How to create a Web Based Training (WBT) course

Whether you are a contractor, consultant, or full-time employee, if you have a WBT (Web Based Training) assignment, there are several tasks to consider when creating a WBT course. This article will provide a checklist of steps in order to ensure success with your customer!

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Development tool
• Good artistic skills
• Creative 'thinking cap'

1. CUSTOMER MEETING:
   Be sure to prepare 2-3 samples of your work. Bring with you several copies of your resume/bio, brochure, and business cards. Always present yourself, materials, and work samples in the utmost professional manner!
2. QUESTIONNAIRE:
   After your initial meeting, provide the customer with a WBT questionnaire for them to answer 'Yes' or 'No' to each element of a successful WBT course. These elements may include navigation, audio, color scheme, branding/logos, graphics, music, interactivity/intro, amount of pages, development tool to be utilized, whether to include a quiz, and deployment method.
3. QUOTE:
   Based on the answers from the customer on the questionnaire, tabulate an hourly rate for your efforts. Be sure to include total time to be spent on graphic design, instructional design, and programming/development. The quote should be flexible and leave room for negotiation.
4. CONTRACT:
   Be sure to outline in a formal document what your expectations are with the customer in terms of reviews, payment, time frame, and overall WBT design. This will mitigate any misunderstandings later, or at least mitigate your risks.
5. ANALYZE:
   Take a look at the big picture. See what elements need to be done by what dates. Plan out your time and create an outline. This outline should list all applicable topics. Next, create a storyboard. The storyboard should layout the split by page for the content and specify each graphic that is needed in words. No graphical elements are needed in this step.
6. DEVELOPMENT:
   Start to layout the graphical portion of the WBT. Take the answers from the customer questionnaire and apply them in the development tool. Then, take the content from the storyboard, and start putting the pieces together. Put together a sampling of all elements.
7. DRAFT:
   Present the customer with a draft or prototype of the finished product. Be sure to include elements that will showcase your grammatical abilities, graphics background, overall navigation, content and course layout, and elements from their company, such as corporate logo presence.
8. DEVELOPMENT (CONTINUED):
   Now is the time to make any changes based on the draft that was presented to the customer. Continue to put the whole project together. This may include an interactive introduction, all remaining content from the storyboard, audio programming, quizzes, and packaging for deployment.
9. PUBLISHING:
   The way that the WBT course is published will depend on the tool used for development and the method of deployment. Development tools may include Flash, Dreamweaver, Toolbook, Authorware, Captivate, or others. Deployment methods may include CD/DVD, LMS, or more.
10. FINAL PROJECT:
    Test through the final version of your course or file. Be sure to test the course in the deployed environment the way the user will view the finished product.

Tips & Warnings

• Be flexible!
• Be prepared for edits from the customer!
• Be confident in your work!
• Be open in terms of communication every step of the way!
• Be prepared to explain as soon as possible if your deadline may slip - be up front with all challenges!
• Ensure you build enough time in your timeline for reviews along the way to meet minor milestones!