The elearning, or online education, industry has rapidly evolved, offering diverse content types tailored to different learning needs—these range from simple written material to audiovisual multimedia, interactive games, and more. Choosing the right elearning content is crucial for engaging learners, enhancing retention, and achieving educational goals.
At Smartcat, we’ve helped leading learning and development (L&D) departments create elearning courses for various industries using our AI course creator. Thanks to accessible software tools, today’s L&D professionals can access diverse resources to craft their perfect course. The question is, how do you use each elearning content type most effectively? Let’s explore the top 10 types of elearning content and how best to use them.
What Is elearning Content?
elearning content refers to digital materials and resources created to facilitate learning through electronic platforms. It encompasses various formats, such as videos, quizzes, infographics, and more, tailored to different learning styles and objectives.
Companies use elearning content for:
Onboarding new employees : Many companies use elearning modules to onboard new hires. elearning content can cover company policies, culture, role-specific training, and compliance, helping new employees get up to speed quickly. This approach ensures that all new hires receive consistent information and can refer to the materials whenever needed.
Product training : elearning courses, like in the case of Smith+Nephew, can train employees, partners, and customers on new products and features. Interactive videos, quizzes, and infographics can teach how to use new software, tools, and services, ensuring better adoption and user satisfaction.
“There was an urgency to have online training localized for our multinational workforce to improve our product-focused knowledge, and selling skills became far more pronounced in recent years. Greater portfolio understanding can lead to accelerated global business growth.”
Compliance training : Industries such as finance and healthcare require regular compliance training to adhere to regulations and standards. elearning allows them to roll out updated training content as regulations change quickly.
Sales training : Companies use elearning content to train sales teams on new sales strategies, tools, and product updates. Interactive videos, simulations, and roleplay scenarios help sales professionals practice their pitches, learn negotiation tactics, and improve their product knowledge.
Leadership and soft skills development : This type of training focuses on building soft skills like communication, decision-making, and problem-solving through dialogue simulations, elearning games, and podcasts.
Customer service training : Companies like Amazon utilize elearning to train their service representatives to handle various scenarios. Dialogue simulations and interactive modules help employees practice resolving conflicts and delivering excellent service, ensuring a consistent customer experience.
Global workforce training : Multinational corporations use elearning to provide training in multiple languages, ensuring that all employees, regardless of location, receive the same high-quality training. By leveraging AI-powered translations , they can localize content effectively, meeting the needs of a diverse global workforce.
Health and safety training : Companies in sectors like construction and manufacturing use elearning content to deliver safety training to employees. This includes virtual simulations to help workers learn and practice safety procedures in a risk-free environment.
Employee upskilling and reskilling : elearning can help companies keep up with the rapid pace of technological advancements. Courses on digital skills, data analytics, and cybersecurity help employees stay relevant and contribute to the company’s growth.
Remote training and development : With the rise of remote work, many companies rely on elearning content to train remote employees. Webinars, interactive videos, and online workshops ensure that employees can continue professional development regardless of location.
Types Of elearning Content
eLearning content development involves creating various types of content that cater to different learning needs. The goal of elearning content is to provide engaging, interactive, and accessible learning experiences.
If you’ve ever felt confused or distracted during a training course, the content type might not have been used effectively. Different content types work best for particular goals and situations.
Most courses will use a mix of different content to keep learners engaged. However, the ideal mix of learning content types will depend on the subject matter, target audience, and learning goals. Let’s explore the top 10 types of content and how best to use them in an elearning course:
1. Slide Presentations
Slide presentations are one of the most commonly used types of elearning content. They are ideal for delivering structured information clearly and concisely. Popular slide creation tools include Microsoft PowerPoint and Google Slides.
Slide presentations are often used in webinars, lectures, and self-paced courses. They can incorporate text, images, and videos to create engaging learning experiences. For example, a corporate training session on compliance might use slides to outline key regulations and case studies.
The range of slide-based courses on LinkedIn Learning showcases just how versatile this format is, with courses for marketing, coding, sales, and more.
Presentations | |
|---|---|
Pros | Structured, visual |
Cons | Often less interactive than other types. |
When to use | Slide presentations are best for introductory content, overviews, and structured lessons. They work well for linear content delivery, where information needs to be presented in a logical sequence. |
2. Quizzes
Quizzes are interactive content pieces that test knowledge and reinforce learning. Learners answer quick questions based on the information they have just digested. They are highly effective in gauging learner retention and understanding.
An effective way to integrate quizzes is at the end of each elearning module or after significant sections of a course.
Language learning platforms like Babbel use quizzes to help users practice vocabulary and grammar. For example, the app can start with a quiz to assess a user’s language proficiency, with future quizzes to test their progress.
Quizzes | |
|---|---|
Pros | Engaging, reinforces learning. |
Cons | Can become repetitive. |
When to use | Use quizzes for knowledge checks, assessments, and reinforcing key concepts. They are ideal for digital learning training content that requires regular testing and feedback. |
3. Podcasts
Podcasts offer an accessible and convenient audio-based learning experience. Learners can listen to podcasts while commuting, exercising, or multitasking.
Podcasts are perfect for delivering expert interviews, storytelling, and discussing complex topics in a conversational tone. A well-known example is the " Teaching in Higher Ed " podcast, which discusses teaching strategies, learning theories, and technology in education.
Podcasts | |
|---|---|
Pros | Convenient, portable. |
Cons | Less visual engagement. |
When to use | Use podcasts to deliver content that benefits from a conversational or narrative approach. They are excellent for remote or on-the-go learning. If you have experts in your organization, then a podcast is a low-cost way to share their knowledge. |
4. Ebooks
Ebooks provide comprehensive, in-depth content on specific topics. They are suitable for learners who prefer reading and require detailed information.
Ebooks are often used as supplementary materials in elearning courses. For example, a course on digital marketing might include an ebook on SEO strategies.
One company that offers a range of ebooks is HubSpot, which has books covering digital marketing, SEO, customer service, and more. These ebooks are often meant to be used with HubSpot’s online courses, allowing students to reference detailed information in one place.
Ebooks | |
|---|---|
Pros | In-depth, easy to reference. |
Cons | Less interactive. |
When to use | Ebooks are good for in-depth guides, reference materials, and self-paced learning. They work well when learners need to delve deep into a topic. |
5. Training Videos
Training videos are highly engaging and effectively demonstrate concepts, procedures, and skills. They can include animations, real-life footage, or screen recordings.
Training videos are widely used in industries such as healthcare or technology, where visually demonstrating a procedure or technique is critical. For example, Microsoft Learn uses training videos to provide tutorials, product demos, and step-by-step guides for Microsoft software like Azure and Office 365. This approach shows learners how to apply knowledge in practical contexts, enhancing understanding and retention.
Training Videos | |
|---|---|
Pros | Highly engaging, visual. |
Cons | High production cost. |
When to use | Create training videos for demonstrating step-by-step processes, skills training, and visual storytelling. They are ideal for topics that are complex or require detailed explanations. |
6. Interactive Videos
Interactive videos take standard videos a step further by adding clickable elements or integrated quizzes. They can contain branching scenarios—depending on the choice, when the viewer clicks something in the video, a different scene plays.
This type of content engages learners by allowing them to interact with the video. For example, a safety training video might enable learners to choose different responses in a simulated emergency.
Food giant Nestle uses interactive videos to train its employees in product knowledge and customer service procedures. Trainees make choices during simulated customer interactions, improving their decision-making skills in various scenarios.
Interactive Videos | |
|---|---|
Pros | Highly engaging, interactive. |
Cons | Requires more development. |
When to use | Use interactive videos for scenarios, decision-making exercises, and interactive storytelling. They are best suited for content that requires learner engagement and active participation. |
7. Infographics
Infographics present information visually using charts, icons, and diagrams. They are ideal for summarizing data, processes, or concepts in an easy-to-digest format.
Infographics are commonly used in elearning to simplify complex information, such as presenting the benefits of a new software system to employees. For example, Salesforce uses infographics to show complex processes related to its products in a simplified way.
Infographics | |
|---|---|
Pros | Visual, easy to digest. |
Cons | Limited depth of content. |
When to use | Use infographics to summarize data, present statistics, and simplify complex information. They are effective for quick reference and visual learners. |
8. VR and AR Simulations
Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) simulations provide immersive learning experiences. VR completely immerses users in a computerized environment, whereas AR overlays virtual objects on top of the real world.
Both VR and AR are highly effective in training scenarios that require a high degree of interaction and realism. For example, medical students use VR simulations to practice surgeries in a risk-free environment. Virtual scenarios are used in engineering to test machinery or by militaries to simulate combat zones.
Even Walmart uses virtual reality to train staff in everything from customer interaction to operating machinery. After implementing VR, the company saw increased learner retention and confidence.
VR and AR Simulations | |
Pros | Immersive, realistic. |
Cons | High cost, specialized equipment. |
When to use | VR and AR simulations are perfect for hands-on training and complex simulations. They are also helpful in practicing risky tasks in a safe environment. |
9. eLearning Games
elearning games make learning fun and engaging by incorporating game mechanics like points, badges, and leaderboards. These game elements make learners feel rewarded for overcoming a challenge. They are especially effective for younger audiences and can enhance motivation and retention.
Corporations can ‘gamify’ their training materials to motivate learners. For example, they can teach sales strategies by simulating real-world scenarios and awarding points for success. Fast food titan McDonalds developed a training game for the point-of-sale (POS) system so addictive that non-employees found ways to play it!
eLearning Games | |
|---|---|
Pros | Engaging, motivational. |
Cons | Can be time-consuming to develop. |
When to use | eLlearning games are good for skill-building exercises and engagement-driven content. Use them to keep learner motivation high throughout the course. |
10. Dialogue Simulations
Dialogue simulations mimic real-life conversations, allowing learners to practice communication skills.
These are commonly used in customer service training, where employees can practice handling different customer interactions. For instance, a bank or call center might use dialogue simulations to train tellers to handle difficult customers. Amazon uses this kind of simulation in its recruitment process to assess potential candidate’s suitability.
Dialogue simulations | |
|---|---|
Pros | Realistic, builds communication skills. |
Cons | Can be complex to create. |
When to use | Dialogue simulations are effective for developing communication and decision-making skills in soft skills training, customer service training, and language learning. |
Tips For elearning Content Development
Developing elearning content requires careful planning and strategy. Here are some tips for creating effective courses:
Pre-assessment Before you start, it’s crucial to assess the learners’ needs and knowledge gaps. This helps in tailoring the content to meet specific learning objectives.
Form a strategy Formulate a strategy that outlines the learning objectives, target audience, content types, and delivery methods. Having a well-defined strategy from the beginning will speed up the creation of an effective elearning course.
Organize any existing content Review and organize any existing content that could be useful in your course. Make sure that everything that goes in the course is up-to-date with current best practices. This will save time and ensure consistency in your content.
Create a storyboard A storyboard is a graphic representation of your content plan. It helps visualize the course structure and is very useful as a reference for L&D teams. The storyboard serves as a blueprint, guiding the creation of engaging and interactive digital learning content.
For more tips, see our in-depth guide on course creation.
Are You Ready To Create Your elearning Course? Try Smartcat AI
With Smartcat’s AI course creator, you can generate high-quality elearning content in any language. This powerful AI tool allows you to create digital courses that are tailored to global audiences, ensuring on-brand, culturally relevant training. With Smartcat, you can create full courses, microlearnings, training videos, quizzes, and even AI-dubbed multimedia content in under 30 minutes.
Smartcat’s AI course creator couldn’t be easier to use:
Start by entering your course idea, learning objectives, and any existing learning content into Smartcat.
Let Smartcat AI generate the course content for you.
Preview your course and make any changes you need to.
Export the finished course in a variety of formats to use in your platform of choice!
Already have some training materials? You can utilize existing content to guide the AI for more tailored results and manage all your projects securely in a centralized, multilingual content library.
Whether you’re developing elearning content for a corporate setting or educational institution, Smartcat AI ensures your course content is consistent, engaging, and accessible in multiple languages. Book a free demo to learn more about how Smartcat can benefit your organization. You can learn more about creating learning content in the Smartcat Help Center.
Conclusion
Choosing the right type of elearning content is crucial for effective learning outcomes. Whether you need interactive videos for complex simulations or infographics for summarizing data, each content type serves a specific purpose.
By understanding when and how to use these content types, elearning professionals and enterprise learning development managers can create impactful digital learning experiences.
Remember, learning is the foundation of effective work—we all had to start somewhere! Making the best use of elearning content early on will pay dividends throughout your organization in the long term.
FAQ
What are the different types of elearning content?
There are many different types of elearning content. Some of the most effective types are slide presentations, quizzes, podcasts, ebooks, training videos, interactive videos, infographics, VR and AR simulations, elearning games, and dialogue simulations.
What is the content format for elearning?
Depending on the type, elearning content can come in various formats, such as video, audio, text, interactive modules, infographics, and games, depending on the learning objectives and audience.
Why use Smartcat for elearning content?
Smartcat is an AI-powered platform that allows for the quick and accurate generation of custom elearning content in multiple languages. Smartcat AI supports the creation of engaging, interactive types of elearning content and adapts to your preferences and learning goals.
Generated courses can be exported in elearning file formats such as SCORM for seamless integration with your elearning platform. The Smartcat platform is scalable and has built-in collaboration tools, making it ideal for enterprises and educational institutions.
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