge technology when it distracts from the learning process. That’s true with many things, though, including whether it’s a good idea to go the gamification route or not for training.
Knowing cutting-edge technology is important, but technology for technology’s sake is harmful.
Whether mobile learning, virtual reality, augmented reality, gamification, or any other emerging technology, the company should understand the technology and know when it’s necessary vs. when it distracts from training outcomes and gets in the way.
They should be able to recommend the most suitable e-learning solution (or not an e-learning solution), whether they can deliver it or not. Cutting-edge technology can both help or harm e-learning.
A Track Record of Success
A track record of successful projects is a strong indicator of a good e-learning development company. Look for testimonials, case studies, or client references demonstrating their ability to deliver high-quality solutions on time and within budget.
Just don’t rely solely on these things all the time. Newer companies often lack the resources and infrastructure that a well-established company would have. But that doesn’t mean the new company lacks the necessary background or experience. They may be simply starting out on their own after much success in the industry.
A track record of success is important but cherry-picked testimonials doesn’t mean much.
You want to look for a company with a proven background and experience, rather than someone graduating from a new program and claiming to be an expert. There’s a balance between considering the body of work and testimonials versus the experience level in what you’re looking for.
Don’t hesitate to ask for examples of previous work or request access to demo courses they have developed. This will give you firsthand experience of their capabilities and help you assess whether they align with your project goals.
Scalability and Future-Proofing Strategies
As your organization grows or your training needs evolve, scalability becomes crucial. A good e-learning development company should have strategies to ensure that the solutions they create can accommodate future changes.
They should design modular and easily expandable courses, allowing for the addition of new content or updates without disrupting the entire course structure. The company should also be available for ongoing support and maintenance to address any technical issues or content updates that may arise. That could be as-needed support or a retainer, which many instructional design consulting companies should offer.
Future-proofing strategies involve anticipating technological advancements and industry trends to ensure that your e-learning solutions remain relevant in the long term. Since they can’t stay relevant forever, update them as needed. The company should be forward-thinking and proactively recommend updates or enhancements based on emerging needs.
Wrap Up
Finding a reputable e-learning development company for custom solutions requires careful consideration of several key factors. This is an overview of what you should be looking for when finding the right e-learning developer to work with.
- Specialization in your industry or subject
- Proficiency in instructional design
- Understanding of adult learning
- Collaboration and communication skills
- Customization capabilities
- Emphasis on user experience design
- Expertise in multimedia
- Understanding cutting-edge technology
- Track record of successful projects
- Scalability and future-proofing strategies
Each of these plays a vital role in determining the quality of the partnership. Not every e-learning development company will be the right fit for you. The right company to work with for one project may not be the right choice for another.
By identifying an e-learning development company with the right traits for your project, you can ensure that your custom e-learning solutions are effective and aligned with your organization’s goals. Remember to thoroughly evaluate potential partners based on many different factors before investing in their success on your project.
Working with the right or wrong company can make or break your e-learning project. With the right partner, you can embark on an e-learning journey that transforms your training programs into impactful learning experiences.
While we have developed various types of e-learning, ranging from soft skills to scenario-based learning, we excel in technical skills that enable your employees to use company technology effectively. Whatever kind of e-learning project you have coming up, schedule a free consultation, and we’ll be happy to discuss your needs and help you determine the right solution, whether we can assist you or not.