Migrating from Flash to HTML5: (Points you must consider)

by Graham Smith Business Development Manager

HTML5 has proven to be much more advantageous than Flash for developing eLearning courses. It is inevitable to migrate to HTML5, as it enables mobile learning. These days, learners mostly use smartphones and tablets for eLearning. The focus on eLearning has increased in recent years, as mobile eLearning is largely being incorporated on the corporate platforms for training purposes. Online academic institutions, too, are moving to HTML5, as the learners can easily read documents on their mobiles, rather than desktops.

Well, migrating from Flash to HTML5 is a complicated process. Here, you will come across certain tricks that will make your journey from Flash to HTML5 much smoother.

However, before we start, here are certain interesting statistics for you

· 70% of people surveyed revealed that they were motivated by mobile learning.

· Around 74% of mobile users opt for mobile learning.

· Between 2020 and 2015, the average daily number of hours of mobile usage has increased from 0.4 hours to 2.8 hours.

All these figures clearly indicate the increasing popularity of mobile devices and the emerging scope of mobile learning.

Read on these facts that will help you for effective Flash to HTML5 Migration.

Support on multiple devices

We are at a stage, where mobiles and tablets are increasingly gaining popularity. However, desktops and laptops are still being used by a number of learners. Therefore, when you migrate to HTML5, you cannot completely switch off the option of desktop learning. Learners use both these platforms for learning various courses. Therefore, you need to enable multi-device support in these courses. It is necessary to provide both the options to the learners. However, you need to remember that older versions of browsers are not compatible with HTML5. You need to deal with certain upgrading, which might push up the costs to a certain extent. So while proceeding with e learning mobile development, also make sure that the migrated course is friendly to laptops and desktops or else you may be losing a considerable portion.

Management system support

Well, you should check out whether your learning management system support is friendly to mobile devices or not. Today, support for mobile learning is provided by most of the LMS; a few still exists that doesn’t. In case the LMS fails to support mobile learning, it is necessary to use an LMS that offers compatibility to mobiles or else you should upgrade the LMS. However, both these processes involve certain costs, which you need to include in your budget. This is something you can’t escape.

Dealing with security

Today, most of the organizations expect the learners to carry their own devices. It eliminates certain security issues. Besides, it provides the learners with a lot more flexibility in multiple ways. The security has to be measured, ensuring that no threats can endanger the system. However, upgrading the security system involves certain costs, which too has to be borne.

Identify what you need

When you migrate from Flash to HTML5, you need to identify your need, whether an upgradation in technology is sufficient, or you need to redesign it completely. Here, it is necessary to have a look into two aspects

· Recent courses

· Legacy courses

In recent courses, improved Visual Design and Instructional units are incorporated, so only a technical upgradation is necessary. However, in case of legacy courses, a complete redesign has to be incorporated. However, you have one advantage when you deal with legacy courses. The content in them will already be layered and you need to build the necessary enhancements over it quickly. Professional companies offering flash to html5 conversion services can guide you further in this regard.

Understand the pros and cons of HTML5

Before you start conversion to HTML5, it is necessary to have a detailed understanding of both. When you know the advantages and disadvantages of Flash and HTML5, it will enable you to develop the courses, integrating the advanced features of HTML5. You should also be aware of its limitations.

Selecting an authorization tool that you need

You will come across several authorization tools. However, you need to choose the one that will cater to your exact requirements in a comprehensive manner. Generally, developers choose these tools from two perspectives, responsive and adaptive. However, you can further narrow down upon your choice for rapid development. Tools like Articulate Studio, Adapt and iSpring are the popular authorization tools used by developers.

Frame a checklist of what you need

It is important to frame a list of prerequisites before you start the migration process. Create a checklist with all the vital aspects that you need to remember to remain on the right track. Besides, you have to keep all the supporting aspects ready. These include the compatibility of HTML5 to the browsers, updating the security policy and prioritizing the courses that you need to migrate.

After you create a master plan, you can start the migration of a limited number of courses. Study the reaction of the learners and their adaptability to the course. When you migrate, keep all your assets ready. This will eliminate delays in the process and will ensure a hassle-free migration from Flash to HTML5.