Abstract:

The increasing demand for high-quality digital learning materials has highlighted the need for targeted professional development opportunities for educators. This paper presents and evaluates three implementation cycles of the distance learning program “Creating Digital Educational Material with Articulate 360”, offered by the Lifelong Learning Center of the Hellenic Open University.

The program adopts an interdisciplinary and practice-oriented approach, aiming to support educators in developing the knowledge and skills required for designing effective digital learning materials. Specifically, participants are trained to:
(a) understand the role and characteristics of distance learning material,
(b) apply fundamental principles of instructional and visual design,
(c) use specialized authoring tools (Rise 360 and Storyline 360), and
(d) develop their own e-Portfolio.

The program combines distance education methodology with hands-on training, enabling participants to engage in the full cycle of digital content development, from instructional design, to final deployment within a Learning Management System. The selection of tools reflects current labor market trends, where expertise in digital authoring tools is increasingly in demand at both national and international levels.

Participants mainly come from educational backgrounds and are predominantly postgraduate degree holders, with many working as self-employed educators in online learning environments.

The study explores:
(a) participants’ demographic and professional profile,
(b) program evaluation results based on an institutional evaluation instrument (covering content, instructors, LMS, and administrative support), and
(c) perceived usefulness and professional impact of the program, as investigated through graduate focus groups.

Findings indicate a highly positive overall evaluation, particularly regarding the practical relevance and applicability of the program. At the same time, areas for improvement are identified, mainly related to program structure and workload. These findings inform the redesign of future iterations and contribute to the broader discussion on effective professional development models for educators in digital and distance learning contexts.

Keywords:

Professional development, learning design, visual design, digital educational material, authoring tools.