Another thing to think about is technical support for your online training. For an overview of general issues to consider about planning for online learning technology, be sure to check out the previous section of this module on Planning and Technology.
If you are developing content and learning activities, you need to be familiar with the online tools you are using and develop the content accordingly. If you are facilitating an online training session or course, you will also need to be familiar with the technology and related tools to present content, respond to participants and any other facilitation tasks that you need to do. If you work in a small organization, depending on staffing resources, you might also have to help out with registration or other issues that require some technical skills.
However, although you need to be familiar with the software or tools you are using online, you do not have to be a technology expert. For example, if participants run into difficulty downloading software or accessing some of the features of your training, it doesn't have to be up to you to solve their problems, but you should be able to direct them as to where they can find help. If you work in a larger organization, such as a university or college, there is probably a department or contact person that provides this level of support. If not, you should find out if there is a website or telephone number where participants can get support if needed. Check to see if there is already a document that lists common questions and answers about how to use the technology. These documents are often called FAQs (frequently asked questions) and can be found on the website of each online learning technology. You may be able to send an FAQ to participants ahead of time or link to it during the introduction to your training. Or, you can create your own, based on common questions your own participants have asked you.
If you are working in an organization that has an IT department, it will be your main source of information for any issues related to technology.
Evaluation
Evaluating your online training is an essential element of course design. It is discussed in detail in the Evaluation section of this module.
