Best Practices for Planning Digital Learning Programs

June 28, 2023

Digital learning provides a highly effective way to deliver educational content, offering improved flexibility, accessibility, and personalization as compared to traditional teaching methods.

Here are 13 best practices for designing and implementing impactful digital learning programs:

Communicate Objectives
Effective communication plays a crucial role in the learning process. Clearly communicating instructions, objectives, and expectations to students keeps them engaged and motivated to complete the training and achieve the learning goals.
Use Interactive Content
Engage students through the use of multimedia and interactive elements such as videos, quizzes, and simulations. These features can help students understand key concepts, support them to apply what they have learned, and create a more engaging digital learning experience.
Use Intuitive Structure
Organize course materials and learning resources in a logical and easily accessible manner helps improve the effectiveness of the learning and supports students should they need to access course content in the future. Using a consistent hierarchy of headings and subheadings is key.
Include Assessments
Regularly assess student progress through quizzes or assignments. Assessments not only track student progress but also reinforce important concepts before moving on to the next module. Assessments are also an important tool in assessing the effectiveness of the training itself.
Encourage Collaboration
Facilitate peer engagement in course content to enhance the learning experience. Digital learning programs should ideally support collaboration between learners through discussion boards, group video meetings, group projects, and other means to facilitate a richer learning experience.
Support Personalized Learning
Provide options for learners to customize the learning experience to meet the individual needs, learning styles, and preferences. This can be achieved by using a blend of content types such as text, video, and audio. Accommodating user learning preferences can help improve content retention and reduce cognitive fatigue.
Offer Technical Support
Ensure that students have access to reliable and timely technical support in case they encounter any issues with the digital learning platform or tools. Clear instructions should be provided regarding problem resolution, and support staff should be readily available during peak usage times.
Engage with Students
Instructors should actively engage with students through virtual meetings, email, and discussion forums. Instructors should be responsive to the questions learners pose, and any concerns students raise, to create a supportive digital learning experience.
Support Time Management
It is important to set expectations about the length of program modules. Clearly communicate the time required to complete each module, enabling students to plan uninterrupted study sessions. Organizing course content into small units can also make it more convenient for learners by allowing them to complete coursework when they are able to squeeze it in.
Show Progress
Include features such as progress bars to visually indicate learners' progress in completing course modules. This helps learners stay motivated and focused to complete coursework.
Support Mobile
Digital learning platforms and content should be mobile-friendly. Providing student access to learning materials via smart phones and tablets gives them the flexibility to learn when it is most convenient for them.
Give Rewards
Incorporate game-like elements and prizes, such as badges, leaderboards, or rewards, to make the learning experience more engaging and motivating. Implementing reward systems has the potential to boost student engagement and promote a constructive sense of competition among students, ultimately leading to increased participation.
Use Data-driven Insights
Use learning analytics and user feedback to evaluate program effectiveness and identify opportunities for improvement. This information can help identify areas where additional support or intervention may be required and opportunities for follow-up training.