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2.5.1 2.5a Who creates Rapid eLearning
Subject Matter Experts (SME) can produce Rapid eLearning. Most SME's don't have a web design, instructional design, or graphic design background. When eLearning is in the hands of the SME, tools need to be simple to use. Most importantly the tools must be content, not graphically focused. For Synchronous training Power Point is the tool of choice, for Asynchronous training tools like ReadyGo WCB are needed. Some training organizations have eLearning development groups. These groups tend to include graphic designers, web designer, instructional designers, and programmers. The tools created for these groups fall into the “power user” category and take advantage of employee's skills. Not all of the projects given to an eLearning group are for Traditional eLearning. Large eLearning groups can also take advantage of Rapid eLearning. ELearning organizations need to make accommodations for the different skill sets and needs of a rapid eLearning group. Telefonica, a $60 Billion a year Telecommunications company's eLearning division Educaterra was tasked with increasing their eLearning production from 50 courses a year to 500 courses a year, without a sizable increase in budget. At Educaterra it typically takes four to six course developers four months to produce a Traditional eLearning course. Management at Educaterra realized that they needed to rethink eLearning in order to accommodate a 10-fold productivity increase. They solved their problem by creating two groups, a Traditional eLearning group and a Rapid eLearning group that they dubbed their “Content Factory”. Management then separated all the courses they needed to create into two tracks. The courses that had a long shelf, needed extensive simulations, and high production values were given to the Traditional eLearning group. The courses that needed a faster turn, were more content focused, and could stand on their own with simple simulations or graphics were given to the Content Factory. The Traditional eLearning group has 40 employees. The content factory consists of four people, one graphic artist and three course developers. They also chose different types of skill set for their Content Factory course developers. The Content Factory course developers all have a background in journalism. Educaterra compared producing a Traditional eLearning course to producing a Movie, while a Rapid eLearning course is like producing a segment for the nightly news. One relies on high production, long lead-time, and a large team of highly skilled graphic artists and designers. The other is quickly produced, narrative based, and relies on a reporter to create, edit, and produce the piece. Educaterra's eLearning division is producing 500 courses a year. Their traditional eLearning group produces 50 courses a year while their content factory produces 450 courses a year.