How much does it cost to make eLearning?  This two part article examines some of the factors that contribute toward eLearning costs.  If you’ve missed Part 1, you can read it here.

Factor 3: Content Elements

This factor links very strongly with the production value that your eLearning project will have.  Will it be just text and a few stock images, or does some custom development need to happen?  If there are to be videos, what will the quality of the videos be – high-quality video shoots custom scripted or some stock footage?  Do animation and interactions need to be custom programmed or are off the shelf animations fine?

Obviously a more text-based course will cost less and will take less time to create, but to get the teaching and learning point across pictures, video or interaction may be necessary.  Remember the point of the eLearning project is to teach your people something.  Cutting educational corners to save a bit of cash may hamper the effectiveness of the learning experience.  Conversely, rolling out a project with all the bells and whistles may just be overkill and unnecessary to get the learning point across.

Factor 4: Interactivity and Instructional Complexity

Interactions, scenarios and branched storylines are some of the best ways to keep the student involved, motivated and interested in the learning item.  Along with Factor 3 and the production level expected in the eLearning project, interactions can lead to instructional complexity which means more planning, more time and more work to make it happen.

Consider how many assessments there ought to be and how involved these assessments should be.  All these aspects need to be written into the eLearning.

Factor 5: Process Discipline

There are many steps involved in the production of an eLearning project.  Each step backward – moving toward an earlier process or decision – means a more expensive final product.  Make decisions and stick to them.  The emphasis is on moving forward to control costs.

All in all you as the client have quite a lot of control over these five factors. Weigh the choices that you have and make solid decisions about eLearning by having a clear understanding of the educational strategy and the desired role that the eLearning project will have in your organisation.

Jeff Cobb offers the following advice:

“Even if you have no hands-on involvement in designing and developing e-learning, you need this knowledge to make strategic decisions and guide others (like, ahem, your board) who may be inclined toward “featuritus” or too ready to latch on to the latest trends.”

If you have any additional factors to add to this list, leave a comment below.  Or if you want to know more and get a personalised quote from us, follow the link below and contact us.

Also read the article Levels of Production Value in eLearning; see the infographic Costs Involved in eLearning; and watch the animated video Costs of eLearning Production Value.

Sound Idea Digital specialises in Learning Management Systems and eLearning development | soundidealearningmanagement.co.za
Sandra is an eLearning Specialist & Content Editor for Sound Idea Digital | sandra@soundidea.co.za

To cite this blog article:
Slabbert, S. 2016, May 11. Costs Involved in eLearning– Part 2.  <ideas> the official Sound Idea Digital blog [Web log post]. Available: http://blog.soundidea.co.za/articles/Costs_Involved_in_eLearning_Part_2-473.html

Source:
Cobb, J. n.d. How much does it cost to create e-learning?. Available: http://www.tagoras.com/cost-to-create-e-learning/ [2016 , April 14].