How to Create Engaging Elearning Materials

How to create learning materials that actually stick. Richard Mayer's principles are the secret sauce. 🧠💡 Most eLearning falls flat. Here's how to fix that: 1. Dual-channel processing → Combine visuals + audio → Don't overload one channel 2. Less is more → Cut the fluff → Focus on what matters 3. Highlight what's important → Use cues (bold, arrows, etc.) → Guide learner attention 4. Words + pictures > words alone → But don't repeat on-screen text → Let visuals do the heavy lifting 5. Keep it close → Text near relevant graphics → Reduce cognitive load 6. Timing is everything → Sync words and visuals → Present simultaneously 7. Bite-sized is best → Break content into chunks → Let learners set the pace 8. Build a foundation → Intro key concepts first → Then dive deeper 9. Audio > on-screen text → Free up visual processing → Use narration wisely 10. Keep it conversational → Ditch the corporate speak → Talk like a human 11. Human voice wins   → Skip the robo-narration   → Connect with your audience 12. Images aren't always the answer   → Only use if they support learning   → Don't add visual clutter Master these principles: ↳ Boost engagement ↳ Improve retention ↳ Generate real results What's your go-to strategy for creating sticky learning?

Most corporate training is forgettable. Let’s be real—how many times have you clicked through an eLearning module, answered the quiz, and instantly forgotten everything? That’s because information alone doesn’t drive learning. Stories do. We’re wired to remember narratives, not PowerPoint slides. A compelling story taps into emotion, creates context, and makes learning stick. So, how do you bring storytelling into eLearning? Here are three ways: 1️⃣ Start with a relatable character – Give your learners someone to connect with. Instead of generic scenarios, create personas facing real workplace challenges. 2️⃣ Create a problem worth solving – Don’t just dump information. Frame it as a challenge, mystery, or dilemma learners must navigate. 3️⃣ Use narrative-driven feedback – Instead of “Correct” or “Incorrect,” give responses that advance the story. Let learners see the consequences of their choices in a meaningful way. The best eLearning doesn’t just teach—it immerses. It makes learners feel something, and that’s what leads to real behavior change. Have you seen a great example of storytelling in training? Drop it in the comments! Let’s swap ideas. ⬇️

GAMIFICATION UNLEASHED: When most people think of gamification in eLearning, they picture points, badges, and leaderboards. But the true power of gamification lies in meaningful choices and real consequences? Instead of just adding a game-like layer to an eLearning course, we should think about how we can use gamification to create immersive, decision-driven experiences. Branching scenarios are a prime example. They allow learners to make choices that affect the actual outcome of the scenario—providing a more engaging and personalized learning journey. It’s not just about making learning fun—it’s about creating a realistic simulation where every choice matters. This approach helps learners experience the impact of their decisions in a safe environment, which translates to better understanding and retention. In a recent project, I designed a branching scenario where learners navigated complex decision paths in a simulated environment. Each decision led to different consequences, mirroring real-life outcomes. This not only made the learning process more engaging but also deepened learners' understanding of the material. By focusing on the real-world application of decisions, gamification became a powerful tool for meaningful learning rather than just a decorative element. #Gamification #eLearning #BranchingScenarios

“We need to break up the content.” “I threw in a drag-and-drop to keep it engaging.” “It’s just something to click.” Sound familiar? Here’s the thing - interactivity shouldn’t be decoration. It should be purposeful. The biggest mistake I see in eLearning? 👉 Adding interactions that don’t do anything for the learner. True interactivity should make them think. It should deepen understanding, simulate a decision, or reinforce recall. 🎯 Here’s how to shift from fluff to function: ✅ Replace “click to reveal” with a mini-scenario ✅ Use branching to explore real consequences of choices ✅ Add drag-and-drop only when it mirrors a real process or sequence ✅ Always ask: “What does this interaction help them learn or practice?” 💡 Remember: interaction isn’t engagement if it’s empty. Let’s design learning that’s active and meaningful. What’s your favorite example of an interactive element that actually improved learning? #InstructionalDesign #LearningExperienceDesign #eLearning #IDOLAcademy #EngagementWithPurpose #LXD

Like it or not, the way we're learning is changing. The motivation to learn just because? It's dwindling. Research by MIT shows that as people age, their brains find it harder to stay motivated to learn, especially if it’s just another task on their to-do list. In this post-pandemic world, we're all tired of the screen. We're bored. We need something more. We need to be entertained. We need connection. Engagement. Edutainment helps bridge this gap by making learning both relevant and enjoyable, leading to better engagement and long-term retention of information. Studies show edutainment helps learners retain up to 93.5% of the information compared to just 79% for passive methods like lectures and readings. Here are a few examples of how you can spice things up. #1 OLD WAY: Hour-long Lectures Long, monotonous video lectures or webinars often lead to fatigue and low retention. Learners tend to zone out if they're watching a lengthy, non-interactive session. EDUTAIN IT: Microlearning Videos with Engaging Visuals Create short, fun videos packed with visuals, infographics, and animated characters to make content enjoyable and easy to absorb. Use tools like Canva or Biteable to make the content more visually appealing. #2 OLD WAY: Lengthy Written Manuals Don’t rely on heavy reading materials that take too much time to process. Long, written documents can be overwhelming and are less likely to be completed. EDUTAIN IT: Podcasts for On-the-Go Learning Create short, engaging podcasts that employees can listen to during commutes or breaks. This allows learning to fit into busy schedules and makes it feel less like formal training. #3 OLD WAY: Traditional Slide Deck with Bullet Points Avoid boring, static presentations that don’t engage learners. Reading through slides with endless text disengages employees, reducing retention and motivation to learn. EDUTAIN IT: Interactive Scenario-Based Learning Use real-life scenarios where learners make choices and experience different outcomes. This keeps employees engaged by allowing them to see the direct impact of their decisions in a fun, gamified environment. Bottom line: Learning doesn't have to be boring. Adding just a little flavor can keep employees engaged while delivering the important lessons they need. #EdTech #LearningAndDevelopment #EmployeeEngagement #CorporateTraining #Gamification #Microlearning #ContinuousLearning #WorkplaceLearning #InstructionalDesign #FutureOfWork