Most trainers and HR managers know how face-to-face training works. But how do you convey the same learning content online? Find out now what really matters when explaining in an online course and how you can easily create easy-to-understand e-learnings!
Digital continuing education can be successful, as the last two years have clearly shown. And yet, learning success in online courses often fails because of the same things:
Those responsible for training lack direct feedback from their participants on whether they really understand the learning content.
Participants themselves feel left alone. They do not know who to turn to if they do not understand the content or the assignment.
You can avoid both problems by paying attention to a few essential things as a course instructor. In an online course, two central things matter: good explanations and regular exchange between trainer or course instructor and participants. Direct feedback by looking into questioning faces is, of course, eliminated. This makes your specific instructions and explanations in the course all the more important.
An important note beforehand: The goal of your course should always be for participants to understand the content immediately, process it easily, and be able to internalize the learned content.
What is important for good explanations in an online course?
An online course is as individual as the topic you want to convey with it. Therefore, there is of course no ONE template that fits every course. Ultimately, it depends on both your course topic and the selected learning media.
To ensure you appeal to as many people as possible in the course, a varied structure for your online course is helpful. Variety maintains motivation and attention. You need both as a basis before content explanations start. You can find out how to design engaging e-learnings in this article: In 4 steps from a boring online course to a successful highlight
4 tips for better explanations in an online course
1. Understandable language
To allow participants to concentrate on the content of your online course, simple language is important. This makes it easier for participants to understand the content quickly and without problems.
Use little to no technical terminology that you have to explain.
The same applies to foreign words, especially loanwords.
Keep your sentences short and avoid unnecessary adjectives.
Address your participants directly and use an active voice.
Formulate examples and content in positive language instead of negations.
2. Sparking interest
An important factor for the learning success of your online course is, of course, the interest of the participants in the course content. Online, this can be significantly more complicated than in person, as you cannot ask participants directly about it.
Find a hook topic that interests or personally affects your participants and use this as an introduction.
Remembering is easier when the topic is linked to other things. Establish references to everyday situations and explain why topics are important.
Do not forget the fun in learning and use playful elements, such as edutainment or gamification elements in your online course.
Create proximity between you and the participants by "speaking the same language" and paying attention to linguistic nuances.
3. Establishing connections
You probably still remember it from your school days: before one vocabulary test or another, we all once learned by rote, only to forget everything quickly afterward. Rote learning works for a limited time, but the learning effect is lost: to retain things long-term, connections and clear goals are needed.
Make it clear what the learned material is good for and when it can be useful.
Package learning content into exciting stories and build a story arc in the sense of storytelling.
Rely on real-world practical examples, especially when dealing with more complex learning content or processes.
4. Taking small steps
Take it slow in your online course; after all, everyone involved has to get used to the new learning environment. Make it as easy as possible for yourself and the participants and focus on simplicity.
Convey a clear goal in each learning unit that you want to achieve with it.
Keep the complexity in your course low and avoid all elements that can cause confusion.
Rely on small self-contained learning contents, in true microlearning style. Then participants can manage their learning time better themselves.
End each topic with a short summary or a quiz. This encourages participants to reflect on whether they have understood everything before starting a new learning chapter.
Conclusion
Good explanations in an online course make learning content understandable, relevant, and easy to process by combining simple language, clear connections, and small learning steps.
You do not have to reinvent the wheel for your online courses. Existing content from workshops or presentations can be a good foundation if you prepare it for digital learning and divide it into manageable units.
In doing so, pay attention to understandable language, a recognizable benefit, and concrete practical examples. Clear learning objectives, summaries, and quizzes additionally help to structure the learning process and make understanding problems visible early on.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you explain learning content in an online course understandably?
Use short sentences, as few technical and foreign terms as possible, as well as an active and direct address. In addition, concrete examples and references to daily work help to make new content easier to understand.
Why are connections important when explaining in an online course?
New information is easier to process and retain long-term when participants recognize what they need the knowledge for and how it relates to already known situations or tasks.
How can complex content be conveyed in an online course?
Divide complex topics into small, self-contained learning units, each with a clear learning objective. Practical examples, summaries, and quizzes can additionally help to ensure understanding.
How can you spark participants' interest in an online course?
A relevant introduction, references to everyday life, practical examples, storytelling, and playful elements can promote interest and attention. It is also important to make the personal benefit of the learning content clear.
