Deciding what to put in your latest course...

Deciding what to put in your latest course, and the order it should be presented in, is no easy feat. Here are some design do's:

- Use the ADDIE (Analyze, Design, Develop, Implement, Evaluate) instructional design model, but also customize your course design approach so it makes sense given your company's culture and work style.

- When designing e-learning, create a standard template that can be used more than once, along with reusable content pieces.

- Include a train-the-trainer component when necessary, so your stellar design won't be wasted by a less-than-stellar delivery.

- Give instructional designers themselves a leg up with a formal, in-house instructional design course.

- Make strategies for keeping learners engaged part of every program you design.