Leveraging Expertise from a Subject Specialist
Bringing Knowledge to Life: How to Partner with Subject Experts for Better eLearning
Creating a great eLearning course isn’t just about using the right tools or flashy graphics—it’s about delivering the right knowledge in the right way.
That’s why working with subject matter experts is so important. They bring the depth of knowledge, and you bring the learning design know-how. When done well, this partnership results in courses that are accurate, engaging, and genuinely useful for learners.
In this guide, we’ll look at how to collaborate successfully with a subject expert, share best practices, and give you tips to make the process smooth and productive.
Whether you’re a learning designer or a subject expert yourself, you’ll find something valuable here.
Why Subject Experts Are Essential to Great eLearning
No matter how polished an eLearning course looks, it won’t succeed without solid, trustworthy content. That’s where subject matter experts come in.
They bring the depth of knowledge that ensures learners are getting the most accurate and up-to-date information. More than that, they help designers understand what really matters to the target audience—what to include, what to leave out, and how to explain complex ideas in relatable ways.
Working with a subject expert also opens the door to real-world stories, case studies, and insights that make the learning experience feel more authentic and useful.
Put simply: when instructional designers and subject experts collaborate, the results are smarter, sharper, and far more engaging.
Choosing the Right Subject Matter Expert for Your eLearning Project
Not every expert is the right fit for every course. When selecting a subject matter expert (SME), it’s essential to balance expertise with the ability to collaborate effectively in a learning design environment.
Key qualities to look for:
Deep subject knowledge that aligns with your course goals
Strong communication skills to explain complex ideas clearly
Familiarity with eLearning tools, methods, or environments
Availability and reliability throughout the project timeline
Enthusiasm for teaching and collaboration
The ideal SME is not just an authority in their field—they’re also a team player who understands the importance of translating knowledge into a learner-friendly experience.
Teaming Up with Subject Experts: How to Build a Great Working Relationship
Once the right subject matter expert (SME) has been selected, the next critical step is cultivating a productive, collaborative partnership.
A strong working relationship between instructional designers and SMEs leads to more efficient development and better learning outcomes.
Key Elements of a Strong SME Partnership:
Define Roles Early
Clearly outline who is responsible for what. When expectations are aligned from the beginning, it minimizes confusion and keeps the project on schedule.Maintain Open Communication
Set up regular check-ins or touchpoints. These can help track progress, clarify feedback, and surface issues before they become blockers.Foster Collaboration, Not Control
Respect the SME’s expertise and create space for shared decision-making. Incorporate their feedback while guiding the structure and learner experience.
Strong partnerships are built on mutual respect, transparency, and shared goals—resulting in courses that are accurate, engaging, and learner-focused.
Mapping It Out: Outlines and Objectives That Work
Now that you’ve teamed up with your subject expert, it’s time to shape the course itself.
That starts with two things: creating a clear outline and setting strong learning objectives.
Start with the Outline
Think of your course as a journey. Where do learners begin? Where do they need to go? Break the content into chunks—modules or lessons—that build on each other logically. This makes learning feel more manageable and keeps momentum going.
Ask yourself:
What do learners need to know first?
What stories, case studies, or examples will make this real for them?
How can we avoid overloading them?
Define Your Learning Objectives
Good learning objectives are like signposts. They tell learners what they’ll be able to do at the end of a module—and help you stay focused while building content.
Stick to the basics:
Keep it clear and specific
Make sure it’s measurable (can you assess it?)
Aim for realistic, relevant outcomes
When your outline and objectives are aligned, you’re on the path to creating a course that delivers real impact.
Bringing Content to Life: How to Build Great eLearning with Subject Experts
With your outline ready and learning objectives in place, it's time to roll up your sleeves and start building content that learners will actually enjoy.
Working side-by-side with your subject matter expert (SME), you can turn expert knowledge into engaging, digestible content that’s tailored to your audience.
Make It Engaging:
Here are some popular content formats to consider:
Videos – Great for demonstrations or storytelling
Audio clips – Add voice, tone, or even SME commentary
Scenarios – Help learners think through real-life decisions
Illustrations & Interactions – Bring abstract ideas to life
Forums or Chats – Let learners connect and share ideas
Microlearning – Deliver content in short, focused bursts
Keep It Learner-Friendly:
Break content into small chunks
Use plain, concise language
Be consistent in visuals and tone
Reinforce learning objectives at every step
Your SME is your content compass. Lean on their knowledge, but don’t forget to make the experience intuitive, visual, and interactive for the learner.
Designing an Engaging Course with Multimedia Integration
After developing the core content, the next step is crafting an engaging course design that enhances the learning experience.
This includes choosing a suitable learning management system (LMS) for smooth delivery and creating an intuitive, user-friendly interface.
When designing the course, focus on simplicity and accessibility to meet the preferences of your learners. Incorporate multimedia components such as videos, images, and interactive elements to boost engagement and help learners absorb information more effectively.
Collaboration with subject matter experts throughout the design phase ensures that the course layout supports the learning objectives and maintains alignment with overall goals. Their input helps refine visual appeal and usability, resulting in a polished, effective learning experience.
Collaborative Review and Refinement with Subject Matter Experts
After developing and designing the eLearning course, a thorough review process with the subject matter expert is essential.
This stage involves testing the course functionality and carefully evaluating content accuracy and design effectiveness.
Welcoming feedback from the subject matter expert and other stakeholders ensures that necessary improvements are identified and addressed.
Embracing revisions with an open mindset helps refine the course to better meet its learning objectives and overall goals.
Evaluating Course Effectiveness Through Feedback and Metrics
After the eLearning course has been delivered and completed, it’s essential to assess its success by analyzing key performance indicators such as completion rates and learner satisfaction.
Gathering feedback from both subject matter experts and learners provides valuable insights into what aspects of the course were effective and which areas could benefit from improvement.
This combined data helps inform updates to the course content and design, ensuring ongoing alignment with learning objectives and overall goals.
Conclusion: Leveraging Expertise from a Subject Specialist
Collaborating with subject matter experts is a key strategy for developing engaging and effective eLearning courses.
This partnership helps ensure that courses are tailored to the specific needs of learners, while maintaining accuracy, relevance, and up-to-date content.
By applying the tips and strategies discussed, you can successfully guide an eLearning course from initial concept through to completion, delivering a learning experience that truly stands out.
For designing interactive and multimedia-rich eLearning content, The Learning Lab LMS offers a powerful authoring tool that empowers you to bring your creative vision to life.