4 min
Jan 30, 2025
How are innovative organizations solving their toughest eLearning challenges? Often, with subject matter experts
Here at Mindsmith, we’ve been noticing an interesting shift in the way people are designing eLearning content. We’ve noticed, more and more, that enterprises are involving their subject matter experts in the process of creating eLearning content. As I’ve talked to other learning leaders in the field, they often say the same thing – SMEs are becoming more involved.
The eLearning landscape is undergoing a significant transformation. While instructional designers have traditionally held primary responsibility in developing online learning experiences, a new trend is emerging: the rise of the subject matter expert (SME). Recent trends indicate a growing number of organizations actively involving SMEs in the eLearning design process. This shift reflects a broader movement within the industry towards collaborative approaches and recognizes the invaluable contributions that SMEs bring to creating effective and engaging learning experiences.
The Changing Role of Instructional Design
Philippa Hardman, a leading learning scientist and creator of the DOMS™ framework, highlighted this trend in her Substack article, "The State of Instructional Design, 2024."[1] Hardman, an affiliate scholar at the University of Cambridge with over 20 years of experience in learning science and design [2] points to several key takeaways from her research:
Greater Role Diversification: The field of instructional design is experiencing a shift towards greater role diversity, with SMEs taking on more prominent roles alongside instructional designers, freelancers, and those in leadership positions. This reflects a move towards more collaborative and agile approaches to eLearning development [1]. Dr. Phil also noticed that, for their survey, “almost one third of respondents were Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) who have taken on instructional design responsibilities as part of a different role.”¹
Time Constraints and Project Rejections: Instructional designers face significant time constraints, with many projects taking over 20 days to complete [1]. A significant number of instructional designers are even turning down projects due to these time constraints and high project loads[1]. This highlights the need for more efficient eLearning development processes, where SME involvement can play a crucial role in accelerating content creation and streamlining workflows.
Limited Collaboration with Experts: Despite the recognized value of SME contributions, many instructional designers still report limited collaboration with experts [1]. This may be due to organizational structures, SME availability, or other factors that hinder effective partnerships.
These findings are echoed in a study on eLearning for SMEs conducted in seven EU countries [3]. This research underscores the growing importance of digital skills for small and medium-sized enterprises and highlights the need for eLearning platforms that cater to their specific requirements. In many organizations, a person who may start as an instructional designer will become a subject matter expert. Or, the reverse may be true – a SME may take on more instructional design responsibility. The study emphasizes the role of upskilling in enhancing digital competencies and fostering a high-performing digital education system [3]. It also reveals a significant digital skills gap in the European workforce, further emphasizing the need for effective eLearning solutions that can quickly and efficiently upskill employees [3].
Why SMEs Matter in eLearning
The involvement of SMEs in eLearning design brings a wealth of benefits that we already covered in another article:
Increased Accuracy and Relevance: SMEs possess deep knowledge and practical experience in their respective fields. Their contributions ensure that eLearning content is accurate, up-to-date, and relevant to learners' needs [4]. For example, an SME in software development can provide real-world coding examples and explain complex concepts in a way that resonates with learners.
Enhanced Engagement: SMEs can infuse eLearning with real-world examples, case studies, and practical applications, making the content more engaging and relatable for learners [5]. Imagine a cybersecurity course where an SME shares a compelling anecdote about a data breach, capturing learners' attention and highlighting the importance of the training.
Improved Learning Outcomes: By incorporating their expertise, SMEs can help create eLearning that effectively bridges the gap between theory and practice, leading to improved knowledge retention and application [6]. For instance, an SME in sales can provide valuable insights into effective sales techniques, helping learners translate theoretical knowledge into practical skills.
Streamlined Development: When SMEs are involved early in the design process, they can provide valuable insights into the target audience, learning objectives, and content requirements, which can help streamline development and avoid costly rework [7]. This is particularly crucial in today's fast-paced environment, where there is an increasing demand for rapid course development [1].
Challenges and Best Practices
While the benefits of SME involvement are clear, there are also challenges to consider:
Time Constraints: SMEs often have demanding schedules and may have limited availability for eLearning development8. Balancing their primary responsibilities with eLearning contributions can be a challenge.
Communication Barriers: Differences in communication styles or technical expertise can sometimes create challenges in collaborating effectively [8]. For example, an SME might use technical jargon that is unfamiliar to the instructional designer.
Differing Priorities: SMEs may have different priorities than instructional designers, which can lead to disagreements or conflicts [9]. An SME might prioritize in-depth content coverage, while the instructional designer might focus on creating concise and engaging learning experiences.
Content Development Challenges: SMEs may struggle to adapt their expertise to the eLearning format [10]. They might be accustomed to traditional training methods and find it challenging to create engaging and interactive online content.
To overcome these challenges, it's essential to follow best practices for collaborating with SMEs:
Establish Clear Expectations: Define roles and responsibilities, set clear deadlines, and establish a communication plan from the outset [7]. This ensures that everyone is on the same page and working towards a common goal.
Foster a Strong Partnership: Build a relationship of trust and mutual respect, ensuring that SMEs feel valued and heard [7]. Recognize their expertise and acknowledge their contributions to the eLearning development process.
Provide Support and Guidance: Offer SMEs the necessary support, resources, and training to effectively contribute to eLearning development [11]. This might include providing templates, guidelines, or access to eLearning authoring tools.
Use a Content Framework: Develop a content framework that outlines the structure, format, and standards for the eLearning content [7]. This helps ensure consistency and clarity in the eLearning materials.
Facilitate Regular Meetings: Schedule regular meetings to review progress, share updates, and address any challenges or concerns [7]. This helps maintain momentum and ensures that everyone is aligned.
Case Studies: SME-Driven eLearning in Action
The value of SME involvement in eLearning is evident in numerous successful projects. Here are a few examples:
Illumina Interactive: This company specializes in creating engaging and interactive eLearning experiences. In one project, they worked with a client to develop a series of eLearning courses for dental practitioners on the transition to value-based care [12]. The project would not have been possible without close collaboration with SMEs to ensure the accuracy and relevance of the highly technical content.
Endurance Learning: This learning and development consultancy provides a case study of successful instructional designer/SME collaboration [13]. In this case, a SME with technical expertise sought assistance in designing a presentation. The instructional designer provided guidance and support, while respecting the SME's knowledge and preferences. The result was a presentation that effectively communicated the SME's expertise in a clear and engaging manner.
These case studies demonstrate how effective collaboration between instructional designers and SMEs can lead to high-quality eLearning experiences that achieve desired learning outcomes.
Mindsmith: Empowering SME-Driven eLearning
Mindsmith is an intuitive AI-powered authoring tool built around real-time collaborative workflows. We’ve noticed that, for many organizations, Mindsmith works well to facilitate SME involvement in eLearning development. Its intuitive interface and collaborative features make it easy for SMEs to contribute their expertise, whether they are creating content from scratch or providing feedback on existing materials [14].
Here's how Mindsmith empowers SMEs:
Real-time Collaboration: SMEs and instructional designers can work together in real-time, streamlining the content creation and review process [15]. This allows for immediate feedback and iterative improvements, ensuring that the eLearning content accurately reflects the SME's knowledge and insights.
Intuitive Interface: Mindsmith's user-friendly interface makes it easy for SMEs to navigate the platform and contribute their knowledge, even if they have limited experience with authoring tools [14]. The drag-and-drop functionality and WYSIWYG editor simplify content creation, allowing SMEs to focus on sharing their expertise.
Commenting and Review Links: SMEs can easily provide feedback on eLearning content through comments and review links, ensuring that their insights are incorporated into the final product [15]. This facilitates asynchronous communication, allowing SMEs to contribute their expertise at their own pace and convenience.
Document Importing: SMEs can upload their existing documents, such as presentations or articles, which Mindsmith's AI can then use to generate eLearning content [15]. This feature streamlines content creation by leveraging existing materials and allows SMEs to provide their knowledge in a familiar format. The AI can then transform this content into interactive eLearning modules, complete with quizzes, scenarios, and other engaging elements.
Mindsmith also offers analytics features that allow SMEs and instructional designers to track learner engagement and performance [16]. This data can be used to identify areas for improvement and ensure that the eLearning content is effectively meeting its objectives.
Conclusion
The increasing involvement of SMEs in eLearning design marks a significant shift in the industry. By embracing collaborative approaches and leveraging the expertise of SMEs, organizations can create more effective, engaging, and relevant learning experiences that drive better outcomes. This shift is driven by several factors, including the growing need for rapid course development, the increasing emphasis on digital skills, and the recognition of the unique value that SMEs bring to eLearning.
However, successful SME involvement requires careful planning and effective collaboration strategies. Organizations need to address challenges such as time constraints, communication barriers, and differing priorities. By following best practices, such as establishing clear expectations, fostering strong partnerships, and providing adequate support, organizations can maximize the benefits of SME involvement and create eLearning experiences that truly engage learners and achieve desired outcomes.
Mindsmith, with its AI-powered features and user-friendly interface, is at the forefront of this movement, empowering SMEs to play a central role in shaping the future of eLearning. By simplifying content creation, facilitating collaboration, and providing valuable analytics, Mindsmith enables SMEs to seamlessly integrate their expertise into the eLearning development process, ultimately leading to more effective and impactful learning experiences.
Works cited
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