The name as it sounds, it is all about learning over an electronic media. We can broaden it as the distance learning with the help of technologies and methodologies.
I came across this term after I joined in my new firm- where my job is to design eLearning modules based on the business requirement. Once I attended a training of two months about I got an outline about what it is. According to me eLearning courses are blend of content and technologies, which are created with collaboration of instructional designers, graphic designers and subject matter experts.
Nowadays corporate world is choosing eLearning for training purposes of their employees than class room training as it is more cost effective as well as flexible for the learners.
In order to become a good instructional designer, who designs the eLearning course, you need to be an active learner. Only when you learn yourself thoroughly, you can teach the learners. You have to put yourself in learners’ shoe.
We can divide learners to three types- Novice, Intermediary and expert, as per the learning theories. You have to design courses depends upon the audience.
Before developing the actual course in the technology platform, first we have to create a story board on it.
The storyboard can be authored in MS Word, PowerPoint or even in a paper. But the development of a course takes place in certain particular tools. Some of the major tools used in developing courses are PowerPoint, Flash, Captivate, Articulate, Presenter and Camtasia.
