DR. CARL’S E-LEARNING SURGERY

I like the way you move

Dear Dr. Carl,

I’m looking to migrate from one LMS to another. How much pain, cost, and stress will this cause me? Where do I even start?

Dear Itchy Feet,

Oh dear, the dreaded LMS migration! You’re right to worry about costs, stress and your overall pain levels. Transitioning from one learning management system to another is not unlike moving house; stressful, costly and causes arguments with your other half.

The degree of difficulty really depends on how complex your existing LMS setup is. If you just have a handful of basic courses, the migration might be little more than a tedious transcription process. However, if you have an array of customisations, integrations with other systems, unique data models and the like, you’re looking at a more substantial undertaking.

Costs will also vary wildly. At the very least, you’ll likely be paying implementation fees for the new LMS vendor. Additional expenses may include data migration services, re-developing custom capabilities, user training, and quite possibly some short-term investment in running the two systems in parallel. My advice is to insist on detailed cost estimates and timetables upfront.

As for stress, migration certainly has the potential to cause more than a few headaches. Training bottlenecks, broken integrations, data integrity issues - the pitfalls are many. You’ll want to have a rockstar project manager overseeing everything!

An LMS migration can be a blessing in disguise, reinvigorating and future-proofing your digital learning infrastructure. Take a deep breath, spend ample time planning it out, and don’t be afraid to engage professional migration services if needed.

Speak my language

Dear Dr. Carl,

I need help with language translation in Storyline. What’s the general process for building multilingual content?

Dear Tongue-Tied,

Language translations are handled using XLIFF files. Exporting and importing XLIFF files is one of the secrets to maintaining your sanity when building multilingual Storyline projects. It stands for XML Localisation Interchange File Format - you’ve got to love these catchy e-learning acronyms, right? But don’t let the jumble of letters scare you. This obscure file type will soon become your new best friend.

The traditional method of manually translating Storyline content was painful. You had to copy and paste every bit of text into new language versions of slides. Then, formatting nightmares galore, as different languages scrunched or expanded your layouts.

But XLIFF files allow you to isolate just the raw text for translation, apart from all that formatting gobbledygook. You can export a master XLIFF containing all the content that needs localisation into different languages. Farming that files out to translation vendors saves them from having to recreate slides from scratch.

Once the XLIFF returns with the new language text populated, you can simply import it back into Storyline. The software will map the translations to the original data sources like variables and data sheets. It’s a beautiful thing!

Of course, there are some things to look out for. You’ll likely need to tweak formatting after the import. And some advanced functionality like conditional styling won’t carry over. But overall, XLIFF files can drastically reduce the headache involved.

Look what I made

Dear Dr. Carl,

What’s the best way to send files for review to clients?

Dear Fishing-For-Compliments,

Anyone who’s endured the pain of misplaced attachments, bloated inboxes, and “Sorry, wrong version!” or “final-finalversion-12” can attest - it’s an endless struggle.

The old “attach and email” method is a nightmare. It has file size limitations, incompatible formats between platforms, and no easy way to consolidate feedback. Sometimes, you receive comments on a document, and sometimes, the client sends you a spreadsheet, sometimes an email, and other times a Word Doc. As Greenday once sang, “It’s a boulevard of broken downloads”.

Cloud storage solutions like Google Drive, Dropbox or OneDrive can be viable options for smaller review files. You can easily share folders with clients and avoid the attachment hassle. Just be mindful of any security constraints if dealing with sensitive materials. If we’re talking large, cumbersome project files though, a dedicated file transfer service is worth the investment. Offerings like WeTransfer, Hightail or Dropbox Transfer enable you to send huge batches reliably and securely. Many have handy options to password protect, set download expirations and manage access.

But for the ultimate in streamlined review workflows, look into cloud-based proofing tools designed specifically for creative collateral like InVision, ProofHub, or Proof Pie. These tools provide secure online proofing spaces where reviewers can markup files with comments and approve/reject them with a single click. No more endless revision rounds and “Didn’t you get my notes?” emails.

The optimal solution may vary by project and client. But however you choose to share your work, make sure it meets three criteria: easy, secure, and leaving a clear paper trail. That’s the path to smoother review cycles and happier clients.