A popular belief maintains that to do something quickly means to do it sloppily. That’s an interesting insight, since we are constantly being asked to do things faster and more efficiently. Remember the days when we had to communicate by mail, and it could take a week or more for people to get our information? Neither do I, but I hear it used to be like that. The point is that technology and innovative thinking have always helped us do things faster.

The same “speed means sloppy” misconception is now being applied to e-learning. Just like the PowerPoint of the past, people are wondering: “How can e-learning be any good if you have to make it rapidly? Rapidly means crapidly!”

I think this is a myth, and my buddy Tom Kuhlmann agrees. Okay, I don’t really know Tom, but his article, “5 Myths About Rapid E-Learning”, debunks the idea that you give up quality for speed. He breaks down five common myths many of us have about rapid e-learning development. Money quote:

. . . noted e-learning archaeologist, Werner von Oppelbaumer, is quick to point out that crappy e-learning existed years before the rapid development tools came on the scene. In fact, he goes on to say that crappy training existed before e-learning was a form of training . . . I’ll admit there’s a lot of bad e-learning out there. I’ve even created some. However, it doesn’t exist because of the tools. It exists because the training isn’t designed well. You cannot blame the tools for poor learning design. The secret is learning to use the tools appropriately.

Exactly right, Tom! Today’s tools let almost anyone quickly develop e-learning. Just like in the past, however, its the substance, not the speed, that determines whether or not it’s good. The best e-learning–at any pace–has to be built on dynamic design and strong content. Think of it like car repair: If you want something that really works, sometimes it’s best to leave it to professionals. Keep that in mind if you need effective e-learning in a hurry.