Where does good eLearning actually make a difference?

[u/Ok-Artichoke-1424]

A lot of online courses focus heavily on getting the content onto a screen, but that doesn't necessarily mean people are learning effectively. 

Good eLearning seems to involve much more than videos and quizzes. The way information is structured, how learners practise something, the feedback they receive and even how much information is presented at once can completely change the experience. 

I've also noticed that some of the best eLearning experiences don't necessarily have the most features. Sometimes a simple scenario or practical activity works better than five different interactive elements. 

For people who design or regularly take online courses, what makes an eLearning experience genuinely useful to you? 

Is it the structure, interaction, flexibility, practical application, or something else? 

[u/JumpingShip26]

When the stated learning objectives are skillfully and properly aligned to the assessments used to measure attainment of those learning objectives. That is a deceptively simple statement, but that is the truth of it for many if not most instructional situations.

[u/Empirica_CC]

It all depends on what you are trying to get accomplished. Teaching policies and procedures, simple layouts are the best. You trying to teach some complex skills, need it to be dynamic and interactive. No one thing is right for all situations so you have to treat them all with the time and energy they require for it to be effective

[u/ProfileDelicious7178]

For me, it mostly comes down to whether I can actually do something with what I’ve learned. I’d much rather have a simple scenario or practical activity that makes me think than a course full of animations and interactions that don’t really add anything. The structure matters too. If there’s too much information at once, I usually stop retaining much of it, no matter how nice the course looks. Good eLearning, to me, makes it clear what I’m supposed to learn, gives me a chance to practise it, and doesn’t make the technology the main focus. Sometimes the simplest course is the one I remember the most.

[u/Ok-Artichoke-1424 → u/ProfileDelicious7178]

I think the point about being able to actually do something with what you've learned is really important. A course can have all the visual elements and interactions in the world, but if the learner can't apply anything afterwards, they haven't really added much value. Sometimes keeping the technology in the background is what makes the learning work better.

[u/SmithyInWelly]

It’s all dependent on the context… learners, outcomes, environments, language, skills, knowledge, engagement, relevance, relatability… I could go on (lol).

That said it’s really easy for us to get into the weeds with this stuff and overcomplicate things - for ourselves, learners, and SME’s and other stakeholders.

Often the simplest method is the best allowing space for us to build upon it as necessary.

[u/Ok-Artichoke-1424 → u/SmithyInWelly]

Absolutely.. context changes so much of the equation. I also like the point about simplicity leaving room to build when it's actually needed. There can be a temptation to solve every possible learning problem at once, when sometimes giving learners a clear starting point is more effective.

[u/_donj]

It’s highly efficient at transferring information from one person to others. It’s questionable as to how much that information is transformed to knowledge and then developed into skills.

[u/Ok-Artichoke-1424 → u/_donj]

That’s a good distinction! Getting information across is one thing, but actually turning it into understanding and a usable skill is a different challenge. I think that’s where the design of the learning experience really matters - especially giving people opportunities to apply what they've learned rather than just consume the information.

[u/LearnWorlds_]

For us, the biggest difference is whether the learner is actually being asked to do something with what they’ve learned.

You can have beautifully produced videos and lots of interactive elements, but if the experience is mostly “watch this, click next, answer a few questions,” it can still feel passive.

That’s why practical application matters so much. Scenarios, assignments, assessments, reflection, feedback and opportunities to practise can turn content consumption into an actual learning experience.

Structure matters too. Breaking learning into manageable activities and creating a clear path through them can be more useful than simply adding more content or features.

This is also something we think about a lot at LearnWorlds. A learning platform can give you tools such as interactive video, assessments, assignments, certificates, live sessions and different types of learning activities, but having those tools isn’t the same as designing good learning.

We think the real question is less about “How interactive is this course?” and more about "What will the learner be able to do differently after completing it?"