You can build an elearning course for free, but there are things to consider.
While you might find open source free software or have some internal resource that you can use, your time and internal resources still carry a cost.
Knowing how to use free tools effectively and planning ahead can make or break your project.
The Basics
- Free courses rely on open-source tools and in-house skills (or your own!).
- The global elearning market is growing fast—understanding how to create content efficiently is key.
- Planning your content, design, and engagement features is essential.
- Poor planning and wrong tool choices can waste time, poor quality and low engagement.
Can You Really Create an Elearning Course for Free?
Imagine you’re tasked with creating an elearning course on a tight budget, or no budget at all. Where do you start?
You start thinking: Can I actually do this for free?
The answer is yes, but with a few important considerations.
The Reality of ‘Free’
When we talk about creating a course for free, what do we actually mean?
It usually means you’re not paying an external company or freelancer to build it.
It might also mean avoiding premium development tools. You’re not going to be using Adobe Creative Cloud or Articulate 360. If you’ve already got a license, then ok, but if you are starting from scratch you’ll need to pay for licenses.
But even if you’re not spending money, your time and internal resources still have a cost.
Free doesn’t mean without investment. It just means shifting where the investment comes from. If you are working for a company then your time still has a cost. If you are working for a charity, group or for your own development then you might take a different view.
Key Industry Insights:
- The global elearning market is projected to reach $350 billion by 2025. (Teachfloor)
- 90% of companies now use elearning compared to just 4% in 1995. (Skill Scouter)
- 42% of companies say that elearning has led to increased revenue. (elearning Industry)
- 53% of course creators spend three months or longer developing their elearning courses. (Growth Engineering)
- Companies using elearning tools report a 60% faster learning curve compared to traditional training methods. (Shift elearning)
- Employees who engage in elearning retain 25-60% more information than those in face-to-face training. (Research.com)
The huge size of the elearning market now means that there is a range of tools available for developers, both paid and free. With some careful research you’ll be able to find some tools that will support your budget and your project.
You should have a careful review process before you start using a tool. You might consider reading some reviews or asking developers for their opinion. If you are a member of a group like the Learning Guild or the Learning Network you might get some useful insights from their networking groups.
Scott Hewitt’s Insight: Understanding what tools to use and estimating how long the project will take to complete are the biggest challenges when creating elearning courses for free. Look for open-source tools with a large user base that you can tap into for help if needed. Several tools like Moodle and Google tools can be useful—but always check licenses if you’re using them for commercial purposes.
Key Considerations Before You Start
Before jumping in, ask yourself:
- What type of course are you creating? A podcast, a video series, an interactive module?
- What skills do you have personally and in-house, and what might you need to outsource?
- How will you ensure quality without paid tools or external experts?
- What’s the real cost of using internal resources instead of paid solutions?
How To Create Elearning Courses For Free (Step-by-Step Guide)
Creating an elearning course for free is possible, but it’s important to recognise that ‘free’ often refers to not paying for external services rather than eliminating all costs.
Time, effort, and in-house skills play a crucial role.
This guide will walk you through the essential steps to build an effective and engaging elearning course without incurring significant expenses.
Step 1: Compile Your Content
Before building your course, you need structured content. Consider the following:
- Define the learning objectives: What should learners achieve by the end of the course?
- Identify your audience: Who is taking the course, and what level of knowledge do they have?
- Gather existing materials: Use internal documents, free online resources, and open-source content.
- Ensure copyright compliance: Only use assets that are either royalty-free or properly licensed.
- Choose the format: Will your course be text-based, video, interactive, or a combination? It might be an audio podcast?
Step 2: Build Your Course
With content ready, it’s time to structure and design your course:
- Use free tools such as Google Docs or open-source authoring tools.
- Write a clear and concise script, especially if using audio or video elements.
- Record audio or video using your mobile phone or free editing tools like Audacity.
- Utilise AI-based editing tools like Opus Pro for refining video content.
- Keep the course modular and engaging, using microlearning principles can help to keep things simple.
Scott Hewitt’s Insight: Good design and a focus on content are essential. Don’t try to be too big, too soon. Start small, get feedback, and make changes. If you go big and miss the target, you’ll have to make a lot of changes, which can be overwhelming.
Step 3: Add Features for Engagement
To ensure the course is interactive and valuable, consider adding:
- Quizzes and assessments: Consider Google Forms or free quiz tools.
- Animations and visuals: Leverage free graphic resources.
- Discussion forums: Consider integrating free platforms.
- Gamification elements: Reward progress with badges or unlockable content.Doesn’t need to be as difficult as you think!
Step 4: Make Your Course Live
Once the course is structured and engaging, it’s time to launch:
- Host your course on open-source LMS platforms, a website or an existing platform.
- Ensure mobile compatibility for wider accessibility.
- Conduct a test run: Gather feedback from a small group before full deployment.
Step 5: Manage Your Course
After the course is live, maintaining its effectiveness is key:
- Monitor learner engagement using built-in analytics.
- Update based on feedback: Improve the course through regular updates (if you have time!).
- Ensure ongoing support by creating an FAQ section.
- Plan for scalability: If successful, refine and expand course offerings.
Questions
Q: How to build a free online course?
Use free tools (Examples: Google Slides, H5P, and Moodle). Structure your content clearly, add visuals from free libraries, and use free quiz tools for engagement. Host it on open-source LMS platforms or Google Classroom. Test the course before launch and gather feedback for improvement. It
Q: How much does it cost to develop an elearning course?
Costs vary based on complexity. A basic course can be free if built in-house using free tools, but professional courses can cost from £2,500 to £50,000+ depending on custom design, interactivity, and development time. Time and internal resources also add hidden costs.
Q: How to create online courses in the UK?
Decide on the course format (video, text, interactive). Use free platforms like Moodle. Ensure accessibility and copyright compliance. If selling courses, consider UK regulations like GDPR for data protection and consumer rights laws for refunds.
Q: How to design an elearning course?
Start with clear learning objectives. Structure content in small, engaging sections. Use visuals, quizzes, and videos. Keep navigation simple and user-friendly. Test with a small group bef
