E-learning programs have been around for well over a decade now. While they mustn’t be just a relic of their time, e-learning experts should also ensure they stay relevant by updating them with new technology and information.
Much has changed in the last ten years regarding what learners expect from their e-learning experience and what technologies are available to help improve them. Here are six steps for updating your e-learning programs:
Step 1: Keep it short and fun
To make sure your e-learning programs are engaging, you’ll need to keep them short and sweet. This can be a challenge if you’re used to writing long-form documents, which is why it’s important to use engaging content. It would be best if you also tried incorporating humour into your learning materials—this helps ensure that learners don’t get bored or distracted during the process.
Step 2: Remove Irrelevant Content
You may also be surprised by what you find when you review your content. For example, if your course was created several years ago, there’s a good chance some of the information is no longer relevant. So, for example, if you have an e-learning program on how to use Microsoft Word 2003 and made it in 2014 (yes, that long ago), then it might be time to update this part of the course.
Step 3: Update New Technology
In addition to changing the content, you might also want to add new technology. This can be as simple as adding a link in the course that leads directly to another webpage or video, or it could involve using cutting-edge software like VR (virtual reality) and AR (augmented reality).
Adding new technology is one way that you can keep learners engaged and interested in what they’re learning. It’s also essential to keep up with industry standards and trends—regardless of whether or not your company chooses to invest in these technologies at any given time.
According to Userlane experts, “Self-paced learning differs from other learning methods because you are in control of what you learn and when you learn it.” It is a new technology that enables you to do and learn what you want.
Step 4: Make information easy to find and relevant
- Add a search bar.
- Add a table of contents.
- Add a glossary.
- Link to related content and resources, including sample files and videos.
Step 5: Add more visuals and infographics
When used effectively, visuals—including photos, videos and illustrations—can help you make your e-learning courses more engaging. Images also work well when they’re part of an infographic that helps explain concepts in detail.
Step 6: Add microlearning elements
After completing your e-learning course, it’s time to add some microlearning elements.
Microlearning is a great way to reinforce learning and keep learners engaged. But how do you know if your e-learning program needs this addition? Here are some signs that indicate it does:
- Your course is very long and complicated.
- You want your learners to demonstrate what they have learned.
- You want learners to use the concepts they have learned outside of the classroom setting or online environment.
After you have updated your e-learning program, it is crucial to keep track of how your learners receive the changes. However, you should also be aware that there may be some bugs in the system that may cause frustration for your users. Finally, test out new updates and changes before making them available to everyone else!