the studio of
saul
carliner
content development
for the workplace

resources for
designing e-learning

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CD-ROM or DVD

1. Prepare the user’s guide, even if it’s just a brochure with instructions on how to insert the installation CD or DVD into the drive and type d:\setup.Learners often look for initial guidance from some sort of printed material, rather than looking on on the CD itself. You might also whet users’ appetite for the information on the CD-ROM by providing “previews” of the learning program.
2. Prepare the CD or DVD labels, making sure to give each CD or DVD a separate number (if you use more than one). (Ideally, you would label them using the scheme 1 of 3, 2 of 3, and 3 of 3, so learners know exactly how many CDs or DVDs they need to install.
3. Prepare the package that holds all of this material.
4. Prepare a sample package for the printer. Note the similarity between preparing a CD for production and preparing diskettes. The primary difference in their production occurs later, during the duplication process.

Server or web

The master copy that is already online is actually all ready for distribution to users. But you need to consider two issues.

• Security. Choose and test a “firewall,” that prevents unauthorized users from getting access to other information on the same server that you do not want them to get access to. You can purchase software that serves as a firewall or you can store your information on a server of its own or on that of a network service provider so that the learning product is not stored on the same computer as your organization's confidential business information.
• Marketing materials that tell the primary learners how to gain access to this program. The next chapter explains how to market an online learning program.