Are you unsure of how to answer the big question: How long does it take to develop one hour of online learning?
As you might expect, there is no one answer to this complex question because there are multiple factors to consider. Fortunately, our community has several resources that can help you with an estimate.
First, Consider All the Factors
But before you jump right to those estimates, analyze your situation, environment and project and consider all the factors. Some of the factors that will influence your time estimate are:
- Organizational need/deadline
- Your design and development model
- Complexity of the content
- Number and complexity of interactions
- Game-based, branching, linear
- Types of media
- Types of evaluations and assessments
- Hardware/devices
- Delivery system
Also, consider the learning model you will use. If you plan on straying from the typical approach, such as using Thiagi’s Four Door Model or digital curation, you will need to modify the design and development hours accordingly.
Resources
Below are some general resources you can use to do your estimating. You’ll find that using a standard measurement of developing one hour of training works well for making larger or smaller estimates. Keep in mind that most of the resources are several years old.
1. Time To Develop One Hour of Training
This study, from 2018, presents fresh data on the topic. Not only does it provide the detail many are seeking, authors Karl Kapp and Robyn Defelice delve into several of the contributing factors that will affect your time estimate.
2. How Long Does it Take to Create Learning?
This survey provides data it has collected from 249 organizations, representing 3,947 learning development professionals. The “time to complete” numbers are represented as ratios. Don’t miss the accompanying SlideShare presentation, which has helpful visuals.
3. How Long Does It Take to Create an E-Learning Course?
This article by Desiree Pinder discusses a variety of factors you may not think to consider, such as priority, review cycles and availability.
4. Estimating Costs and Time in Instructional Design
Donald Clark provides budgets and cost guidelines here in addition to the time estimates, which he references from an older source.
5. Why eLearning Development Ratios Can Be Hazardous to Your Health
The Dashe & Thomson’s Social Learning Blog cautions against blindly using the development ratios. They provide their own list of considerations.
In the Comments section, Peter mentions using the Department of Defense but the link is outdated. Here it is: The Army Distributed Learning (DL) Guide (see page 28 and around those pages).
If you have other solid resources, please list them below in Comments.
Hi David,
You’re right. You need much more time to do a good job. It’s tough when management doesn’t understand. You can only do the best you can do.
That said, perhaps you’ll be able to come up with some interesting scenarios that involve real world problem solving for your exercises and perhaps role plays if it makes sense (not sure of your content). Also, try to vary small group work and discussions with individual work. Remember that people are social creatures. Finally, I am guessing that if you spend 1 hour interviewing a few people (unless you’ve already done this), you will get insight into their world that give you ideas for activities.
Perhaps this podcast interview with Steve Portigal about interviewing users will help you approach it in the most effective way: Best Practices for Interviewing Your Audience. I know you have no time to listen, so it would have to be while doing something else. Good luck. We’re with you in spirit.
Connie
Ha, I have two weeks to prepare 2 weeks of online technical support training that I have to conduct.
I tried to explain to management that it is not possible and that it would take months to put together. They have no clue and said take my best shot anyway.
I plan to create a 3 hour overview and stuff the rest of the time with repetitive time-consuming “exercises’ and “problems” for the trainees to solve. Each trainee will need to work to solve each problem while the others watch.
Muna,
The scale is an 8 hour day, so that is around one week. Many things come into consideration, such as how complex the materials and slides and activities are. So it could be less time (or possibly more).
Connie
For example according to ATD report to develop one hour trainer standup training program will require 43 hours. So if it is 24 hour scale that means almost 2 days.
Is that the calculation
Good to know about the book, Cynthia. Thanks for taking the time to share.
Connie
Hi Connie Great article, as usual. We used the following book in one of my University courses for estimating time and for other project management related items. “Project management for trainers by Lou Russell.
Hi Karen,
I didn’t see Chapman’s original study but I did hear this was updated. I’m glad you moved on to a place that values your work!
Best,
Connie
Connie,
Thanks for always sharing such useful resources. I had to immediately share with my ASTD Atlanta colleagues.
I had seen Chapman’s study a couple of years ago and was shocked at how little my training development time was actually valued. No wonder I am now workingn for another company! I’m glad to see Chapman has updated his info and has some great graphics/stats to share.
Thank you, AJ!
Connie
Thank you, Peter. I was actually trying to find a DOD document but couldn’t. Thank you for adding this.
Connie
Usually, the US military has good resources. Check out the DOD documents on instructional design, for instance. But in this case, the Army has a document available on this site: http://www.tradoc.army.mil/tpubs/pamndx.htm. Look for: 350-70-2 26 June 03 Multimedia Courseware Development Guide
On pages 27-33 are the estimates for determining development time, especially for media-rich content.
Another good resource: http://iconlogic.blogs.com/weblog/2010/03/development_tim.html