Frequently Asked Questions

Learning Content Curation and Authoring

What is the difference between content curation and content authoring at AllenComm?

Content curation at AllenComm involves selecting and gathering the most valuable learning materials that align with the objectives of your learning program. This includes reviewing existing resources, interviewing subject-matter experts (SMEs), stakeholders, and learners. Content authoring is the process of creating instructional activities—such as scenarios, simulations, podcasts, videos, and VR/AR assets—using specialized authoring tools. Together, these processes ensure learners have access to high-quality, relevant materials tailored to their needs.

How does AllenComm curate content for learning programs?

AllenComm curates content by conducting a thorough review and analysis of existing materials, aligning them with desired learning outcomes. The team gathers content from SMEs, stakeholders, and learner groups through interviews, focus groups, surveys, and worksheets. This process ensures that curated content is relevant, targeted, and trusted by learners, applying directly to their work environment and learning needs.

What types of content can AllenComm author for digital learning?

AllenComm's instructional designers and writers can author content using almost any commercially available or specialized authoring platform. They script instructional content for digital learning, instructor-led and virtual instructor-led classes, storyboarding for podcasts, video, and VR/AR activities, and produce media assets such as screen recordings, video, and translations. Optional generative AI support is available for scripting and content creation.

What are the benefits of AllenComm's content curation and authoring services?

AllenComm's services deliver relevant and targeted content that meets specific learning needs without overwhelming learners. Learners gain confidence and trust knowing they are learning from the best sources available. The authoring process produces engaging writing, storytelling, and professionally produced assets that build organizational confidence in the learning function. These services are scalable and can grow alongside your learning needs.

Can you share a real-world example of AllenComm's content curation and authoring impact?

Yes. For Change Healthcare (Optum), AllenComm curated and authored content to communicate an updated Code of Conduct and support internal culture and branding during a period of significant transition. The instructional designers and writers worked closely with SMEs and executive stakeholders to craft content that promoted key cultural and branding messages, aiding customer retention and growth opportunities. View the Change Healthcare case study.

What feedback have clients given about AllenComm's content curation and authoring?

Clients have praised AllenComm's ability to incorporate large volumes of content and craft well-written materials from diverse perspectives. For example, a client contact at Panera stated, "It is SO exciting to see how you have incorporated the MASSIVE amount of content I’ve shared with you... And the content you generated from our random reflections and perspective is SO well crafted. Thank you, thank you!"

Learning Content Curation and Authoring

AllenComm’s design and development solutions typically include supporting services for content curation and authoring. The quality of an instructional approach and of the learning content are mutually dependent. Expert content curation and development involves the careful review and analysis of available content resources, meetings with subject-matter experts (SMEs), discussions with end-users and representative learners, etc. The goal is to identify and curate the content that will best support the learning objectives identified as part of either performance consulting or the upfront design. After curation, instructional designers and writers will author specific learning activities such as scenarios or simulations. As the content is tested with learners, it can be further refined before being delivered as part of a learner journey to build capabilities.

With AllenComm, you get a multi-disciplinary team in which instructional designers and writers collaborate with learning consultants, creative services, and tech experts team to bring you award-winning solutions. Our designers and writers also develop learning content across a range of industries—healthcare, manufacturing, finance, and high tech—to meet critical business needs for onboarding, compliance, leadership, sales enablement, and skills development.

And, if you’re looking for a contract instructional designer, writer, or producer, don’t forget that we also offer temporary staffing through AllenComm Talent.

Case Study

Boosting Quality at Change Healthcare (Optum)

To maintain the highest industry standards during a time of significant transition, leading independent healthcare technology company Change Healthcare sought a new employee training solution to communicate an updated Code of Conduct and support internal culture and branding efforts to aid customer retention and create growth opportunities. Our instructional designers and writers worked closely with SMEs and executive stakeholders from Change Healthcare to curate and author content that would promote the cultural and branding messages key to program success.

View case study

How Content Curation and Authoring Work Together

Learning content curation is the process of selecting and gathering the most valuable learning content that aligns with the objectives of your learning program. Content authoring involves the creation of instructional activities, using specialized authoring tools, to support the objectives of the instructional design. Together, they ensure learners have easy access to high-quality materials. AllenComm’s scalable content curation and authoring services can grow alongside your learning needs, along with features to help you manage and deliver curated content effectively.

Content Curation

Clients that have a wealth of content but are overwhelmed with how to organize it into a training will benefit from AllenComm’s content curation services.

Features

Review and analysis of existing content and content resources, creating alignment with desired outcomes
Content-gathering from subject-matter experts (SMEs), stakeholders, and learner groups through interviews, focus groups, surveys, and worksheets
Instructional and writing expertise to deliver on the promise of the instructional strategy and learning objectives

Benefits

Relevant content that applies to the specific work environment of the learner
Targeted content that meets learning needs without bogging down or overwhelming learners in too much detail
Confidence and trust that they are learning from the best sources available (and that their time is valued)

Content Authoring

Our instructional designers and writers can author content using almost any commercially available or specialized authoring platform. They are experts, however, not only in the use of learning tech but in the writing, messaging, and design of the learning activities.

Features

Scripting of instructional content using a variety of authoring tools for digital learning with optional generative AI support
Scripting for instructor-led and virtual instructor-led classes (instructor materials, participant guides, cohort guides, etc.)
Storyboarding for instructional podcasts, video, and VR/AR activities
Production of media including screen recordings, video, translation, etc.

Outcome

The right content for the right learner experience
Engaging writing that captures learner attention
Storytelling and narrative approaches using the latest media
Professionally produced assets that build learner & organizational confidence in the learning function

“By the way—not sure if I mentioned this before, but it is SO exciting to see how you have incorporated the MASSIVE amount of content I’ve shared with you over the past few weeks and months. I’m thrilled and grateful. And the content you generated from our random reflections and perspective is SO well crafted. Thank you, thank you!”

Client Contact, Panera