How To Repurpose eLearning Assets
If you’re asking yourself why you should be interested in eLearning content repurposing, the answer is easy: because it will save time and effort. Now, as obvious as that might sound, many of us in the eLearning design world just aren’t doing it. We are not carrying out regular audits on existing eLearning assets, so a rich online resource is being ignored. If you had an organized online training repository, you could be developing faster, creating engaging online content for a better eLearning experience. Thankfully, it is not difficult to audit your eLearning assets. Besides, the benefits far outweigh the effort!
Why Should I Commit The Time To Repurposing?
Using existing eLearning assets reduces testing time because they have already been extensively tested. The content usually only needs tweaking or refining to fit in with what you’re designing now. Your eLearning developers, therefore, have more time to spend working creatively on the eLearning course rather than starting from scratch. This is the key benefit of eLearning content repurposing. It allows eLearning developers to use their time on more valuable activities to make an eLearning course more engaging, interactive and immersive. What’s important is that you know what you have in your eLearning content repository before every new eLearning project. Existing eLearning assets might include course modules, text, images, video, infographics, microlearning, PowerPoints, and webinar recordings.
Tips To Repurpose eLearning Assets Right… Every Time
1. Identify Your eLearning Assets
Review your online training materials thoroughly. Especially consider webinars, videos, and PowerPoints that could be converted into microlearning assets. Create a microlearning online training library for easy access. You can also meet with your L&D team to see if they have any additional online training resources in their reserves. For example, images or audio files they have used for past eLearning projects.
2. Create A Central Repository
Your eLearning content repository should be accessible to your eLearning developers and administrators. Access should be restricted to only those who need it, but open and accessible to those groups. You might consider password-protecting the database to keep the online training resources safe and sound. Most Learning Management Systems are now equipped with encryption and other security measures to prevent hacking or data theft.
3. Create A Folder System
A solid, reliable and easy-to-explain folder system is the backbone to repurposing eLearning assets. File each one of your eLearning assets accordingly. Back this up with a spreadsheet, detailing what you have and where it is stored. You will then be able to cross-reference your eLearning assets every time you need to do some research. Include details like:
- type of media
- nature of the eLearning content (e.g. compliance, health and safety, new starters)
- description of eLearning content
- which eLearning course it was used for
- author
- keywords
- date created
- file name
- folder name
4. Back Up Your eLearning Content Repository
Make sure you have a backup version of your eLearning content repository saved to the cloud. You never know when disaster might strike, and this could save your eLearning environment. Some Learning Management Systems automatically backup your data on their remote servers, but this isn’t always the case. As such, it’s better to be safe than sorry and manually save your eLearning assets on a regular basis. For example, at the end of each work data or phase of the eLearning project.
5. Regularly Review Your eLearning Assets
Audit your eLearning assets as a part of your way of working. Think of it as general eLearning housekeeping. Carry out a filing audit at least monthly. Then carry out a full annual audit to make sure everyone is still using the system correctly. Get rid of any eLearning assets that are outdated and not able to be repurposed. For example, old compliance modules that are no longer relevant or accurate. Just make certain that there aren’t any images, text blocks, or other elements that can be salvaged before you permanently delete them.
6. Look To The Future
Key to a successful audit is thinking about how you will work with your eLearning assets in the future. Storyboard your eLearning content and keep it, as it will help you search for relevant eLearning assets in the future. Also, try and design your online training materials so they don’t have a shelf life—you don’t want them to date quickly. Review regularly and keep them up to date. Make sure your designs are responsive so they are future-proof, whatever your technical landscape may look like.
7. Host An Auditing After-Party
Well, it may not necessarily be a ‘party’ in the traditional sense of the word. More along the lines of an after-project meeting where everyone pitches in and helps audit your eLearning assets. This involves deleting files you won’t use in the future and filing everything away in its place. If you already have a categorized database, it’s much easier for collaborators to filter, organize, and collate the eLearning content. You may also want to invest in a Project Management tool to improve communication among your remote eLearning team.
Repurposing your valuable eLearning assets simply makes sense. You’ve spent the money on eLearning development already, so why not maximize your investment? You’ll need to commit to a regular audit once you’ve done the initial eLearning content repository setup. Just make it a part of your monthly tasks and get into the habit of collating every new eLearning asset with your new filing system. You’ll also want your eLearning developers to be mindful of creating “evergreen” content, wherever possible. That will help you gain maximum value from the eLearning asset. Think differently about the eLearning content you already have. Can you segment videos, presentations or webinars to create a microlearning online training asset? Could a smart infographic come from a piece of material already written? Approach your eLearning content library thoughtfully, and start repurposing your eLearning assets. Your eLearning developers will thank you with even more imaginative, creative eLearning content.
Learners tend to be on-the-go more often than not. Read the article 7 Tips To Repurpose eLearning Content for Mobile Learning so you can develop a mobile learning strategy that requires minimal resources and offers maximum benefit to your learners.
