Article Insight:
The use of PowerPoint presentations in trainer-led sessions is the most common practice for L&D managers. While PowerPoint is a convenient way to present content, it may not fit with an organization’s learning management system (LMS).
The world of work is changing. Organizations are rapidly adopting new ways of training employees for performance and growth. And one of the most effective ways to do this is through eLearning courses. Training courses make learning as easy as it can be. They are available on-demand, using different devices. Moreover, eLearning courses are cost-effective and scalable.
This guide will walk you through the process of converting your PowerPoint Presentations into an interactive eLearning course.
Topics Covered:
Benefits of switching from PPT to eLearning
PowerPoint Vs E-Learning
How to convert PowerPoint to Interactive eLearning Modules
Best Tools to Convert PPT to eLearning
Testing eLearning Program Outcomes
Frequently Asked Questions
Benefits of switching from PPT to eLearning
There are many benefits of using eLearning courses over PowerPoint presentations. One of the main benefits is that you can easily track which learners have interacted with your course. This will allow you to provide more personalized support, guidance, and follow-up based on their individual needs.
eLearning courses also offer the opportunity for learner interaction with content, allowing them to learn at their own pace. This means they can revisit the course as needed which helps reduce forgetting and re-learning more difficult concepts later on.
Finally, learners have greater freedom in selecting their learning environment when their content is delivered through an eLearning course. There's no need for them to be in a dark or cramped room where they're not comfortable or able to see what's being projected onto the screen.
PowerPoint vs eLearning
PowerPoint presentations are often used to deliver information or training. PowerPoint is not a solution for creating an effective eLearning course (here are 5 essential steps for creating a custom eLearning course). PowerPoint presentations consist of static content that the presenter narrates to the audience. The presentation progresses as slides scroll on the screen one at a time. There is no interaction between the presenter and audience as it's all done through visuals.
An eLearning course includes interactive content which makes it more engaging for learners. A custom eLearning course can be delivered in either linear or branching formats based on learner progress and choices made during the course delivery. In the next section, you will learn how to convert your PowerPoint into an interactive eLearning course!
Before we focus on how you and your organization can optimize your PowerPoint outputs for e-learning, let’s take a look at some of the key e-learning criteria, evaluate to what degree it fulfils each of them, and then move on to the specifics.
E-learning | VS Learning Criteria | PowerPoint |
|---|---|---|
E-learning courses are built based on ID principles. | Follow sound Instructional Design (ID) principles | PPT presentations might not follow ID principles as it relies on the instructor to deliver content effectively. |
The learners have freedom and flexibility in how they navigate the course. | Non-linear Navigation | In PPT presentations you usually progress linearly, from the beginning to end. |
Can easily incorporate a wide variety of multimedia and interactivities in an eLearning Course. | Increase Engagement | A PowerPoint presentation supports the instructor in teaching, not the learner in learning. |
Different kinds of content such as Animations, blockquotes, blocks of text are best presented. Each eLearning slide can effectively convey information and boost retention. | Improve Learner Retention | PPT Slides tend to be text-heavy and incorporate less multimedia as it takes away from the role of the instructor. Therefore, information might not be effectively conveyed in a way that increases retention. |
E-learning modules can automatically grade quizzes that are aligned to the learning objective. | Make it possible to assess learners | PPT presentations can involve questions/polls, but only the instructor determines the extent of learner understanding. |
As you can see, there are some obvious correlations between e-learning courses and PowerPoint presentations. The distinction is that PowerPoint relies considerably more on the instructor to relay information effectively, whereas e-learning relies exclusively on the subject within the programs to do so.
Convert PowerPoint to Interactive eLearning modules
When you create an eLearning course, you are creating interactive content. PowerPoint presentations are not interactive, so the content in your PowerPoint needs to be converted before it can become an eLearning course.
The conversion process is relatively easy with today's technology. If you're converting your presentation into an eLearning course, the most important thing to consider is that your content needs to be interactive and engaging for learners.
How to convert PowerPoint into an interactive eLearning module?
Before we translate any content into an eLearning format, we need to prepare the content we will be using. We should not worry about slides at this point. Think of it as a scenario and include the core elements that will be useful to communicate knowledge to our audience.
Here are five steps to start with:
Define learner objectives
Convert slides into Interactive content
Add assessments and quizzes
Assembling the PPT
Choosing the best rapid elearning tool
Let's take a look at how these steps work!
Step 1 - Creating the storyboard, Structuring the content
Start by defining your objectives. Once you have defined the goals and objectives, you can work towards creating a course flow to guide learners. The flow should align with the learning goals you have set.
The storyboard is the map for your eLearning course. It's the foundation of the course and will guide you through how it should be created. You can use online software like PowerPoint/Word to create your storyboard.
Your storyboard should include all the major points that you'll cover in your eLearning course. Think about what learners will need to know to complete tasks, solve problems, or get things done. What are they going to do at each step?
This also means that you'll need to think about what learners won't do at certain steps in your course. For example, if you have a beginner-level course about how to change a flat tire, there's no sense in explaining how to remove nuts from bolts in this course!
Step 2 - Insert interactive elements
Next, you will want to add multimedia elements such as video, audio, and images. When adding these elements you should keep in mind how they will relate to one another as well as how they will be used in future slides.
For example, if you are going to use a video that lasts 5 minutes then you want to make sure that there is time for it to play during the course delivery. Additionally, any audio will need a text transcript available for learners who prefer reading over listening.
Step 3 - Add knowledge check quizzes and surveys
One way to make your PowerPoint presentation more interactive is by adding quizzes or surveys. These are quick, simple ways for learners to engage with the content you're presenting. The quiz can be as simple as a question-and-answer session, or it could also have a multiple-choice answer.
Adding a survey to your presentation is another way to add interactivity. A survey will ask learners questions from a list of choices and they'll need to select an answer from the list before continuing on with their presentation.
Another way is to include clickable links in your PowerPoint slides that bring up animations, videos, or other content. This has the potential of being not only more engaging for learners but also helps them retain information better because they're actively engaged with the content rather than just listening passively.
Step 4 - Assembling the PPT (before importing in an Authoring tool)
When you have your content carefully thought out and ready to go, packing it into PowerPoint usually doesn’t take long. Your content is now ready to be imported into the Authoring tool.
Step 5 - Choosing the right authoring tool
Finally, the most important part of the conversion is choosing the right authoring tool. There are many authoring tools (Find the best Rapid Authoring Tools) available in the market. You need to keep your needs in mind before choosing a tool. Criteria such as content type, developers’ strength, the strategy required, and content usage are to be kept in mind while choosing the authoring tool.
The Best Tools to Convert PPT to eLearning (SCORM Package)
Although there are a number of authoring tools that can convert PowerPoint to SCORM, we’re considering the most common ones that you can use to convert your PowerPoint presentations into a SCORM package. We will also assist you if you need additional support or detail in translating your PowerPoint presentations to SCORM packages. Ask us any questions!
Articulate Storyline 360 (Step by Step Guide)
Test the course on your target audience
Testing ensures that your course meets user needs and aligns with goals. It helps you identify any potential problems with the content or structure before you release the course.
Before you release the eLearning course, it's important to test it with users who are similar to your target audience members. This will help ensure that they find the information relevant and engaging.
During testing, keep an eye out for things like how long it takes people to complete the course, what they like about the design, how responsive they are to different prompts, if their questions are answered if their expectations were met, and more!
Frequently Asked Questions
(PowerPoint to eLearning Conversion)
How to get started with my PowerPoint conversion?
How long does it take to convert PPT into an eLearning Course?
How much does it cost to convert PowerPoint into an eLearning course?
