Modern eLearning Trends: Strategies for Developing Engaging Training Content
Designing Impactful Training: Trends and Tips for Instructional Content
Before you can develop effective e-learning training content, it’s important to understand what makes learning experiences impactful. That’s where best practices come into play.
There’s no shortage of resources about creating engaging instructional content, but sorting through all the advice to find what truly works can be overwhelming. When you focus on the fundamentals, a few universal best practices consistently enhance learning design.
In this post, we’ll explore how these principles can be applied specifically to creating high-quality e-learning content that supports meaningful training outcomes. While this isn’t a complete guide to every aspect of instructional design, following these best practices will provide a strong foundation for your future projects in The Learning Lab or any LMS environment.
Establish Clear Learning Objectives
The first step in developing impactful e-learning content is to set clear learning objectives.
These objectives define the knowledge and skills learners should gain by the end of the training. They serve as a roadmap for designing your content, guiding decisions about which topics to cover and how to structure the learning experience.
Well-defined objectives also make it easier to evaluate the effectiveness of your training, by showing whether learners have achieved the intended outcomes.
Encourage Active Learning
It’s essential to keep learners engaged rather than passive. True learning happens through practice, interaction, and hands-on experience.
Effective e-learning isn’t just about delivering information—it’s about designing experiences that help learners apply and reinforce what they’ve learned.
For instance, you can’t fully master a new skill by only reading or watching; repeated practice is key.
That’s why your training should include a variety of interactive activities. At each step, learners should be clicking, answering questions, making connections, or otherwise engaging with the content to reinforce their understanding.
Prioritize Learner Needs Over Content
When designing e-learning training, it’s crucial to focus on the learner’s needs rather than simply the content you want to deliver.
The purpose of your training is to help learners perform better and apply their skills effectively after completing the course.
Understanding the learner’s current skill level and identifying gaps in their knowledge should guide both the topics you include and the order in which they appear in the learning sequence.
It’s also important to consider the learner’s expectations and needs beyond the online training itself. For example, if certain skills aren’t covered in the e-learning module, virtual coaching, one-on-one sessions, or interactive discussions can fill those gaps.
Ultimately, effective online training puts the learner first and the content second, combining e-learning with supportive activities like webinars, discussions, and coaching to create a comprehensive learning experience.
Keep Learning Modules Short and Focused
Make your e-learning content concise and practical. While online training is valuable, research shows that long-form modules are often less effective.
A good guideline is to keep each module under 20 minutes, with 5–10 minutes being ideal. Longer modules can lead to fatigue, lower engagement, and reduced knowledge retention. Shorter modules avoid these pitfalls and have been shown to produce better learning outcomes.
Instead of trying to fit too much into one session, focus on delivering content in manageable segments. Remember, keeping learners engaged is just as important as the length of the module.
Bring Learning to Life with Scenarios
Scenario-based learning is a highly effective approach in e-learning.
It immerses learners in realistic situations and guides them through decision-making processes. Scenarios are more engaging and practical than simply presenting concepts or theory, making it easier for learners to apply what they’ve learned.
They also help communicate learning objectives clearly and meaningfully. The design of scenario-based learning will depend on your content, but there are a few key steps:
Identify the central problem or decision the learner will face.
Develop characters and settings that reflect the situation.
Guide the learner through the decision-making process until they reach an outcome
This approach allows learners to practice applying knowledge in context, reinforcing skills in a safe, interactive environment.
Embrace Video-Based Learning
Video is a highly effective medium for delivering training content.
It can reach a wide audience while creating a sense of engagement and importance around the material. There are several formats for video-based training, including screencasts, animations, and talking head videos.
Among these, talking head videos—where a presenter speaks directly to the learner on screen—are often the most engaging and effective.
To maximize the impact of video-based learning, ensure the presenter is dynamic and relatable, and that the video quality is high. Low-quality visuals or audio can reduce engagement and negatively affect knowledge retention.
Boost Engagement with Social Learning
Social learning involves incorporating collaboration and feedback into the design of e-learning experiences.
It’s an effective way to complement other types of training, such as video-based lessons, scenario-based learning, or interactive modules.
When planning a social-learning strategy, consider two key factors:
How participants will interact – for example, through discussion forums or group activities.
How they’ll provide feedback – such as peer reviews or rating each other’s contributions.
By thoughtfully integrating social learning, you create opportunities for learners to engage with one another, reinforce concepts, and apply knowledge in a collaborative environment.
Engage Learners Through Interactivity
Interactive e-learning content keeps learners engaged and improves knowledge retention while reducing disengagement during training.
To create interactivity, include elements such as multiple-choice questions, short decision-making exercises, or drag-and-drop activities.
You can also incorporate virtual simulations or interactive scenario-based exercises. Whatever format you choose, ensure that each interactive element aligns with your learning objectives and enhances the overall training experience.
Conclusion: Strategies for Developing Engaging Training Content
Designing effective online training is about creating engaging, meaningful learning experiences rather than simply delivering information.
Start by defining clear learning objectives and focusing on the needs of your learners, including their current skill levels and knowledge gaps. Keep modules concise and practical, incorporate video-based content, and include interactive elements such as quizzes, simulations, or scenario-based exercises to reinforce learning and maintain engagement.
Social learning is another powerful tool to enhance your training. Providing opportunities for discussion, collaboration, and peer feedback helps learners apply knowledge in context and strengthens retention.
Write content in a clear, accessible style, and remember that online training is an investment—when designed thoughtfully and aligned with these best practices, it produces measurable results and supports meaningful skill development.