We’ve all seen that “cobbled together” look just about everywhere: clothes, furniture, food; you name it, it’s out there. Also included on the list are online learning courses. Sometimes, course creators can go overboard using design elements and other tools until the course becomes one giant mishmash, like Frankenstein himself.
When an e-learning course is put together, there are a large number of tools that are used to give the material a logical flow, making it easy to follow as well as easy to absorb. Sometimes, using too many tools can spoil the look and feel of the course, and turn off learners (the old “too many cooks” scenario). When that happens, learners are less likely to want to complete the course, not only turning it into a waste of time, but a waste of money as well. The last thing you want to do is spend time navigating through a convoluted course with so many bells and whistles that you end up cross-eyed without even trying.
Course creators need to take the time to present materials in a palatable way that will encourage learners to stay the course (pun intended), as well as really learn what they need to. The best course of action (yes, another pun!) is to keep it straightforward while utilizing subtly appealing graphics that will keep the learner engaged. Familiarize yourself with authoring tools, choose a couple and put them to work. Don’t pick a little bit of this, and a little bit of that. When you take too many elements from too many different places, you wind up with Frankenstein. And no one wants to learn from Frankenstein. A perfect example is this blog entry from our pals over at Articulate Network.
If you’ve been “Frankensteined” by an e-learning course, we want to hear about it. Submit your story or comment on our post. And if you’re looking for a two-hour reprieve from your online learning endeavors, it’s time to watch Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein. Some very prominent e-learning experts can quote that classic almost verbatim!
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