Testing used to be the hardest part of my eLearning projects. Near the end of a course build I would spend hours clicking through slides, checking triggers, verifying navigation, and making sure nothing broke after the latest changes. There were always many moving pieces. Storyline variables, branching scenarios, media files, LMS settings, and stakeholder feedback all had to line up. Testing felt like a long stressful phase that came after development instead of being part of it.
Over time I moved to a more iterative way of working using Scrum principles. Instead of building everything and testing at the end, I test small pieces as they are developed. Each sprint produces something complete and reviewable. Stakeholders see progress early and problems get caught before they become complicated. This changed the pace of projects completely. Testing is no longer a bottleneck because it happens continuously.
One of the biggest improvements came from defining a clear Definition of Done. A slide or feature is not finished until it meets specific criteria. For example a completed interaction must have working navigation, accurate content, correct feedback, and must be tested in the LMS environment. This removes uncertainty and prevents unfinished work from moving forward.
Checklists also made a big difference. I use simple testing checklists for every project. These include items like verifying quiz scoring, checking accessibility settings, confirming mobile behavior, and testing SCORM reporting. Instead of relying on memory, I follow the checklist and know that nothing important is missed. What used to take hours of scattered testing is now a structured process.
This approach makes projects calmer and more predictable. Stakeholders feel confident because they see working versions early. Issues are smaller and easier to fix. For me the biggest benefit is that testing is no longer a stressful phase at the end. It is just part of the normal workflow.