5 Free and Simple Elearning Development Tools for Instructional Design

Elearning is known for being characterized by its involvement in instructional design, enabling professionals in task accomplishment, measuring and communicating results, and personalizing programs. Out of all these characteristics, materials design is by far the one that is favored the most by people in a variety of fields, and is currently being utilized by diverse industries for learning and training. Its creation requires the utilization of elearning development tools, which advance in terms of technology due to its close association with technological trends and evolution. However, there is an emerging trend that favors the more outdated and least ‘hi tech’ of tools.

There are a lot of software and tools available in the market, online or not, for different companies and organizations to utilize with the intention of improving the implementation of their strategies. Instructional designers are finding it more convenient to use the simpler versions of these tools which are also more accessible and easier to use. Additionally, these kinds of tools are free, making them the practical choice in tough economic times such as these. This article will provide five examples of the more commonly overlooked and underestimated free elearning development tools related to syllabus design.

(1)    Format Factory. This handy little program allows a designer to convert media files from one format to another. Rapid online education uses a lot of digital media such as video, flash, and audio, and a common challenge is to make certain files in particular incompatible formats work in a course. A program like this which features easy, convenient and fast conversion of SWF and FLV flash formats is important.

(2)    MS Moviemaker. Using this program is a no-brainer. It’s practically one of the easiest video editors to use right now. Since it comes with any Windows personal computers, it is highly likely that majority of people using this technology have it on their laptops or desktops. Using videos in online courses has proven to be very effective, hence the significance of such a tool. Of course, there are other free applications such as this one, and if ever users own Macs instead of MS computers, then that brand has its own corresponding video editor.

(3)    Audacity. This is an open source audio editor. It’s practical and easy to use especially for basic audio editing, which is the common level that a lot of instructional designers are at. If the user is skilled and knowledgeable enough, this program is capable of performing far more advanced editing functions. For larger audio projects, a tool such as this one is useful because it helps to break production up into tiny chunks to keep audio separate. Effects are also available via this program, making it possible to layer sounds for dramatic effects.

(4)    Paint.net. Over time, this has truly developed into a useful application. It is capable of doing most of the functions that a designer can expect from a graphics editor. If simple photo editing is what’s necessary, then this is the application that can really help. If a powerful application such as Photoshop is not needed, then it would be impractical to spend money on it.

(5)    Photo Resizer. Images are mainstays in any kind of instructional design because visual stimulation has proven to have relevent positive effects in increased attention, absorption and effective learning. This tool is perfect for quick and easy resizing tasks that are useful for blogs, presentations and the like. Size can be manipulated by a simple change in the number entry.

These are examples of the most popular and simplest tool utilized for materials design right now. Admittedly, they are not the best nor the most efficient ones available, but they serve their purpose and provide satisfactory results. Ideally, everyone who is in the industry has access to the best and most advanced tools, but given the circumstances of the global market, certain sacrifices and adjustments have to be made.