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    The 5 Worst Types of eLearning Courses and How to Fix Them


    There are A TON of eLearning courses out there, and to say some aren’t great, is a complete understatement. With the technology to design courses easily accessible to everyone, there tends to be more quantity than quality.

    To avoid having your own courses slip into this undesirable category, make sure you aren’t creating any of these worst types of courses: 


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    1) All Linear

    Your learners need to know certain things to progress, so a linear course that doesn’t allow them the skip any screen might seem like a good way to ensure this happens. However, while a linear course can work for some learners and some subjects, not all your courses should be like this for every single section.

    Allowing your learners to skip around a bit and test out different modules without having to hit the “NEXT” button 1,800 times, helps to engage them. This is especially true for when you have an audience with varying degrees of experience. If you don’t let more advanced learners skip ahead, you’re likely only to give them practice in hitting that “NEXT” button because they’ll be too disinterested to retain anything.

    Think about how you’d feel if you started reading an article on how to revamp your wardrobe and you had to read through a paragraph on how to tie your shoes before you found out anything else. Forcing ALL your learners to sit through the basics is the same way. They get bored, sleepy and even when they get to useful information, they’ve already checked out of the situation.

    When to Use It: For learners that need a lot of guidance, linear courses are a good idea. If you know for certain that your audience is all beginners, structuring the course so they should look at the basics first can be a good strategy, so they don’t skip ahead and get overwhelmed.

    Read more: 

    8 Tips To Promote Non-Linear eLearning Navigation

    eLearning Content in Nonlinear Formats Aids Personalization

    2) The Book Style Course

    One of the many advantages of eLearning is that it reduces the need for the traditional book and long PDFs. However, an ineffective trend is to take a power point presentation or a classroom curriculum and then pop those same exact words into an eLearning course. Not only does this do very little for learners, but it also wastes time and money and usually results in poor design.

    Before creating a course like this, sit down to consider if there is really any benefit to providing the same information in two formats. Do you need both? Can they each have a different, specific role? If you do need them, consider if there’s a more effective way of combining them into a single unit that can be used in and out of the classroom.

    Aside from being redundant, this method is ineffective because it has the same problems that traditional textbooks have: it doesn’t engage learners. A eBook style course forced learners to sit for an hour or two with no built-in breaks or ways to involve the audience.

    Instead, you need to break down your info into manageable chunks that avoid overwhelming your learners. Want to know more? Here're The Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Develop, Manage & Deploy Bite Sized-Learning

    3) Voiceover from Hell-o

    Unless you have Morgan Freeman narrating your eLearning course, there is zero reason your ENTIRE lesson should be narrated. Honestly, even the voice of God himself shouldn’t be talking into your students’ ears throughout an entire course.

    Often, designers will use narration and not even given an option to turn it off. Instead of reinforcing the information the page, it makes it overwhelming to both read and hear the words. This is mainly because we read at different speeds than the narrator might which creates further dissonance.

    Furthermore, the way we write is different from the way we speak with written words being more formal. Having those formal words spoken out loud will sound stilted and distracting. 

    If you still want to include narration, though, always give your listeners the options to go to the next screen before the audio is over. Not having this option will make a frustrating situation even worse.

    4) All Push, No Pull

    As an eLearning designer, most of your audiences are going to be well ensconced in their adult years. No one, but especially adults, are going to be very receptive to a course that only pushes information. This is the type of course that talks and tells, detailing out every minute aspect without allowing learners to become curious and want to “pull” info.

    By doing all the telling, you’re leaving no room for the learner to use their brain. Letting the learner play a role gives them an opportunity to become interested and engage with the material.

    We know it is challenging to create learning that truly engages your learners, that fires up their brain's synapses and makes content stick. But all you instructional designers out there, you have to take up this challenge; you owe this to your learners who have probably stayed back, rescheduled their meetings, or postponed tasks to take your course.

    Help your cause by including interactive elements like videos, quizzes, questions and other things that will activate your learners. Get more ideas here.

    Read more: 6 Ways To Create Pull Learning Content

    5) All Looks, No Usable Enough

    If your course looks great, but no one knows how to use it, your course is a failure. While instructions and visual cues as to what the learner is supposed to do tend to not be the most interesting design elements, they are some of the most important. If you’re leaving these things out to make room for more graphics, most learners aren’t going to get it.

    While you might be able to get away with this for those who are highly familiar with the technology, newer learners are going to be completely lost and frustrated. This will cause them to give up and walk away feeling stupid, the exact opposite of what a learning aide is supposed to do. Not only will they not engage with the material if it makes them feel stupid, but they also won't retain it even if they do manage to make it through the course.

    How to Avoid Sacrificing Function for Form: For basic functionality, you need to make sure your course is readable. This means using a contrasting color scheme to make the text easy to read. Font size, type, and style also need to be considered here.

    Remember, your course is judged based on effective it is at teaching the material, and your students should be tested on that material, not their ability to guess how the course works. Overall, the navigation in your course should be so simple, that learners shouldn’t have to waste any time or energy figuring it out. Let them use their time and brain power retaining the info instead.

    If you’re considering using a non-traditional navigation form, consider if it adds something to the course. While you might be able to explain it and have users understand, it might just be one more thing taking up time if it doesn’t add anything.

    Also read: 4 Reasons That You’re eLearning Course Isn’t Working, But Still Can

    Read More: How to Create User Friendly eLearning

    An extra one! Also avoid: The Purposeless Course

    So, thanks to our ever-evolving technology, it’s actually pretty darn easy to spit out an eLearning course. However, just because someone can do it, doesn’t mean they should. These courses that are slapped together aren’t taken very seriously as they’re being developed and it shows. The course might have a title like “Advanced SEO Strategies, ” but it ends up barely covering the basics.

    How to Avoid It: To make sure your course is valuable and impactful, get to know your audience first and what their goals and expectations are. What do they need to learn? What are they interested in? What is their experience level?

    Answering these questions will help you know exactly what you should be teaching and how. If you don’t take this time before the course is designed, you’ll end up wasting even more of your own time and your audience’s.

    Fill out this template: A Template to Carry Out an eLearning Audience Analysis

    and then read this: Applying Audience Analysis Insights to eLearning Design


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    Revolutionize Your L&D Strategy: The Essential AI Checklist for 2025

    As we stare down the runway toward 2025, it's clear that AI isn't just knocking on the door of Learning & Development—it’s already inside, reshaping the landscape. But let's address the real question: Is your company merely experimenting with AI, or are you fully leveraging it to transform your eLearning strategy? The way you answer this could dramatically influence the success of your training programs.

    Before Using AI to Create eLearning, Ask These Questions

    What’s the first thing you do when you’re about to create a new eLearning course? Do you jump right into the eLearning tool, or maybe think that with AI, most of the work is already handled? If you’re leaning toward the latter, here’s a little secret: while AI is powerful and technology makes things faster, they’re no substitute for the clear strategy you and your team need at the start. It’s easy to think that, with today’s tech, all it takes is pressing a button to get a course ready to go. But here’s the truth: before you let creativity flow and let technology take the wheel, you need a solid, well-thought-out plan. And that starts with answering four key questions. These questions are your safety net, keeping your course from becoming a waste of time and money and turning it into something that actually makes an impact. Making an impact means connecting with the right people, delivering the right message, using relatable examples, and making sure participants can put their new knowledge to work. So, before jumping into your favorite eLearning tool or letting AI work its magic, take a moment to ask yourself these crucial questions: 1) WHO ARE THEY? Identifying the Audience Taking the Course Knowing your audience isn’t just a step in the process—it’s the secret sauce that makes your course actually useful. Picture this: you launch a course without a clear picture of who’s taking it. It’s like serving a fancy five-course meal without checking for allergies or dietary preferences. Not exactly a winning move, right? If your eLearning course doesn’t speak to what your team actually needs, it’s likely to flop. No one wants a course that feels like busywork. Here’s why taking the time to know your course audience is a must: Skip the Obvious and the Overly Complex: Covering things they already know or, on the flip side, stuff that’s way over their heads can either bore them or leave them scratching theirs. Hit on Real, Practical Needs: If the course doesn’t tackle what they actually face on the job, it’s just not going to feel relevant—or worth their time. Keep Their Interest: When team members can clearly see how the course helps them, they’re way more likely to stick with it (and maybe even enjoy it!). Here are a few questions to make sure your course is actually hitting home: Audience Basics: Who are they? What skills do they already have, and what are they hoping to build? Daily Life: What does a typical day look like? Are they on Zoom calls all day or juggling a hundred things at once? Work Environment: What’s the vibe? Is it all about collaboration, competition, or somewhere in between? Why They’re Taking the Course: Are they here by choice or because it’s required? This will change how you approach the course content. Current Knowledge: How much do they already know? If they’re already pros, you don’t need to start at square one. By answering these questions, you’re setting the course up to be more than just “one more thing to do.” It’ll be a practical tool that boosts their skills, addresses their real needs, and helps them make a difference in their work. Also read: These 27 Questions Will Help You (Really) Know Your Learners 2) WHY DOES THIS MATTER? Why It’s Crucial for Your Team to Take This Training Here’s the deal: whether you’re building this course yourself or letting AI work its magic, you need a rock-solid understanding of why this training matters before you dive in. Why? Because people only get engaged if they know what’s in it for them. And that’s not just a nice-to-have—it’s the foundation for building a course that actually delivers results. When you’re clear on the why upfront, you’re setting your course up for success. You’re not just creating random lessons; you’re designing something valuable that resonates with your team’s real needs. If you skip this, no amount of AI magic or design work will turn things around later. Here’s how to make your course not just necessary, but something they’ll actually want to take: Be Clear About the Benefits: Right from the start, let them know what they’re getting out of this. Will it make them better at their current job? Give them a leg up for a promotion? Spell it out, and keep highlighting these benefits as they go. Make It Real: Use real-life examples that show how they can put what they’re learning into action. If it’s a course on time management, add a module on how to apply these techniques in a regular workday—it’s practical, and it keeps things relatable. Keep It Fun and Interactive: Toss in questions that make them think, add quick quizzes, and keep it lively. A little interaction goes a long way to hold their attention (and yes, maybe a few laughs too). Experts and Success Stories: Add in short videos from experts or quick success stories from people who’ve already used these skills. Seeing real people share how it helped them can be super motivating. Give Immediate Takeaways: Design each module so they can try out what they’ve learned right away. If they can see the value immediately, they’re way more likely to stick with it (and appreciate it). So, before you let AI start building your course or jump into designing it yourself, make sure you’re clear on why this training matters to your team. This is the foundation that turns training from just another task into a true asset for their growth and success. Focus on these areas, and you’ll turn training into something they value—not just one more thing on their to-do list. Also read: Why You Should Be Designing eLearning Courses Backwards 3) WHAT? What Should Your Team Be Able to Do After Finishing the Course? This question is a biggie—and it should guide every decision you make when creating the course, whether you’re building it yourself or using AI to help out. Here’s the thing: if you’re just loading up a course with endless data and theories that read like a blender manual, people are going to tune out fast. What really matters is making sure the content connects to your team’s real needs and work-life realities. If you don’t have a clear idea of what your team should be able to do by the end of the course, you’re likely setting up a training that’ll be forgotten as soon as they click “Complete.” Instead, think about the situations where they’ll actually apply this knowledge. Knowing this upfront keeps you (and any AI you’re using) focused on creating something useful, relevant, and engaging. Here’s how to make it crystal clear what skills and knowledge your team will walk away with: Clear Kick-Off: Start each module with simple, straightforward goals. A quick bullet-point list like, “By the end, you’ll be able to…” sets expectations and gets people interested. Visual Reminders: Use infographics or simple diagrams at the beginning and end of each section to highlight goals. It keeps things easy to follow and remember. Engage Throughout: Add in reflection questions or quick check-ins, like “How would you use this on your next project?” It keeps the content grounded in real-world application, not just theory. Hands-On Practice: Design activities that actually get them using what they’ve learned. If you’re teaching presentation skills, have them record a quick pitch or share a mini-presentation—something practical they can see value in right away. Meaningful Feedback: Provide specific feedback that connects their activities directly to the course goals. This not only reinforces what they’ve learned but makes it clear why each task matters. Wrap-Up with Impact: At the end, do a quick review of all the goals covered. Whether it’s a Q&A, a visual summary, or a downloadable sheet, give them something they can refer back to. As Malcolm Knowles, the guru of adult learning, said, “Adult learning is life-centered.” People want to learn things they can actually use to make their lives easier or their work more effective. By getting clear on these “What” goals upfront, you’re creating a course that’s memorable, practical, and, best of all, truly worth their time. Also read: 6 Essential Content Creation Tips For eLearning Success 5 Rules for Creating Relevant and Fluff-free Courses Before Diving Into Your Favorite eLearning Tool, Ask Yourself: Do I Really Get What My Team Needs? Will This Course Actually Help Them Do Their Jobs Better? Let’s be real—this isn’t just about throwing information at people. The goal here is to help your team not only learn but actually use that knowledge in ways that make a difference. Here’s Your Quick-Start Checklist: Get to Know Your Audience: Take a deep dive into their needs, current skills, and the real challenges they’re dealing with every day. (No guessing!) Set Clear, Doable Goals: Outline learning objectives that actually mean something to your team and tie back to the results you’re aiming for. Make It Interactive: Give them ways to practice, apply, and get feedback on what they’re learning. Think less “lecture” and more “let’s try it out!” Check and Tweak as You Go: At the end of the course, ask for feedback and adjust if needed. Make sure the course hits the mark and actually helps them grow. By focusing on these steps, you’ll design a course that’s worth every minute of their time and foster a culture of ongoing learning that can truly boost performance. Remember: a great eLearning course doesn’t just teach—it transforms. 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