By the time a project reaches Create, the third stage of our eXACT methodology, most of the big decisions have already been made. The learning outcomes are agreed, the storyboard is signed off, and the structure of the course is clear. Create is where all of that planning finally becomes something learners can actually click through, watch and interact with.
It is easy to think of this stage as the fun part, and in many ways it is. But building a course well takes more than good instincts with an eLearning authoring tool. It takes a set of principles that keep the finished product accessible, effective and true to what was agreed at storyboard stage.
Choosing the right tool for the job
We build courses primarily in Articulate Storyline and Rise 360. Storyline gives us more control over custom interactions and branching scenarios, which suits more complex or custom eLearning projects. Rise works well for content that needs to be built quickly and consistently, particularly where responsive design across devices matters.
Neither tool is inherently better than the other. The right choice depends on the audience, the content and how the course will be used, all of which will already be identified during the eXplore stage.
Designing with accessibility built in
Accessibility is not something we bolt on at the end of the Create stage. It shapes the decisions we make while building. This is one reason we avoid drag and drop questions in Storyline, since they tend to work poorly for learners using assistive technology or keyboard navigation. Where a course calls for that kind of interaction, we design a bespoke interaction that achieves the same learning goal without shutting anyone out.
Good accessible design tends to include the following.
- Interactions that work with a keyboard as well as a mouse
- Clear, logical structure that makes sense to screen reader users
- Colour and contrast choices that do not rely on colour alone to convey meaning
- Alternative text and captions for images, video and audio
Building this in from the start avoids the far more difficult task of retrofitting accessibility once a course is finished.
Interactions that earn their place
Not every course needs branching scenarios, advanced interaction or animated characters. Part of our job during Create is knowing when an interaction genuinely supports learning and when it is just adding clicks. A well designed multiple choice question that makes learners think carefully is often more valuable than an elaborate interaction that looks impressive but adds little to understanding.
The goal throughout Create is to translate the storyboard into a course. Our courses feel considered, look beautiful and work for every learner, not just most of them.
