Most of you would agree with me that traditional ways of learning are ineffective because the students lack motivation. This was one of the reasons why technology came up with an ideal software solution which rapidly changed the learning game. So today, students and business widely use eLearning training and courses to effectively acquire valuable knowledge through specially designed interactive concept available anytime, anywhere.
This is precisely why visual appeal matters in eLearning. In order to reach and help many of the learners, creating a course requires more than a long text or specific subject. The content has to be dynamic with logically mixed teaching methods. Since some learn by listening, others by watching or reading, all of these essentials have to be accessible to users.
Grabbing their attention via graphs, images, videos, audio, and charts will properly convey ideas and increase the retention rate by 25-60%. Contrary to old fashioned face-to-face training and its 8-10% of success, visually appealing eLearning courses engage the audience more if done correctly.
It All Starts With a Theme
To make your course stand out, choose a corresponding theme, or better yet, customize templates to match the brand and style. Every element of the course should be blended perfectly, from colors and fonts to the images and other learning aids.
If the course contains only content without regards to the theme, the layout will look like an unorganized mess. The positive impression the material leaves on students is the motivation you are looking for, so a theme should complement the subject matter and merge with the background.
Easy Navigation
When we go through online pages our natural instinct takes us to upper left corner and then we scroll down to the right. Meaning that this is precisely the place to put all the important information, while the imagery and interactive tools should be placed at the bottom. Easy navigation is quite vital for learner’s comprehension and ease of learning. So simplify and make the content symmetric to avoid students’ disappointment while trying to “find Waldo”.
Use of Colors
The power of colors should never be underestimated. The psychology of colors, or chronology, has been used for a while now to influence the mood and change the reactions of workers and clients for the better. Considering that about 62-90 percent of the decision-making assessment is based on color only, the use of “happy” colors can contribute more than people give them credit for. And knowing that colors can change the way employees feel, the course creators should use them as a way to motivate their workforce.
- Blue – Calming color that stimulates the mind.
- Red – Red emphasize the importance of a lesson.
- Yellow – This color is perfect for positive associations and improved retention.
- Green – The soothing color of nature help people feel comfortable while learning.
On the other hand, don’t feature too many colors. It is best to stick with the theme colors. Otherwise, the positive impact you want to achieve will be lost, as clashing colors are jarring to the eye.
Appropriate Font Types
If the content is not readable, then there’s no point in having a course. Although some fonts are easier to read than others, Times New Roman may not fit with a more creative design. Whatever font you chose to apply, be sure the audience can read it. If the font or size fails to match the design, find something more appropriate that fits like a glove.
But don’t forget to pay attention to the degree to which the font corresponds to a chosen background. Contrast plays a major role in the course design, so engage the learners by emphasizing the importance of the text. For example, if the background is plain, use some of the colors mentioned above and color the font to grab the attention of viewers.
Visual Aids
A picture says more than a thousand words. The use of images, videos, and audio is a powerful tool in learning. They improve the learning process as the image will remain carved in our memory, but more importantly, all of these visual aids make learning fun and interesting. However, this type of material should also be related to the topic. It’s fine to add a bit of humor along the way, but be sure to avoid accidentally offending someone. Logos are a great way to add visual appeal without over complicating things. Online logo makers, like Logojoy, can produce really professional and nice looking logos for as little as $20, meaning you won’t break the bank.
Likewise, videos are compelling learning tools that hook students and help them to learn more efficiently, though they need to be professional as well. Nothing out of context or irrelevant to the learning should have a place in a proficient eLearning course. Videos should be short, clean demos and tutorials should be used in order to create a truly immersive learning environment. The video selection for courses includes:
- How-to videos
- Interviews
- Demonstrational videos
Of course, the same goes for audio. The language should be sharp and a professional tone is best suited in this regard. Every type of embedded visual/audio means should be easy to follow and understand. For the same purpose, they need to be short or the learners could find themselves dozing off and forgetting what they are listening to.
Conclusion
After implementing these vital course elements, run a test and ask for feedback. Check if the employees are happy with the program or feel that some features can be better. Having said that, don’t despair if at first, you don’t succeed because it gives you the chance to improve the course and become an elearning master. Just listen to your audience and discover what gaps in their knowledge need to be filled in with quality learning content.