Creating learning materials for open and distance learning: Introducing the Commonwealth of Learning instructional design template COL has developed a template for instructional design that helps content developers to convert their subject matter expertise into learning materials. It helps authors incorporate ODL instructional design techniques into their learning texts. Created in just over a year and tested in many countries and institutions with feedback from many instructional designers, this template is truly a collaborative effort. COL hopes that anyone who may feel discouraged from developing ODL learning materials will now feel empowered to begin to do so.(Originally published in 2006. Revised templates published in 2009)