Part 2: Converting a Live Webinar to Reusable eLearning—Is it THAT Easy?

In our first blog of this two-parter, we discussed the why—scheduling, resourcing, messaging—and the how—recording methods, adding interaction and/or tracking, using rapid development tools—of converting a webinar to eLearning.

In this second part, we’ll cover what’s next plus other tips to keep in mind.

The Webinar is Converted—What’s Next?

The next step is determining how your newly converted content will be accessed.

Once a course is created in a tool such as Storyline 360 or Adobe Captivate, you will need to publish the course into a viewable file. Both tools have multiple publishing options, such as Publish for the Web, which will create an output that can be uploaded directly to a website, or publishing a SCORM package, which allows you to upload it to any available Learning Management System (LMS).

Out of the options above, publishing a SCORM package and loading it to an LMS provides the most reliable access point and also records tracking data, which can be helpful in knowing which users have viewed your converted webinar.

Tips for Preparing the Presenter

Presenters come with various skill sets. It is a good idea to schedule more than one recording session and choose the best one for the eLearning. It doesn’t have to be professional quality, but it’s best to avoid things that might distract the audience from the message. Here are some things to think about when you are planning the presentation and preparing the presenter.

• Rehearse the content aloud and time the presentation; do a dry run with the actual technology being used
• Include visually pleasing images that reinforce the words being spoken in the presentation
• Keep your speaking pace in check; slow down when demonstrating software steps or when other topics call for a slower pace
• Curb background noises such as paper shuffling or typing—mics can pick up more noises than you'd expect
• Limit side conversations from the audience and off-topic discussions
• Have a moderator on the call to watch for comments/questions
• Consider an FAQ in lieu of recording live questions; questions may disengage learners watching the recording if they don’t apply
• Control mouse movement and scrolling—it should be deliberate, not distracting
• Make a deliberate choice of when to start the recording—avoid recording small talk and greetings at the beginning (or edit out later)

What Else Should I Keep in Mind?

1. Quality Assurance

Always test your course before posting to ensure all elements are functioning as intended.

2. Timing

Attention spans are very short. Break the webinar into 30-minute sections. Use interactions, questions, and even slides that encourage the user to take a break. It will reset their attention span.

3. Recording

Always ensure you are using good-quality video. Many rapid-development tools compress their files to save on file size. If you use poor-quality video, it may get worse when publishing.

4. Transcripts/Closed Captioning

Adding closed captioning to your webinar takes more time, but can be worth the effort, especially for large audiences.

Closing

There are many things to consider when deciding which webinars have repeating value. Offering them can be a cost-effective way to share knowledge and repeat messages offered in other trainings. It can also be an effective timesaver in getting your message to the audience quickly. Some clients have used a webinar as the first communication to share the important content. Then an eLearning course can be created as a more sustainable and complete solution. Whatever method you choose, we wish you well in that endeavor, and we are here for you if you need help!