E-learning Instructional Design: Striking the Right Note

How do you create instructional design that delivers the results your learners deserve? 

To create an outstanding online training experience that leverages quality e-learning design, start with these simple steps:

Six things that you can do to create quality instructional design for your course.

1. Cohesive structure that begins from the introduction

The structure of e-learning content must be cohesive from the title and introduction to the last slide or piece of content. Don’t underestimate the importance of the title of your online training course – along with the introduction, the title provides clarity and visibility into the entire learning experience. What exactly does the course intend to deliver, and how? Is it an introductory course or an advanced module? The start of a course is extremely important to make the right first impression on your learners.

2. Enhancing e-learning content with great visual support

We are visual creatures, and many users are visual learners. So to get learners interested in your online training program, optimizing the on-screen experience is important. Carefully plan where and how your content can be presented graphically to achieve the best learning outcomes. Appropriate placement of elements, the right animation and gameplay design can really help you in visually communicating information effectively.

3. Multiple delivery formats

Different corporate learners expect different things from your online training course based on their background, experience level and preferences. Some will be visual learners, others auditory, and others will be kinesthetic or experiential learners. For that reason, it’s important that you plan for appropriate delivery formats to engage learners of different kinds. Offer a broad range of online training activities and resources across content formats – case studies, videos, podcasts, etc – to balance your e-learning course design. 

4. Progress maps or bars to track completion

Learners, especially corporate learners, prefer to know exactly how they are performing, what has been completed and what they still need to achieve. Planning for a simple progress bar (or more complex trackers) can give your learners an overview of completed and pending course content and activities. A progress bar can also add an element of gamification to the e-learning module.

5. Interactive online training tools

Avoid large blocks of text. Instead, transform the content into interactive online training tools. Choose the right solution for each learning need – simulations, infographics, branching scenarios, or even a game with serious gameplay. This boosts the engagement factor considerably.

6. Refinement through feedback

If you’re wondering whether or not your instructional design is working for your learners, the best way to find out is by asking! Plan for an iterative cycle of requesting and receiving feedback, and then incorporating these inputs into each new iteration of the course module. Refine the course on a regular basis for optimized e-learning delivery. 

Effective instructional design for your e-learning course is key to developing course content that’s interesting and engaging. Do contact Hornbill’s experts to get started on building your e-learning content.