26 June 2023
The challenges and importance of localising elearning content
As the world becomes increasingly globalised, it is essential to cater to clients with a global presence. This creates the need to localise elearning content, which effectively means adapting and translating content to successfully communicate with audiences in multiple languages and from multiple cultural backgrounds, without compromising on quality or learning experience.
At Dynamic, we understand the importance of accurately adapting elearning content to different audiences and have tackled the challenges of localising modules with different approaches to provide a high standard final product to our clients.
The importance of localising content
Localising content means taking a piece of content created in one language and adapting it to be relevant and understandable to other audiences. This means not only translating the written content but also changing graphics, formatting dates and units of measurement, and modifying audio and video elements. This is crucial for elearning content, as it directly reflects a better learning experience, and consequently, learner retention. Users who feel more connected to the content
they are watching are more likely to retain the information presented to them.
The challenges of localising content
Localising content requires working with third-party translators who can translate written content and provide necessary amends. This can create a new step in the development process, leading to numerous rounds of quality assessment and project management. Additionally, translating audio and video can pose a significant challenge, as it requires high-quality narration and editing to ensure that the content resonates with the target audience.
More than just translating
At Dynamic, as well as the range of actors we use as presenters in modules, we also use the latest AI technologies to create audio and video narrators for our elearning modules in multiple languages. Using AI presenters and narrators helps us create engaging and personalised content that is just as relevant to non-English speaking audiences as any other content we produce. We have also implemented a feature that allows users to choose their buddy, the person who overlays the content and talks to the user throughout the module. Using AI presenters, we are able to offer multiple buddy options in different languages without the need for extensive recording, editing and individual scene creation.
Our localisation experience with industry-leading clients
At Dynamic, we’ve had the privilege of working with a variety of esteemed clients to localise their elearning content. Some of our past clients include the International Cricket Council (ICC), jewellery brand Pandora, vehicle glass repair and replacement company Belron, aerospace manufacturing company GKN Aerospace and financial services company IP Finance. By working with such diverse clients, we’ve gained valuable experience in adapting our processes to suit a range of industries and learning objectives.
Choosing the correct authoring tool for your elearning to make localisation easier
Choosing the right authoring tool for your elearning content can make a significant difference when it comes to localisation. Certain authoring tools are more suited to localisation than others, which can save time and money during the translation and adaptation process.
Some authoring tools, such as Articulate Storyline and Adobe Captivate, have built-in features that allow for easier localisation. For example, they offer the ability to export and import translation files, making it easier for translators to work on the content outside of the authoring tool. They also offer features, such as text-to-speech narration, which can be particularly helpful when it comes to creating audio and video content in multiple languages.
It is important to consider the specific needs of your elearning content when choosing an authoring tool. If you anticipate needing to adapt the content to different languages and cultures, it is a good idea to look for an authoring tool that offers features to make this process easier. Speak to your elearning provider about localisation as early as possible as it may influence how the solution is created.
Some authoring tools, such as Articulate Storyline and Adobe Captivate, have built-in features that allow for easier localisation. For example, they offer the ability to export and import translation files, making it easier for translators to work on the content outside of the authoring tool. They also offer features, such as text-to-speech narration, which can be particularly helpful when it comes to creating audio and video content in multiple languages.
It is important to consider the specific needs of your elearning content when choosing an authoring tool. If you anticipate needing to adapt the content to different languages and cultures, it is a good idea to look for an authoring tool that offers features to make this process easier. Speak to your elearning provider about localisation as early as possible as it may influence how the solution is created.
Working with authoring tools
An authoring tool that stands out for having great localising solutions is Evolve. Once the original module has been signed off, it allows us to export a text file that can be easily shared with translators. Once these files are translated, it’s just a matter of importing them back into the module as new language versions. Additionally, since Evolve is a web-based authoring tool, its content is responsive, which saves time and money from a resourcing perspective. Unlike other authoring tools, once translated, developers don’t need to resize and remake interactions to fit the new text. Rather, they just require a quick overall check over. An added bonus is that different versions also allow for other elements to be changed, so if graphics or videos need to change according to their language, the different versions will reflect this accordingly.
At Dynamic, we have experience working with a range of authoring tools and can provide advice on which tool would be best suited to your elearning content and localisation needs.
Interested in localising your elearning content?
In conclusion, localising elearning content is essential for reaching a global audience and providing a high-quality learning experience. By understanding the importance of localisation and the challenges that come with it, we can take the necessary steps to ensure that our elearning content is accessible and relevant to different cultures and languages.
Working with professional translators and using advanced AI programs can help to streamline the localisation process. Additionally, choosing the correct authoring tool for your elearning content can make the localisation process easier and more efficient.
If you want to better understand how we have localised modules or see examples of our work, please select the arrows on the left. If you have any questions about our process or want to find out how we can create engaging elearning packages localised to the relevant languages for your company’s global audience, please get in touch. We’re always happy to help.
Working with professional translators and using advanced AI programs can help to streamline the localisation process. Additionally, choosing the correct authoring tool for your elearning content can make the localisation process easier and more efficient.
If you want to better understand how we have localised modules or see examples of our work, please select the arrows on the left. If you have any questions about our process or want to find out how we can create engaging elearning packages localised to the relevant languages for your company’s global audience, please get in touch. We’re always happy to help.
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