According to eLearning guru Cathy Moore, “The most important principle for designing lively eLearning is to see eLearning not as information design but as designing an experience.”

Many rapid authoring tools have a fixed feature-set which allows DIY designers to easily create meaningful, interactive learning content. However, as more and more courses are created using using these same formats, there is a risk of creating repetitive, monotonous courses. Learners can become fatigued resulting in a less effective learner experience.

Here are 3 tips to enhance the use of these tools to achieve maximum learner engagement:

1. Branching Scenarios

2. Storytelling

3. Insert section designed in other tools

BRANCHING SCENARIOS

Present the learner with scenarios representing problems encountered in their everyday work. Challenge learners and force them to make decisions. Learners see the consequences of their decisions. The course unfolds differently, depending on the choices made by the learners.This makes learners feel more like active participants and not just passive viewers which increases the their engagement levels.

STORYTELLING

The reality of daily work-life can be recreated as a carefully constructed story: plot, conflict, and resolution. A complete story-based eLearning experience will result in learners remembering and reflecting on the lessons they learned from the characters, eventually leading to a change in their performance at work.

Storytelling can also be effectively used for selected sections of a course.

This style is often best suited to use of animated video as a tool for telling sections of the story.

INSERT SECTION DESIGNED IN OTHER TOOLS

The fixed feature-set of the rapid authoring tool can be extended by developing sections in a more sophisticated authoring tool. These can then be inserted into the course.

This allows variety of all interactive aspects, but may be particularly useful for quiz sections.