Level up online learning with UX principles
Successful online learning depends on more than just good content.
Instructional designers are often responsible for creating a good user experience for online learners. This involves thinking about how to organize and present information in a way that is easy to understand and navigate. It also includes considering how different elements, such as text, images, and multimedia, work together to create a coherent whole.
By following some basic principles of user experience design, instructional designers can help ensure that learners have an enjoyable and informative online learning experience.
Navigate to Engagement
Good navigation is essential in an online course, as it plays a key role in setting the pace and guiding learners through each module. Without properly laid out menus and clear labels, learners may become lost or confused and may lose interest in the material. Additionally, ineffective navigation can lead to increased dropout rates and poorer overall engagement with the course material.
Thankfully, there are several techniques that instructional designers can use to ensure that their online courses are well-navigated. Clear headings and intuitive layout are crucial for keeping learners on track, while relevant visual elements like icons can help to highlight important information at a glance.
Lighten the Cognitive Load
In an online course, usability is key. If a learner is stuck trying to figure out the interface or instructions, they’re not learning. The best online courses are those that lighten the cognitive load by providing clear and concise instructions, easy-to-follow navigation, and helpful resources.
In addition, the course should be designed in a way that makes it easy for learners to find the information they need. When learners are able to easily find the information they need, they are more likely to retain it. Finally, an online course should be engaging and interactive.
If a course is boring or difficult to use, learners will quickly lose interest and will be less likely to complete it. By contrast, a course that is enjoyable to use will keep learners engaged and will encourage them to continue learning.
Follow the Psychology
When it comes to designing effective online courses and learning experiences, there is no one set of guidelines that can be applied universally. However, one well-established framework for multimedia design is Mayer’s Principles.
As the name suggests, these principles are a set of guidelines that have been developed over time through research into how the human brain processes information. According to Mayer, people learn better when:
- There here are fewer distractions
- Important things are highlighted
- There are graphics and narration by a friendly, human voice in a conversational tone
- Related words and images are near each other and displayed at the same time
- Material is broken up into bite-size chunks
While many of Mayer’s principles overlap with various elements of user experience design, they are all grounded in the belief that learning should be an emotionally engaging and rewarding experience for learners.
By following these principles, instructional designers can help to create rich and immersive online learning experiences that keep learners fully engaged from start to finish. Whether you’re building a new course or optimizing an existing one, it can be helpful to keep Mayer’s Principles in mind as you work toward creating the best possible online learning experience.
Put It in Front of Real Learners
Usability testing is one way to ensure that online learning experiences are positive for both learners and instructional designers. By testing with real learners, you can get feedback on how well the material is presented, how easy it is to navigate, and whether the content is engaging.
In addition, usability testing can help identify any potential obstacles that might prevent learners from successfully completing the course. By taking the time to test your online learning experiences, you can ensure that everyone has a positive experience.
The Takeaway
Applying UX design principles to online learning can help create a better user experience for learners. By understanding how people learn and behave online, you can create courses that are highly effective and engaging.
Learners will be more likely to stick with a course if they have a good user experience. If you’re looking to level up your instructional design skills, consider applying some of these UX guidelines.
