We get it: You finally put the finishing touches on your eLearning module and you think it looks picture perfect; you’re excited to show off all of your hard work. But good-looking graphics and engaging content are two entirely different things. Even if you think your module is good to go, your learners might have a different opinion.
Before you close out your design and push your eLearning out for delivery, you might want to take a second look. If your program is missing some of the most effective eLearning strategies, techniques, and best practices, that module could be DOA by the time in lands in your learners’ laps. Don’t be guilty of missing out on some of the most effective eLearning content tips and tricks.
1) Relatable Scenarios
Your learners are busy, so they need to know exactly what they’re going to get out of a module before they start engaging with the material. Adding relatable scenarios to your content gives your learners concrete evidence that yes, this information will help them improve. Scenarios also give learners a safe place to practice new techniques without the risk of real-world failure. They can put themselves in a position to test-drive something new before applying it at work.
2) Engaging Content
It was Mary Poppins who promised that “just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down,” and we think she was definitely talking about eLearning. By tinting your content with just the right amount of humor, whether it’s tongue-in-cheek, slapstick, or even sarcasm, learners engage with content that is as entertaining as it is educational. It also doesn’t hurt to let learners know that you don’t take yourself—or your content—too seriously.
3) Better Scripting
The way brands talk to learners has evolved, and we’re completely behind the shift. Rather than boring, technical speak, the custom eLearning script has become more casual. Learners don’t want to listen to someone drone on and on, which is why the best e-Learning scripts sound more like a conversation—not a lecture. Using palatable metaphors, colloquialisms, and a zippy tone immediately puts learners at ease and ready to retain.
4) Multiple Platforms Across the Board
What good is an eLearning module if it can only be accessed via desktop? By giving your learners the autonomy to choose their pet platform, you open a world of accessibility. After all, learners might spend eight hours at their desk, but the rest of the time might be spent glued to an Android tablet or their iPhone. Developing content to be compatible with a number of different platforms extends your content’s reach.
5) Mobile Screens
Don’t confuse this with multiple platforms: The mobilization of your content means to condense and optimize for smaller screen. It might mean smaller bites of information sent out more frequently or a searchable database, rather than one graphics-heavy module. Your learners already have smartphones in their pockets; are you properly harnessing that technology as a delivery system for content?
Don’t worry; even if you’ve completely missed the content development boat, there’s always room for improvement. By focusing on engaging, friendly, accessible content, you get your learners excited to tune in instead of wanting to tune out.
