Creating web-based trainings: Six steps to a digital learning format

Does the future of employee training for you and your organisation lie in digital solutions? Then your employees need web-based trainings that turn learning into an experience. With an experienced e-learning provider at your side, you can ensure that they also appeal emotionally and remain in the memory. In the following article you will learn about the six steps when creating web-based trainings with ICON and what you can expect during implementation.

Get an initial overview of WBT creation! In this interactive image you can discover the individual steps before you get into the details.

Step 1 of creating web-based trainings: Kick-off

At ICON, the implementation of a web-based training (WBT for short) always begins with a kick-off meeting: We get together with you and clarify the framework conditions:

• Target group
• Learning objectives
• Content
• Structure
• Scope
• Technical requirements (e.g. authoring tool, completion criteria, learning management system, …)
• Time frame
• Budget

Based on the defined prerequisites, we advise you in detail on the implementation. In doing so, we always focus on the participants:

• Is a WBT the appropriate learning format or do you need a mix of methods (e.g. a WBT in combination with other learning formats such as videos, learning nuggets or classroom training)?
• What is the best way to convey the content? Is it helpful using extensive storytelling including avatars?
• Which creative implementation is suitable for conveying the content?
• Should gamification elements be used to motivate participants and increase their attention?

Share your ideas and professional know-how with us and rely on our expertise: together we will find the ideal solution for your project.

Step 2 of creating web-based trainings: Conception

After the kick-off meeting, the conception phase begins: first a rough and then a detailed concept is developed.

In the rough concept, we record the results of the kick-off meeting: learning objectives, content, structure and scope. We take into account the knowledge, motivation and media competence of the target group and consider your technical, time and financial framework. After that it’s up to you: Does everything meet your expectations? To check this, you will receive the rough concept for approval. In particular, you verify:

• Have all contents been taken into account?
• Are the contents outlined in a technically correct way?
• Is the content structured sensibly?
• Are the scopes realistically estimated?

In the next step, we develop the detailed concept in close cooperation with you. In addition to the planned structure, the detailed concept also describes the central theme, presents the narrative flow of the story, if necessary, and includes the avatar. It also assigns content and interactions to the learning objectives, records the planned learning objectives tests and provides information about the main focus of the training. In addition, our designers create the first visualisations. This will give you a good idea of the look and feel of your web-based training.

We finalise the detailed concept with you within two steps: First, you receive it for review. Here your expertise is in demand again, because you give us feedback on

• whether the content is complete and technically correct
• and whether the suggested materials (photos, graphics, videos, …) fit the content.

We then incorporate your corrections and comments and you receive the detailed concept for approval.

Step 3 of creating web-based trainings: Script

In this phase the script is created. It takes into account the content structure defined in the detailed concept and contains the final screen and speaker texts – in case a speaker is to be recorded for the training. The visualisation of the content is displayed with the help of existing visual materials and scribbles. Here you can trust the experience of our authors and designers: They are trained to condense the content editorially and to prepare it didactically in such a way that even complex topics are presented in a technically correct way, but at the same time clear and understandable for the participants. To achieve this, we rely on an entertaining wording, analogies, everyday examples, a sensible use of the avatar, interactions, vivid graphics and suitable sound effects.

You receive the finished script from us for review. In the review phase you check:

• Is the content complete and technically correct?
• Is the wording consistent with your company’s internal wording?
• Are the illustrations used technically correct?
• Does the screen and speaker texts as well as visualisations correspond to your ideas?

The thorough review is particularly important since the script forms the basis for the subsequent technical and graphic implementation of the web-based training in the authoring tool. Therefore, we carefully incorporate your feedback and create a final script version that you receive for approval.

Step 4 of creating web-based trainings: Design concept

To ensure that the script can be turned into a lively and coherent training course, we always begin the production phase with the creation of the design concept, which we coordinate closely with you: We send you important and recurring graphic elements as well as characters, if necessary, and elaborate background pictures in advance for approval. This way, we ensure that the visualisations correspond exactly to your ideas and at the same time keep the later effort for corrections low.

Step 5 of WBT creation: Production

During the following production phase, your web-based training comes to life. If you have decided on an audio version, we will first have the speaker text recorded by a professional speaker in the sound studio.

Then the web-based training is set up in the authoring tool: Our designers professionally implement images (photos, graphics, illustrations) and texts and add animations. They also integrate videos and interactive elements such as quiz questions and add the audio track, suitable sound effects as well as the subtitles.

The focus is always on the learners: our designers implement all visualisations, animations and sound effects in such a way that the learners are trained in a comprehensible way and a sustainable learning success is guaranteed!

For the final quality assurance, you are again in demand: You first receive the web-based training for review and, after implementing the final corrections, for approval.

Step 6 of WBT creation: Provision

After the web-based training has been produced, it must be made accessible to the participants: this is achieved by publishing it on a learning platform. Do you have your own platform? Then we will provide you with the platform version of the WBT, the so-called SCORM package, for independent integration. You commissioned the implementation of a platform or your platform is already managed by ICON? Then you don’t need to take any further action, because we take care of the integration of the training for you: After a test on the platform, the WBT is finally made available for the users. Don’t forget to draw attention to the training by promoting it internally and inviting users to participate.

At this point, the production of your WBT is completed. However, it is not uncommon for customers to have further requests such as support, adjustments, change requests or translations after the project has been completed. We are happy to help you with your requests.

This is how a web-based training is created!

At ICON, the production of a web-based training takes place in six steps:

• Kick-off
• Conception
• Script
• Design concept
• Production
• Provision

ICON accompanies every step with an experienced project team. We know what is important and take our customers by the hand. Working closely together, we create web-based trainings that motivate participants to learn, impart knowledge effectively and ensure sustainable learning success.

Would you like to learn more or are you planning to produce web-based trainings? Please do contact us. We look forward to hearing from you!