Before you start to create digital learning materials there are a number of things you need to consider. Thinking about these issues at the start of the process can save you a lot of time and work but more importantly, help ensure that what you produce will have the maximum possible positive impact for your students.

Learning outcomes

The fundamental question you need to ask yourself here is why am I making this learning material digital? If the answer is I don't know then you need to stop and reconsider. You should only be developing digital learning materials if they add something to the student experience. Think very carefully about the learning outcome. What does the student need to learn and how will you know that they have learned it? From this point on you can start to really consider how making digital resources could help e.g. they may be useful for collaboration, flipping the class, providing distance learning or even providing you with details analytics on student performance.

Student considerations

Some of the questions you should ask yourself here include;

Do my students have the required level of digital skills?
Do they have access to the required device?
Do they have access to the required software?
Do they have access to the Internet?
What sort of induction and onboarding will they require?

Teacher considerations

Some of the questions you should ask yourself here include;

Do my team and I the required level of digital skills?
Do my team and I need any further training or professional development?
Do my team and I have access to appropriate hardware and software?
Are there existing learning materials that we could use?
Are there any existing materials that we could re-purpose?

Teacher in blue tank top standing beside white wall

Click next to consider what you already know about existing digital learning materials and resources.