At OpenSesame, we receive inquiries from subject matter experts and content authors who have developed training programs but are unsure about how to monetize them in today’s online world. They have valuable content (a training video, a PowerPoint presentation, or a book) that they want to share with the world and hopefully make some money along the way. Here are some of the options available to these experts and tips on how they can get the most value out of their content.
Building on native platforms
Companies like Udemy and Skillshare offer a place where courses can be built, marketed, and sold all in one location. Course building tools on these platforms are available without cost but are not without limitations.
- Building courses on native platforms requires commitment and an investment of time. For every native platform, you are committing to build and continuously maintain your catalog using only the tools provided.
- Courses built using platform tools cannot be exported to other platforms and content created previously cannot be uploaded to these platforms.
- The learning curve for course development on each site is unique. Features available on one platform may not be available on another.
- These sites have built-in templates to help you get started, yet the templates are designed to give every course on the platform the same look and feel. How do you stand out in a marketplace where everything looks the same? What if your courses have features you can’t use in these environments? Many courses created in these platforms have limited customization options.
- Each of these platforms are unique, but they are not SCORM, AICC, or xAPI conformant, which means the courses built on these platforms can not be exported for use in another platform or a learning management system (LMS).
Essentially, courses built on these native platforms are great for users who have raw content. However, for instructional designers looking to leverage their content in other places, these native platforms limit its distribution.
Why do learning management systems matter?
A learning management system, or LMS, is a collaborative platform used to manage elearning courses. The Advanced Distributed Learning Initiative, sponsored by the United States Department of Defense, created a set of specifications called Shareable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM) to encourage the standardization of learning management systems. SCORM and other industry standards like AICC and xAPI enable online learning content and learning management systems to communicate with each other. These platforms track users’ access and completion thereby protecting and monitoring valuable intellectual property. LMSs are typically used in the business and education sectors, and the market size is expected to grow from $5.19 billion in 2016 to $19.05 billion by 2022. For instructional designers and content publishers, this means there is a tremendous opportunity to sell and create SCORM, AICC, and xAPI conformant content.
Today, authoring software that was once reserved for designers and developers has become more affordable and easier to use. With these tools, you can quickly and easily create courses that can be published in SCORM, AICC, or xAPI with the click of a button. Using an authoring tool to build your courses, you’ll be able to transform your content into viable products that can be sold in the LMS market and function seamlessly in multiple platforms.
Finding the right authoring tool
Elliott Masie recently spoke to a room full of training professionals where he said, “We need to stop calling ourselves instructional designers and start saying producer.” There are a number of authoring tools available, but which is the right one? Authoring tools are like shoes; you won’t know which one is the best fit until you try it on.
Articulate has a variety of tools for Windows or Mac users including the very popular and easy to use Rise 360. Articulate claims that 98,000 organizations, 104 million learners, and 151 countries are using their tools. They boast over 585,000 course creators in their community willing to share practical advice and best practices. Articulate 360 pricing starts at $999 for new users and educators receive a 50% discount.
Adobe Captivate is a comprehensive and robust software package available for both Mac and Windows users. Like Articulate, Captivate has stood the test of time and has a vast community of supporters. Since Captivate is an Adobe product, it integrates seamlessly with other “Made in Adobe” applications like Photoshop and Dreamweaver. It is offered as a subscription service for $33.99/mo, a full license for $1,299, and a steep educational discount allows students and teachers to purchase the full license for $399.
dominKnow was a pioneer in cloud-based authoring solutions. dominKnow | ONE combines their products Flow, Claro, and Capture and allows authors to store their assets and courses online. Features such as real-time collaboration and version control are where these products stand out. An author can update a downloadable resource once, and all courses using that resource can be updated at the same time. A library-like checkout system allows multiple users the ability to work together on a project. Annual subscription prices vary based on team size.
Many authoring tool providers will allow you to try the product before making an investment. Additionally, there are some open-source products available at no cost. Check out eLearning Atlas, a free service, to search for SCORM-compatible tools, vendors, and platforms that play well together.
You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to make a great course. With the right tools and publishing capabilities, authors can turn content into valuable products for the enterprise. For more information on becoming a publisher with OpenSesame visit these resources or complete this form and someone from our Curation Team will be in touch within 1-2 business days.