• You are the information expert. Work in partnership with a company that has the diverse technological and design expertise to convert your information into an accurately programmed, dynamic educational site.
• Develop a project budget. Good online education/training programs are not inexpensive initially. However, in a relatively short period of time they can easily recoup the initial investment. Plan accurately for development costs, future upgrades and maintenance. Will you need to upgrade your institution's computer system or will your online educational program be hosted elsewhere?
• Determine how your online educational/training program fits into the larger picture of your total program. Does this replace or supplement an existing program or is this an entirely new venture? What benefits will it bring to your institution?
• Establish clearly defined goals and objectives for your online program. Focus on both the needs of the user and the needs of your institution or company. Talk, listen, ask questions, create, plan, test, define and refine. Use standard instructional design techniques to create a curriculum with innovative learning experiences. The quality of the end product depends on the quality of the development process.
• Make technology choices based on learning objectives. Avoid the use of technology for technology's sake. For example, before using streaming video, ask who the audience is and what type of hardware they have. What is their level of computer skill? Would this be the best means of transmitting this information? Users will gain more from logical choices of technology that enhance the educational process and improve learning performance.
• Take advantage of opportunities for interactivity. Creative instructional design will engage the student to question and learn. Interactivity should test cognition or activate new information used for additional learning.
• Provide feedback throughout the learning program. Use effective interfaces to reinforce concepts or provide alternative remediation.
• Consider how people learn when designing an online educational program. Take advantage of the capability to provide visual, auditory and kinesthetic experiences. Design experts should create intuitive interfaces that allow the learner to have some control over the learning process.
• Avoid linear thinking. Online training, by its nature, allows the user to decide the learning direction that is best for them. While it is acceptable to suggest a path through the program, the user should be free to follow different paths - as long as all of the work is completed.
• Test your online program on real users with dissimilar skill and knowledge levels. This is important for both the instructional design and the user interfaces. What is clear and usable for the development team may not be equally clear to the outside user. Test often.

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