Have you ever found yourself lost in an eLearning course that feels more like wandering through a never-ending digital desert than a useful classroom experience?

You're definitely not the only one. Too often, these courses end up as lengthy, dull PDFs.

Here's what we need to remember: While it’s great to use new tech like AI, we can’t forget about the real people using these courses.

In our excitement to share a wealth of information and tap into cutting-edge technology, it's easy to lose sight of the human aspect of learning.

Technology is an incredible asset—it can transform the way we teach and learn. However, its role should be to enhance our connection with learners, not complicate their learning experience.

What really matters in training? The learners. These individuals are seeking skills and knowledge that will make a real difference in their lives. Our primary goal should be to support them, not overwhelm them with information.

So, how do we get this right? We should design courses that focus on the learners, not just fill them with excessive content or use technology for technology's sake. We need to ensure that these tools genuinely enhance the learning experience, rather than adding unnecessary complexity. We should aim for clear, engaging, and useful courses.

The main objective in corporate training should always be to keep real people at the heart of everything we do. Let’s leverage technology to strengthen our connections with learners, not weaken them. Let’s make learning meaningful and enjoyable. That’s the key to making a real impact.

In this article, we'll explore actionable strategies to humanize your eLearning courses and ensure they're both effective and enjoyable.

1- Ditch the Robot Talk: Let's Keep it Real

If your eLearning course sounds like a robot wrote it, don't be shocked if your team starts engaging with it like they're programmed to—mechanically and without any real feeling.

To keep your eLearning courses from feeling like they're churned out by machines, switch to everyday language—the kind you'd use in a casual chat, not the kind that needs a technical glossary nearby.

What's the payoff? A learning environment that's welcoming and less daunting. This approach helps your team feel at ease and more eager to dive into the course. This not only improves how well they retain information but also boosts the overall effectiveness of the learning experience.

Here are some top tips to bring natural language into your courses:

• Adopt a conversational tone: Take cues from how people talk in everyday office interactions and mirror that tone and those phrases in your content. This makes the content relatable and less stuffy. For example, instead of saying, "It is imperative to adhere to these guidelines," try "Here’s why these guidelines really matter."

• Keep the language simple: Avoid industry jargon and technical terms whenever possible. If specialized terms are necessary, explain them with clear definitions and add real-life examples. For instance, instead of just mentioning "asynchronous learning," you could say, "Asynchronous learning, like when you watch a training video on your own time, helps you fit learning into your busy schedule."

• Use rhetorical questions: Use rhetorical questions to provoke thought and make the learning interactive. Ask things like, "Have you ever wondered why we do it this way?" or "What would happen if we tried a different approach?"

• Personalize the content: Connect the material to common daily scenarios or challenges that your team members face. For example, if you're creating a course on customer service, include examples like handling a rush of customers during the holiday season or dealing with a product outage.

• Invite interaction: Design your course to invite comments or discussions. For example, after a section, you could ask, "How would you handle this situation in your role?" This not only makes the course interactive but also helps learners apply what they've learned to their own jobs.

Also read: Mistakes to Avoid When Using AI to Create eLearning Courses 

2- Real-Time Feedback: Make AI Your Ally

eLearning courses can feel impersonal and disconnected sometimes, leaving learners to navigate their courses in isolation.

One transformative solution to this challenge is integrating real-time feedback using Artificial Intelligence (AI). This approach doesn't just enhance the learning experience; it humanizes it, making the experience feel more personal, interactive, and supportive.

Real-time AI feedback transforms the eLearning experience by mimicking the responsive, interactive nature of a traditional classroom.

Here’s how AI can bridge the gap between digital content and human interaction:

• Instant Guidance: AI provides immediate feedback on assignments and quizzes, much like a teacher would in a live setting. This helps learners understand their mistakes right away, which enhances learning and retention.

• Personalized Support: AI algorithms can analyze a learner’s performance and tailor feedback based on their specific needs. For example, if a learner consistently struggles with a particular concept, the AI can provide additional resources, such as tutorial videos or simplified explanations.

• Engagement and Motivation: Real-time feedback keeps learners engaged by continuously challenging them and acknowledging their improvements. This ongoing interaction helps maintain motivation, as learners feel their progress is recognized and valued.

• Adaptive Learning Paths: AI can dynamically adjust the difficulty of course material based on the learner’s performance, ensuring that each learner is neither under-challenged nor overwhelmed. This personalized pacing is crucial for keeping learners engaged and reducing frustration.

To effectively humanize eLearning with AI-driven real-time feedback, several strategies can be employed:

• Interactive Assessments: Design quizzes and simulations that give instant feedback. AI can provide explanations for why answers are right or wrong, helping learners learn from their mistakes in real time.

• Predictive Analytics: By predicting which areas learners might find challenging, AI can preemptively offer customized help and resources before the learner even encounters difficulty.

• Gamification Elements: Incorporate AI-driven gamification like real-time leaderboards, badges, and rewards. These elements can motivate learners by tapping into their competitive spirit and desire for recognition.

• Continuous Improvement: AI feedback systems can learn from vast amounts of data over time. They can become more adept at identifying effective teaching strategies and feedback for different types of learners, continually improving the effectiveness of eLearning platforms.

3- Integrate Hyper-realistic AI Avatars

Just text on a screen often doesn't cut it. AI avatars are digital characters designed to mimic human behaviors and interactions. They can blink, smile, gesture, and yes, even crack a joke! Their role in eLearning is to transform your course into a dynamic, engaging space that feels more like a conversation with a favorite mentor than a solo trek through text-heavy content.

When face-to-face interaction is off the table, AI avatars step in to fill that gap. They bring a touch of realism and personal connection to eLearning environments, making learners feel less like they’re just inputting answers and more like they’re engaging with a real being.

Tips for Implementing Hyper-Realistic AI Avatars:

• Choose the Right Design: Opt for an avatar that looks and sounds friendly. A design that's too futuristic or impersonal might have the opposite effect. Think of a favorite teacher or an inspiring mentor when designing your avatar.

• Program Natural Responses: Ensure the avatar’s responses are not only technically correct but are also phrased in a way that reflects empathy and understanding. We don’t want it to sound like it's reciting from a manual.

• Optimize Voice and Language: Choose a voice that sounds clear and pleasant, and make sure the language used by the avatar is accessible and tailored to the target audience. Avoid complex jargon unless absolutely necessary, and ensure it’s well-explained.

• Contextualize the Avatar’s Presence: Use avatars in contexts where their presence adds significant value, such as in introducing new concepts, simulating dialogues, or providing specific feedback.

Also read: Integrating AI and the Human Element in eLearning Course Design 

4) Human Interaction: Yes, Even Here

Injecting live sessions into asynchronous eLearning courses can be as invigorating as that first sip of morning coffee—transforming a potentially static learning experience into an interactive, dynamic environment.

In a world that’s rapidly going digital, the human touch remains irreplaceable. Live interactions in your courses can significantly enhance the learning experience:

• Elevate Engagement: Imagine a classroom without the chance to interact—it's just like reading a lengthy, dry manual. Live interactions spark active participation and keep the learning experience vibrant and far from dull.

• Immediate Clarifications: Live sessions act like a real-time help desk, where students can voice confusion and get instant answers. This immediate feedback loop is much more effective than the often slow and impersonal back-and-forth of emails.

• Boost Information Retention: Engaging discussions and idea exchanges don't just make learning more enjoyable; they also help solidify the learned material in students' memories, enhancing long-term retention.

Here are some strategies to help you add more live interaction to your courses:

• Schedule Regular Interactive Sessions: Establish a consistent routine of interactive sessions such as weekly or bi-weekly Q&A sessions. Clearly communicate the schedule so participants can come prepared with questions and fully engage in the dialogue.

• Host Expert-Led Webinars: Regularly schedule webinars featuring industry experts or thought leaders. These sessions can provide fresh perspectives and specialized knowledge that enrich the learning experience, particularly in niche or advanced subjects.

• Cultivate Online Learning Communities: Encourage the formation of online study groups or learning communities. Facilitate these groups with digital tools that allow for easy communication and collaboration, turning isolated learning journeys into collective educational experiences.

• Personalize Learning Paths: Tailor live sessions to address the specific needs and interests of diverse learners. This could mean offering breakout sessions for different skill levels or topics, thereby personalizing the learning experience and making it more relevant and engaging for each participant.

Recommended read: Golden Rules for Using AI to Supercharge E-Learning Content Development 

As we explore the various strategies to make eLearning more human and engaging, it's essential to reflect on the core purpose of education and training.

We aim to not just impart knowledge but to inspire and connect with learners on a personal level, ensuring the knowledge is not only received but truly absorbed and applied.

Reflection Questions:

1. What current aspects of your eLearning courses could benefit from more human interaction?

2. How might integrating tools like AI avatars and real-time feedback transform the learner's experience in your courses?

3. What steps can you take today to begin implementing these tools and techniques in your eLearning environment?

Next Steps:

• Experiment with AI Tools: Start small by integrating one AI feature, such as real-time feedback during quizzes or a simple AI avatar to guide a section of your course. Gather feedback from learners to see how these changes affect their engagement and understanding.

• Increase Live Interaction Opportunities: Schedule regular interactive sessions and promote them within your courses. These could be live Q&A sessions, virtual office hours, or interactive webinars with guest speakers.

• Enhance Personalization: Use the data gathered from AI tools to create more personalized learning paths for your students. Offer them content that adapts to their learning pace and style, making each course feel tailor-made.

• Build a Community: Encourage the formation of learner communities through forums or study groups. This helps create a network of support among learners, enriching the learning experience and building a sense of belonging.

• Continuously Improve: Use learner feedback and AI analytics to continuously refine your strategies. The goal is to keep the courses dynamic and responsive to the needs of the learners, ensuring that your educational content remains relevant and impactful.