7 Tips to Evaluate Your Resources Before Outsourcing eLearning

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Transcript of 7 Tips to Evaluate Your Resources Before Outsourcing eLearning

Are you getting ready to outsource your eLearning? If so,

have you already gathered your assets and conducted a

thorough inventory?

7 Tips To Evaluate Your Resources Before Outsourcing eLearning

How To Evaluate Your Resources

Before Outsourcing eLearning

1. Form An Outsourcing eLearning Prep Team

First things first. Create a list of people who will be a valuable asset on your

eLearning team. Include a good mix of eLearning professionals; from IT

experts to Instructional Designers. These people serve as your consultants

and advisors throughout the process. They are also going to help you deploy

your eLearning content when it’s delivered.

7 Tips To Evaluate Your Resources Before Outsourcing eLearning

1. Form An Outsourcing eLearning Prep Team

Ideally, you should choose people who are already familiar with the topic or

can offer unique insight. Host a kickoff meeting to clarify goals, expectations,

and the desired outcomes. Then schedule periodic meetings to keep

everyone on the same page. Project Management online tools may also come

in handy. They allow you to delegate tasks and create a group calendar. As

such, every member of your eLearning team can track their responsibilities

and learn about important updates.

7 Tips To Evaluate Your Resources Before Outsourcing eLearning

2. Focus Your Efforts

There may be a lot of eLearning content to sift through. And you don’t have

the time, manpower, or resources to evaluate every asset. As such, you need

to focus your efforts and set your objectives beforehand.

7 Tips To Evaluate Your Resources Before Outsourcing eLearning

2. Focus Your Efforts

What is the scope of outsourcing an eLearning project? What subject matter

does your eLearning provider need to create engaging eLearning materials?

Do you need to gather all of your resources up front, or can you wait until

the next phase? This is the time to get your eLearning team on board to sort

through your resources and choose what’s necessary.

7 Tips To Evaluate Your Resources Before Outsourcing eLearning

3. Collect Online Learner Feedback

Conduct surveys, social media polls, and focus groups to learn as much as

possible about your audience. Find out what motivates them, which devices

they prefer, and what they expect from your eLearning course. All of this

valuable data can help you evaluate your current resources and select the

most effective elements.

7 Tips To Evaluate Your Resources Before Outsourcing eLearning

3. Collect Online Learner Feedback

For example, online learners indicate that they are looking for more

interactive, real world exercises to put the training into context. You can

bring this up during your next meeting with the eLearning vendor, who can

brainstorm possible solutions. Online learner feedback is also useful after the

eLearning content is complete. For example, focus groups and interviews that

enable you to fine tune the finished eLearning deliverable.

7 Tips To Evaluate Your Resources Before Outsourcing eLearning

4. Analyze The Effectiveness Of Existing Tools

You may already have tools at your disposal that the eLearning content

provider can utilize. This can save both time and money. Additionally, you have

the ability to modify their eLearning content in the future, instead of having

to hire them to update or maintain your eLearning course.

7 Tips To Evaluate Your Resources Before Outsourcing eLearning

4. Analyze The Effectiveness Of Existing Tools

On the other hand, you may discover that your existing tools are out-of-date

or irrelevant. In which case you should consider investing in new ones or

finding an eLearning vendor that provides them for you. Don’t hesitate to ask

them about their go-to tools and the features they include.

7 Tips To Evaluate Your Resources Before Outsourcing eLearning

5. Meet With Your Subject Matter Expert

You already know that your Subject Matter Expert is a treasure trove of

valuable information. As such, they can help you pick-and-choose resources

for outsourcing your eLearning project. They can also provide you with

additional information that the eLearning provider requires.

7 Tips To Evaluate Your Resources Before Outsourcing eLearning

5. Meet With Your Subject Matter Expert

Ideally, your Subject Matter Expert should get involved in all eLearning

outsourcing meetings. Invite them to offer their input and recommendations.

This ensures that the eLearning content provider knows exactly what you

want to achieve and how best to achieve it. For example, the SME may

suggest additional eLearning activities or a different form of assessment based

on online learners’ needs.

7 Tips To Evaluate Your Resources Before Outsourcing eLearning

6. Evaluate Your Current eLearning Strategy

Does your current eLearning program need some work? Are you just looking

for supplemental materials to add to your existing eLearning course? You

must evaluate your current eLearning strategy to identify areas for

improvement and strengths.

7 Tips To Evaluate Your Resources Before Outsourcing eLearning

6. Evaluate Your Current eLearning Strategy

This allows you to omit resources that are fundamentally flawed instead of

passing them along to the eLearning provider. You can also voice your

concerns about the existing eLearning program so that your eLearning

provider doesn’t repeat the same mistakes. This may involve task analysis, skill

evaluations, and on-the-job observations. LMS metrics are an amazing source

of data for your eLearning provider, as well. Share your analytics so that they

can help you address existing gaps.

7 Tips To Evaluate Your Resources Before Outsourcing eLearning

7. Communicate With Your eLearning Provider

There are a variety of reasons why you should connect with your eLearning

provider. First and foremost, it gives you the opportunity to set the terms

and define expectations. What are they going to deliver? When? And what do

they need from your organization?

7 Tips To Evaluate Your Resources Before Outsourcing eLearning

7. Communicate With Your eLearning Provider

Open communication also allows you to determine which resources they

already have. For example, they may already own the software you require or

have a Subject Matter Expert on their eLearning team. As such, you won’t

need to worry about purchasing the tool or hiring an expert. Schedule a

meeting, in-person or online, and compile a list of questions to ask. Request

an itemized list of what the cost covers, including software and personnel.

This is also your opportunity to clarify any confusion and reiterate your goals

and objectives.

7 Tips To Evaluate Your Resources Before Outsourcing eLearning

These 7 tips can help you take

stock of your current resources and

get your eLearning team ready for

the task ahead.

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7 Tips To Evaluate Your Resources Before

Outsourcing eLearning

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