The role of Instructional Design in getting the most out of your e-learning content

What’s the most important part of your e-learning course? Course content? Sure, but the lessons to be imparted are the same whether you’re using e-learning or traditional learning models. Course design? Well, aesthetics are important but the look and feel of your course will not make nor break your learning experience.

Too many users of e-learning do not tap the full potential of the digital platform. There’s much more to e-learning than simply taking content and putting it up online. Good instructional design can transform your content and make it more interesting and engaging. 

Instructional Design in E-Learning

Instructional design for e-learning courses involves thorough needs assessment, and an in-depth understanding of learners’ goals and outcomes. Instructional designers then design the curriculum and identify the methodologies to be used to deliver the content required. The course designer then works with experts to select the existing and emerging technologies that can be leveraged to deliver the final course.

Excellent e-learning instructional design is based on the fluidity and structure of the content, ensuring that learners remain engaged and courses see minimal attrition.

Here is a look at some of the important areas where instructional design plays a major role in making e-learning content more effective.

Customized Paths

By designing a skills matrix for each user at the beginning of the course, and comparing it against a master skills matrix for desired course outcome, it’s possible to create the right unique combination of modules for each learner. Courses can be designed to allow every learner to take a unique, custom path to the same objective.

Learner-led Learning

There are many ways to reach a learner’s mind, depending on each unique user’s needs. For instance, Kinesthetic learners learn best through doing, Auditory learners through hearing, and Visual learners through seeing. In addition, of course, some learn best through reading. With the right instructional design, each user can travel the unique path of learning that suits them best. A judicious mix of videos, PPTs, simulations and games can deliver desired learning outcomes.

Unique Training Modes

E-learning brings with it the potential to go far beyond simply taking existing lecture or PPT content and putting it on a digital platform. Gamification, for example, can transform your training content into bite-sized, fun modules. It helps you track performance amongst users and in competition with each other, to get the best out of all. Investing in your instructional design, you could leverage AR and VR to add new dimensions to experiential learning through the digital medium.

There are many ways in which you can enhance your digital learning experience with the right instructional design. For some ideas on how to get started on your best e-learning journey, contact us today.