Writing for E-Learning Platforms

Most courses lose the learner right after the intro. And the issue isn’t with the content or the design... It's because your learner's brain is already overloaded — and the course has barely begun. You must know your learner’s brain has limits. If you throw too much at them, too many terms, long videos, cluttered slides, background music and animations. They check out. And this is not bad design. It's 𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱. There are 3 types of mental load your course triggers: 1. 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗰 𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 – how complex the topic is 2. 𝗘𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 – how messy or confusing the design is 3. 𝗚𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 – the effort that helps learners absorb what they’re being taught. Your job creating e-learning isn’t just to present information. 𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴' 𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘦. Here’s how you help them stay engaged: → Break your content into small, focused blocks → Reduce jargon unless it’s explained with meaning → Cut all the clutter. Keep visuals clean and purposeful → Add reflection points, mini-checks, and real-world context This is how you take your content, design, and interactions from functional to impactful. And start designing learning that sticks. Because if your learners are skipping, it’s not because they’re lazy. It’s because the course isn’t designed for how the brain works. Would you like to build Storyline modules that impress stakeholders and impact learners? Start by designing for brains not slides.

Course Creators: See how the eLearning script style changes depending on what the course aims to achieve 👇 eLearning is at its best when it feels natural, as if someone is speaking directly to you. But not all courses allow for the same level of flexibility. Some eLearning scripts are intentionally formal, written to deliver content in a more structured, educational tone. For these, a voice actor’s role is to inject a subtle warmth and clarity to keep learners engaged. Other scripts, however, leave room to play. When the writing is conversational, relatable, and infused with personality, it creates a deeper connection with learners, turning the course into an experience rather than just information delivery. Both approaches have their place: 👨💼 Formal and Professional: Best for structured, fact-heavy material that prioritizes clarity. 👨🏫 Conversational and Playful: Perfect for topics that can afford a more engaging, human touch to resonate with learners. Here’s why it matters: ✅ Engagement: Conversational scripts allow narration to feel natural, not forced. ✅ Retention: Phrasing that mirrors real speech makes content easier to remember. ✅Experience: Learners feel like they’re part of a conversation, not a lecture. As AI takes over the technical elements of eLearning, the human touch through conversational scripts and professional narration is what sets truly impactful courses apart. In this video, you’ll hear two examples. The first is a formal, structured narration that delivers the facts with a touch of warmth. The second leans into humor and relatability, showing how a more conversational approach can transform the learner’s experience. Is it about the technical knowledge or the general concepts? Both approaches have their place, depending on the course and audience. Sometimes eLearning professionals don't always have the flexibility but when it's available make it fun through the writing and the narration will bring that to life. When scripting your next course, ask yourself, "Does this sound like something someone would actually say?" The answer could make all the difference. #WorkplaceTraining  #EmployeeEngagement  #RemoteLearning  #OnlineTraining  #Upskilling #elearning

'Over to you' slides are a staple of my eLearning courses. I work to a C.A.R framework when writing learning. 👉 Context 👉 Activity 👉 Reflection Provide the context, this is the initial knowledge transfer. Give your learner the facts, set the scene, make sure they have the necessary information. Then, put their understanding of this new information to the test, with an activity. This could be as simple as a couple of multiple choice questions, or as complex as a branching scenario. Finally, and this is where my 'Over to you' slides come in, offer the chance to reflect. This is where the learner connects it to their role, their experiences and forms the 'what does this mean for me?' I repeat the C.A.R cycle every time a new topic, or section is introduced. Offering the learner the chance to continuously anchor the learning to them and their practice. They're definitely not the most flashy slides and don't have complex interaction, but in my opinion are the most important of the entire eLearning. #learningdesign #elearning #digitallearning #reflection