A lot of research actually goes into a well-designed eLearning course. And like it or not, instructional designers have to dig deep into the psychology of learners, specifically how they learn and what affects the learning process.

eLearning was not considered a priority for a long time in many companies. However, with the advent of the pandemic, this took a 180-degree turn. As more companies started implementing online training programs, the importance of Learning Analytics has been growing. Leaders now more than ever require accurate data to continually assess performance and improve the vast amount of online learning experiences they are now offering. Despite this change in perspective, there is still a long way to go. There are many issues that are not being carried out in the best way and that hinder the real benefits of Learning Analytics. In this blog, we mention the most common mistakes that we see in relation to this topic.

In 2022, Instructional Design will continue to be one of the most important topics in corporate training. As more companies get onboard or expand their eLearning initiatives, it’s vital they consider not only the content they will include but also the way in which it's going to be presented. Effective instructional design puts the learner at the center and focuses on delivering high-quality, personalized, intuitive, fun, and innovative experiences, rooted in their needs.

They often forget dates and end up missing social engagements or the kid’s soccer matches. The smartphone rings and they lose the thread of their thoughts. An email notification pops up, and they stop typing a report to send to their boss. This is your average employee (and probably you feel identified too). This is how people work—answering phones in between drafting reports, updating Facebook statuses while writing codes, and attending sundry meetings in between their daily tasks. Now would you be surprised if you knew that people usually forget 90 percent of what they learn within one week after the training event? (More stats here.)

The world of work has changed significantly since 2020. The need to constantly learn and relearn has grown is growing at an accelerated speed. In this context, it is inadmissible to waste time designing eLearning courses that are not generating the expected results. Take a moment and reflect: Have you ever wondered why your employees don't remember what they learn in your eLearning courses?

Whether you’re fresh out of school or a seasoned commander of an eLearning design team, you need to make sure your design habits are helping you thrive. In fact, one of the worst traps you can fall into as a designer is allowing consistency to turn into complacency, which is more likely for an experienced professional. To combat this, all of us have to practice looking for inspiration in new places and drawing from the other creative types, trends, and events around us. You also need to look back at your own projects. Do you hate what you did a year ago? Yes? Good! If you look at your past work and think it’s as good or better than your current stuff, that’s when you need to worry because the only way to stay at the top of your field is to be in constant competition with yourself. To get in the habit of increasing your skills while keeping good design theory in practice, we have some tips for staying inspired:

Standarized and "one-size-fits-all” eLearning courses are no longer relevant in today's context. Personalization has become the norm. Modern learners are used to Netflix, Spotify, Alexa... and they expect their eLearning courses to work the same way. Designing personalized courses is all about offering the right content, to the right audience, at the right time. For this to happen, designers need to pay attention to a series of elements: Content formats (e.g. audio, video, textual, graphical, etc.) The sequence of the content and the different possible learning pathways Where content will be delivered How students will be evaluated. and many other factors In this post, we will share some proven ways for creating more personalized experiences.

The end of the year is a time for envisioning a better YOU and setting intentions for the road ahead. It is a time for making resolutions so that you can be your best version, both personally and professionally. As an instructional designer and/or eLearning professional, this is your chance to look closely at how you work and set resolutions that will help you become more effective in your field.