How to Create an Online Training Course for Employees: A Step-by-Step Guide
Nowadays, learning new skills and expanding our knowledge has never been easier. With the vast amount of resources available online, anyone can access valuable information and expert guidance with just a few clicks. Whether you’re looking to master a new software, develop a creative hobby, or gain professional expertise, online learning offers unparalleled convenience and flexibility.
While traditional, in-person workshops and training sessions have their merits, online learning opens up a world of possibilities. It eliminates geographical barriers, allowing people from all over the globe to learn from top instructors without the need for travel. Plus, online courses and tutorials can be revisited at any time, enabling learners to progress at their own pace. In an increasingly digital age, embracing online education is not just a convenience, it’s a game-changer for personal and professional growth.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through each step of creating an online training course for employees and show you how to use ActivePresenter, a powerful all-in-one eLearning authoring tool, to bring your training vision to life.
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Step 1: Identify the Training Needs of Your Employees
Before you begin designing content, take time to understand what your employees actually need to learn and why. Conducting a thorough training needs analysis ensures that your corporate training course development will be targeted and relevant, not generic or outdated.
You can gather insights through employee surveys, performance reviews, compliance audits, or interviews with team leaders. Ask questions like: What skills are employees struggling with? Are there gaps in technical knowledge? Do we need to meet any compliance requirements? This initial step helps you avoid wasting resources on content that doesn’t solve real business problems.
Step 2: Set Clear Learning Objectives
Once you’ve identified the training needs, translate them into clear, measurable learning objectives. These objectives act as the foundation for your course. They tell learners what they can expect and guide your content creation process.
Use the SMART framework to craft strong objectives:
- Specific: Target a precise skill or outcome.
- Measurable: Use quizzes or tasks to verify learning.
- Achievable: Set realistic goals within the training timeframe.
- Relevant: Align with business goals and job roles.
- Time-bound: Provide a timeline or expected completion window.
For example: “By the end of this course, employees will be able to recognize and report phishing attempts in accordance with company policy.”
Step 3: Choose the Right Authoring Tool – Why ActivePresenter?
When it comes to creating online training courses for employees, selecting the right authoring tool is crucial. We recommend ActivePresenter, a powerful, all-in-one eLearning software that enables you to build engaging, interactive training courses with ease.
ActivePresenter offers a wide range of features tailored for corporate training:
- Screen recording and software simulation for teaching systems and tools
- Quizzes and assessments with automatic scoring
- Interactive elements like buttons, hotspots, and drag-and-drop
- SCORM/xAPI support for LMS compatibility
- Responsive design for mobile learning
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced instructional designer, ActivePresenter simplifies the process of eLearning course creation with professional results.
Step 4: Design a Clear and Modular Course Structure
Great training courses are easy to follow and logically structured. Break your course into digestible modules, each focusing on a specific topic or skill. Begin with a welcome section, then introduce your learning objectives and navigation tips.
Each core module should contain focused lessons supported by interactive activities. Between modules, include knowledge checks or micro-quizzes to reinforce learning. End the course with a final assessment, followed by feedback and (optionally) a certificate of completion.
Using ActivePresenter training course features like slide navigation and interactive menus, you can build intuitive courses that promote learner independence and retention
Step 5: Develop Engaging, Multimedia-Rich Content
Your training content needs to grab attention and hold it. In a world full of distractions, passive slide decks simply won’t cut it. ActivePresenter gives you all the tools to create engaging, multimedia-rich content without needing to code.
Use video, narration, screen captures, and branching scenarios to elevate your training. Add clickable elements, pop-ups, and animations to keep learners involved. Clean visuals and a conversational tone go a long way in making content memorable and relatable.
This is where an interactive employee training course truly shines by involving the learner and not just informing them.
Step 6: Add Interactive Assessments to Reinforce Learning
Assessments are not just for measuring performance, they help learners retain information more effectively. ActivePresenter includes a robust quiz editor that lets you build a wide range of question types, including:
- Multiple choice and true/false
- Drag-and-drop
- Fill-in-the-blank
- Scenario-based simulations
You can provide immediate feedback, track scores, and even use conditional navigation to guide learners through custom learning paths. For example, if an employee answers incorrectly. It is an essential part of any step-by-step training course guide because it ensures that learning objectives are being met in real-time.
Step 7: Deliver Your Course Through a Learning Management System (LMS)
Once your course is built, it’s time to deliver it to your employees. ActivePresenter allows you to export your course in SCORM or xAPI format, making it compatible with virtually all LMS platforms. Upload the course to your company’s LMS to assign it to learners, track completion rates, and generate performance reports.
Whether you use an LMS or host the content independently, your corporate training course development efforts pay off when employees can access the course anytime, anywhere.
Step 8: Collect Feedback and Measure Training Effectiveness
After the course is launched, you’ll want to evaluate its impact. Collect feedback from employees through post-course surveys or discussion forums. This qualitative data can reveal pain points, technical issues, or areas for improvement.
In addition, use your LMS’s analytics to measure:
- Completion rates
- Quiz scores
- Time spent on each module
- Post-training performance improvements
This data is essential for evaluating the ROI of your online employee training course and guiding future improvements.
Step 9: Keep Your Training Content Updated
Employee training isn’t a one-and-done project, it’s an evolving program. Regularly review your course content to ensure it reflects current company policies, technologies, and best practices. With ActivePresenter, updating your ActivePresenter training course is as easy as editing a slide, no need to start over.
Stay proactive by collecting feedback, monitoring industry trends, and expanding your training library as new needs emerge.
Final Thoughts: Invest in Employee Growth Through Effective Training
Creating an online training course for employees doesn’t have to be complex or overwhelming. With a strategic approach and the right tools, especially ActivePresenter, you can deliver high-quality, interactive courses that improve skills, ensure compliance, and boost overall productivity.
Employee learning is not just about filling a knowledge gap, it’s about driving engagement, innovation, and long-term success. Start building your course today and empower your workforce with the skills they need to thrive.
Ready to build your own employee training course?
👉 Download ActivePresenter and start creating professional, interactive training content that delivers results.