Every learner is unique and thus no eLearning course comes with a guarantee to be perfect for everyone. However, there are some basic elements that can enhance the learning process as well as boost the engagement and effectiveness of the course. By being mindful of such elements, one can actually design courses that are almost next to perfect.
These elements are also the factors that separate eLearning courses from other courses available online. eLearning courses are supposed to help the learner actually learn and not just bombard them with a plethora of information. These courses should adhere to the principles of appropriate and relevant content, clear-cut objectives, instruction designs and should be aimed at the right kind of audience.
So, here are the most important elements of constructing an effective and engaging eLearning course;
Content:
- Relevance of content of any eLearning course is a very important element as without relevance the learner will not be interested or willing to take the course. Relevance of the content breeds a sense of ‘profit’ which keeps the learner hooked to the lessons.
- Content should be spread out well and very concisely categorized as learning objectives. Clear objects give the learner a sense of direction while learning. These objectives are like dots that need to be connected and they help the learner to know what to expect from a module. At the end of the module, when all the objectives are met, it brings the learner a sense of achievement that ultimately pushes them to take more such modules and keep learning.
Design:
eLearning Courses should be designed well to be more engaging and effective. While designing a good eLearning course, visual media can be a very important element. Visuals such as photographs, videos, infographics, illustrations etc make the content more comprehensible. It also leaves a strong imprint on the learner’s memory helping them in long term recollection and application of the knowledge.
Navigation:
eLearning Courses should be simple and easy to navigate with visibly clear options such as menus, links, arrows, previous, next, exit and move buttons etc. Without clear navigation or by making it too complicated, the risk of breaking the flow of learning increases which in turn breeds the possibility of the learner getting distracted and disinterested.
Interactivity:
Interactivity is one of the most important elements when it comes to eLearning Courses. Interactivity of a module can be achieved by gamification of the module through puzzles, quizzes and tasks. Along with that, including evaluations at the end of every module can bring a sense of achievement and reward that will help in increasing engagement. It also becomes nearly impossible to lose track of thoughts and get distracted when the module on the screen asks for heavily thoughtful inputs.
Tracking Progress:
Without this element, all the elements mentioned above are almost worthless. Tracking the learner’s progress is the most important element as it finally shows the extent of the learning through the course. Through tracking, we just don’t track the progress of the candidate but also their psyche and behavior using which the next courses can be tailored to an individual extent so that the gaps in the learning process are filled.
Conclusion:
Making the right kind of eLearning courses can be a tedious job as there are high chances that learners may get disinterested and thus disengage from the learning process. However, the right kind of tools helps with getting the basic elements right through which appropriate courses can be built easily with the least amount of resources. The right kind of LMS can be very helpful in achieving the discussed elements. LMS like iSpring Learn let you design courses easily within just a day with good content, visuals, and even better navigation. It also gives you the option to add much interactivity and lets the learner track their progress easily.
