e-Learning Blog

Before explaining the e-learning creation tools, let's review the basic knowledge of e-learning. We will also explain the "materials" needed for creating e-learning.

What is e-Learning? Features and Benefits

E-learning is a method of learning that utilizes electronic devices (such as computers, smartphones, and tablets) through an internet connection, and it can also refer to the entire educational system. Since learning is possible with an internet environment, you can study at your own pace without being restricted by time or place. Additionally, the availability of diverse types of learning materials, such as animations and quizzes, is also appealing.

Essential Delivery Systems and Teaching Materials for e-Learning Operations

To implement e-learning, a "system" for delivery and "materials" that serve as content are required.

●What is an e-learning delivery system?

The e-learning delivery system is a tool called LMS (Learning Management System) that is used for designing, implementing, and managing learning programs. It also functions as a platform that provides access to learning content, tracks progress, and conducts evaluations and reporting.

*Currently, the mainstream is shifting towards a "Talent Management System" that is managed in conjunction with HR information, rather than an LMS specifically focused on education.

●What is the content that serves as teaching materials?

In e-learning, various formats can be utilized, including text and illustrations, as well as videos, animations, virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR). These formats make it easier for learners to understand information visually and auditorily, and it is expected to enhance learning effectiveness.

How to Obtain e-Learning Materials

●How to Obtain.1 Purchase Off-the-Shelf Materials

This is how to purchase and utilize ready-made teaching materials. Since the content is pre-set, it is not possible to add original elements from your company. However, for general topics such as business etiquette and compliance knowledge, ready-made materials can be sufficiently utilized by many companies.

When purchasing educational materials, the method of purchase will differ depending on whether your company has an LMS or not.

▶If you have an LMS in-house
If the standards of your in-house LMS match the teaching materials, it is possible to register and operate those materials in your in-house LMS. Check the standards and purchase only the teaching materials.

▶If your company does not have an LMS
Let's receive distribution services (cloud services) from vendors (sales companies) that provide teaching materials.
Since physical equipment such as servers is not required, it is hassle-free, and the management company will handle security management.

Please note that there may be cases where an LMS is not required, such as when learning management is not specifically conducted, so we ask that you respond according to each situation.

●How to Obtain.2 Customize Off-the-Shelf Materials

This is a method to customize part of an off-the-shelf educational package to suit our company's content. While covering some aspects with existing materials, we create educational materials that align with our company's objectives by adding and modifying information.

●How to Obtain.3　Order Custom Materials

This is how to order custom teaching materials from a vendor. One of the significant advantages is the ability to create unique teaching materials from scratch with professional support. Companies that are unsure about what kind of materials to create or are considering converting their know-how into e-learning may want to consider custom solutions.

●How to Obtain.4 Create Original Teaching Materials In-House

This is how to create teaching materials in-house. There are two cases: one where all processes are carried out and another where a "teaching material creation tool" is used, with the latter being easier and more common. The advantage is that it reduces costs since there is no need to hire a professional.

e-learning creation tools allow you to easily create interactive educational materials by combining various media such as text, images, audio, and video.
e-learning creation tools come equipped with various features to create effective and engaging educational materials.

Main Features of e-Learning Creation Tools
・Create content based on materials such as PowerPoint
・Video recording and editing
・Automatic screen operation capture
・Narration creation
・Creation of tests, quizzes, and surveys
・Multi-device compatible formatting (HTML5 conversion)
・Standardization for LMS (Learning Management System) compatibility (SCORM conversion) and more

e-learning creation tools allow you to create high-quality educational materials using these features without the need for specialized knowledge such as programming. Due to their ease of use and cost-effectiveness, they are widely utilized.

What are the specific benefits of using e-learning creation tools? Here is a summary below.

Benefit 1: Utilize Existing Company Materials
You can create e-learning content by leveraging PowerPoint materials that have already been created in-house. By converting them to HTML5 format or video format, they can be viewed and used online. Furthermore, using tools that support SCORM (the standard for e-learning), you can create materials that can be integrated into an LMS. In this way, the easy sharing of existing materials within the company streamlines the provision and management of learning.

Benefits.2: Easily Create Educational Materials in Video Format
E-learning creation tools allow you to easily create educational materials in video format. The materials you use can be data captured with your smartphone. There are also software options that allow you to create educational materials by simply uploading the video and making minimal edits. The advantage is that there is no need to prepare special equipment or rent a studio, significantly reducing the workload.

Merit.3: Easily Record Operation Simulations
When creating manuals or educational materials for using PCs or operating software/applications, screen recording and editing are essential. These tasks have generally been cumbersome and time-consuming, which was a drawback, but this issue is resolved by e-learning creation tools. By utilizing features such as automatic capture of operation screens and explanatory displays using speech bubbles and frames, you can easily create operation simulations.

Merit 4: Easy to Handle Modifications and Updates
After creating the teaching materials, modifications and updates are easy with e-learning creation tools. You can update with intuitive steps, allowing for quick changes, additions, and improvements to the content. This is especially useful for teaching materials in fields like law and technology, where information frequently changes. Additionally, some software includes version control features, ensuring that management tasks can be performed accurately, providing peace of mind.

By using e-learning creation tools, it has been found that educational materials can be easily created, and further time savings and resource reduction can be achieved. For those considering the introduction of e-learning, e-learning creation tools should be a reliable ally.

There are various types of e-learning creation tools. Be sure to choose the one that best fits the direction of the teaching materials and the needs of the learners. In this chapter, we will introduce three recommended tools.

●PowerPoint

PowerPoint is one of the easiest tools for creating e-learning materials. The period from the start of manuscript creation to distribution is relatively short, and by utilizing existing assets (such as materials already prepared for group training), you can create materials more efficiently. It is suitable for materials that need to be updated frequently or for sharing information that needs to be disseminated quickly.

Main Features
・Can add animations and narration
・Displays bullet points in order
・Highlights specific parts in sync with the narration
→By recording these movements and exporting them in video format, they can become excellent teaching materials

Examples of Suitable Teaching Materials
> Materials that are subject to regular revisions, such as laws and regulations
> Dissemination of revisions to internal systems and rules

●iSpring Suite

iSpring Suite is used as an add-in software for PowerPoint. Based on PowerPoint presentations, it allows for detailed adjustments and modifications of narration and animations using timelines. It is also attractive for its rich templates and materials, which can enhance the design of educational materials and improve learning effectiveness. Additionally, it includes tools for generating quizzes and tests, as well as screen capture functionality (which records operations on the screen), allowing for more interactive elements to be incorporated into educational materials.

*Software that is additionally installed as an added feature and provides extensions

Main Features
・Fine-tuning and adjustments of narration and animations
・Generation of quizzes and tests
・Screen capture
・Ability to choose the format and layout of teaching materials

Examples of Suitable Teaching Materials
• Fields where quizzes and tests are effective, such as language learning and technical training
• Teaching materials that require role-playing simulations, such as customer service

＞ Related Column: What is iSpring Suite? Introducing Features, Pricing, and Implementation Benefits
＞ Create Rich e-Learning Materials with Familiar PowerPoint - iSpring Implementation Support

●Vyond

Vyond is a cloud service specialized in animation used worldwide. It comes with a wide variety of pre-prepared characters, backgrounds, and illustrations, allowing you to create professional animation content simply by combining them. No special knowledge or skills are required. The completed animations can be published as is, or imported into PowerPoint or iSpring Suite for use as e-learning materials.

Abundant Templates
・Backgrounds: Over 1,900
・Characters: 1,300
・Accessory Illustrations: Over 14,000 accessory illustrations
・Actions (Character expressions and movements): Over 2,400 patterns

Examples of Suitable Teaching Materials
・Teaching materials that include complex concepts or procedures (expressed in an easy-to-understand animated format)
・Teaching materials that include scenes difficult to reproduce in live action (e.g., accident cases, harassment-related negative examples)
・Storytelling

There are many options for creating e-learning materials, but among them, e-learning creation tools are a strong ally for easily producing high-quality materials.

Of course, it is fine to cover all processes in-house, but even if it's just part of the processes or materials, utilizing external resources can lead to the efficient creation of higher quality educational materials. Additionally, by receiving advice from "e-learning professionals" such as vendors, it becomes possible to add elements to the materials that enhance learner motivation and improve learning effectiveness.

One of those vendors, Human Science, has produced over 2,700 e-learning materials since the start of services in 2000. We respond flexibly to customer requests, including planning and design, mobile compatibility through videos and HTML5, and content migration related to LMS replacements. For inquiries regarding the introduction of e-learning or consultations about e-learning creation tools, please contact Human Science.

In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for educational materials utilizing animation, and in Human Science, we are engaged in the sales/production agency of "iSpring Suite" and "Vyond" introduced in Chapter 4. Please feel free to consult us about animated educational materials.

Please refer to the e-learning site of Human Science Co., Ltd.
＞ e-learning content production
＞ iSpring sales
＞ Vyond (animation production) sales
＞ Animation teaching material production agency