eLearning That Works: Dos, Don’ts, and What Learners Actually Want
Online training modules are everywhere—and for good reason. They let learners engage with content at their own pace, from wherever they are. But let’s be honest: more courses doesn’t mean better learning.
Let’s talk about what works, what doesn’t, and why it matters.
8 Common Pitfalls in eLearning Design—And How to Avoid Them
We’ve all seen them. Modules that look sleek but fall flat. Courses that test patience more than knowledge. At ReVITALIZED Instruction Design by Meeting Achievements (RID), we believe great eLearning doesn’t just look good, it respects the learner. Here are some mistakes to avoid:
Endless narration that adds no value. If your audio just reads the screen, your learner is already gone. Narration should enhance, not echo.
(Note: When we critique redundant narration, we’re not referring to features that support accessibility. Narration designed for screen readers, audio alternatives, or visual supports is absolutely essential and non-negotiable.)
Click-for-the-sake-of-clicking. Interactivity should drive curiosity and decision-making, not just screen movement. Don’t turn your course into a glorified "next" button.
Lack of respect for the learner. We’ve seen $100k modules that treat healthcare professionals like they’re in elementary school. Learners deserve smart, intentional content. Don’t neglect your audience’s experience!
Forced Linear Progression. Don’t stick your learners on a training treadmill! When professionals are forced to slog through a rigid, slide-by-slide path with no room for exploration or pacing, it kills autonomy. Good design offers branching, skipping, or control, not lockstep frustration.
Generic stock images. Nothing breaks credibility faster than a fake-looking doctor with a shiny stethoscope or a grainy piece of clip art. If your visuals feel like filler, your message will too.
No assessment beyond a quiz. A 5-question multiple choice quiz at the end of a training module doesn’t prove learning happened. Worse, it can reward guessing over genuine understanding. If you’re serious about outcomes, build in applied knowledge checkpoints, confidence ratings, or reflection prompts along the way.
Overloaded slides pretending to be learning. If it can’t be read out loud in under 30 seconds, it’s probably too much. Instructional content should be clear, concise, and uncluttered.
Gamification for the sake of it. This take might ruffle some feathers, but gamification needs to be aligned with behavior change or real world application to be helpful. Adding badges or leaderboards that don’t actually amplify learning = game over.
6 Things to Implement for Engaging eLearning Courses
At ReVITALIZED Instruction Design by Meeting Achievements, we don’t do off-the-shelf solutions. Every course we build is custom-designed to prioritize clarity, spark curiosity, and strengthen connection to real-world outcomes. Our best practices include:
Get strategic about interactivity. We incorporate scenario-based decisions, embedded polls, and timed challenges that simulate real choices for maximum impact.
Choose clean, engaging visuals. We choose custom graphics, animations, and data that actually tell a story. No outdated clip art here!
Use narration to add flavor. Narration should add value, not redundancy. If it’s just reading the screen, skip it. But well-crafted audio can elevate tone, clarify nuance, and humanize the learning experience. (And again, narration designed for accessibility is non-negotiable. Accessibility-first doesn’t mean engagement-last.)
Provide reflection opportunities. Courses designed by RID are optimized for real-world decision-making, not just knowledge recall. Whether the topic is clinical, compliance, or onboarding, we build in moments where the learner has to choose, reflect, or act - just like they would on the job.
Make content easy to digest. Good eLearning courses meet the learner where they’re at. That’s why we create mobile-friendly, bite-sized content that puts the learner in the driver’s seat, respecting their time and cognitive load.
Design with accessibility in mind. At RID, accessibility isn’t an afterthought—it’s just good design. We design with WCAG and Section 508 compliance in mind, ensuring that: key content is perceivable in multiple formats, navigation is intuitive and keyboard-friendly, and learners of all abilities can engage meaningfully with the material. Smart accessibility design is good design—for everyone.
Why all this Matters
Designing your eLearning courses using these dos and don’ts isn’t just about creating a “nicer” experience. These choices directly impact how well learners retain and apply what they’ve learned—and whether they come back for more.
At RID, we collaborate with subject matter experts, clinicians, and behavioral scientists to ensure our designs are grounded in evidence—not just aesthetics. We pilot new tools internally before recommending them to clients, giving us insight into both their possibilities and limitations. Our team regularly engages in industry events, professional forums, and think tanks to stay ahead of the curve.
The result? Learning that sticks—and gets used.
Ready to revitalize your training modules? Let’s talk.