Interactive E-Learning Strategies to Boost Learner Engagement

Level up employee training with interactive online courses  

When it comes to workplace training, the days of mindlessly clicking through slides are over. Interactive e-learning has redefined how we engage with digital courses, turning passive content into dynamic experiences. With tools like interactive videos, quizzes, and branching scenarios, learners aren’t just consuming information—they’re actively involved in the learning process. This shift isn’t just about keeping learners’ attention; it’s also about enhancing learning retention, performance, and overall satisfaction. 

In this post, we’ll break down what makes interactive online courses so effective and share tips for adding these elements to your e-learning programs. 

What is interactive e-learning? 

Interactive e-learning engages learners with course content in a way that requires their active participation. Instead of just passively reading or watching information, interactive online learning prompts learners to take actions, such as answering quiz questions, making decisions, completing simulations, or clicking to reveal content. This dynamic approach keeps students involved throughout the course.

How do interactive features impact learner engagement and outcomes? 

Studies show that interactive content enhances learner engagement and performance in online training. Exploratory elements that require decision-making help keep learners’ attention, boosting participation and completion rates. In addition, simulations and “minds-on” learning activities promote critical thinking and application to enhance knowledge retention.

Here’s another way to think of the experience: Interactive learning is like driving a car, while passive learning is like riding a bus. When you’re driving, you’re fully engaged—making decisions, responding to changes, and actively navigating the road ahead. As a passenger on a bus, however, you’re more likely to zone out. Although both methods can get you to your destination, interactive learning promotes deeper engagement, personal investment, and skills development.

Types of interactive elements for online learning

E-learning authoring tools like Articulate 360 help you engage learners with built-in interactive elements. There are countless options for interactivity, whether you only have a few minutes to spare or have time to craft a fully customized experience. Explore a few ideas in the following sections—organized from lowest to highest levels of interactivity. 

1. Simple interaction: click-and-reveal content

Let’s start with the simplest level of interactive e-learning: click-and-reveal content. In a click-and-reveal interaction, learners reveal hidden information by clicking on tabs, objects, or menu items. For example:

Flashcards

Use interactive flashcards to reveal definitions, examples, comparisons, or explanations. To increase engagement, try formatting flashcards as a challenge for learners. Pique their curiosity to discover what’s on the other side. Here’s this tactic in action:

In a course on developing a growth mindset, learners are asked: “Could you replace the negative self-talk with a positive affirmation?” They can then scroll through four flashcards, each presenting a negative self-talk example like “Instead of saying, ‘I just can’t…’” Learners are encouraged to think of a positive affirmation before flipping the card to reveal an example of positive self-talk on the back.

Expandable, tabbed, or step-by-step interactions

Expandable rows allow learners to click and reveal hidden content. Tabbed navigation helps users move between different content areas or sections. Or sequential step-based interactions guide learners through a process or stages. All of these interactive elements promote exploration and comprehension of layered information.

Check out an example of how expandable rows can be incorporated using Rise below. 

2. Moderate interaction: quizzes, activities, and interactive media 

Drag-and-drop activities

Drag-and-drop interactions, such as sorting or matching activities, require learners to match concepts, organize items, or complete sequences. For instance, learners could drag components of a process into the correct order—or match compliance training terms with their corresponding definitions. These practice activities make e-learning more hands-on.

Interactive checklists

You can also use interactive checklists to assign tasks to learners or have them select options that apply to their situation, cultivating more personalized learning experiences. 

Interactive quizzes and knowledge checks

Quizzes and knowledge checks are another effective tool to reinforce learning, measure skills, and provide learners with real-time feedback. Create a mix of questions, such as:

• Multiple-choice questions: Learners select the correct answer from a list of options.
• Multiple-response questions: Learners choose all applicable answers from a set of options.
• Fill-in-the-blank questions: Learners type the correct answer into a blank field.

Labeled graphics

Labeled graphics are images or illustrations with clickable markers to highlight important areas or reveal additional information. For example, in a safety training course, learners might click on different sections of an image to learn about potential hazards in their workplace. This feature can enhance learning by facilitating interaction with visual scenes or data.

3. High interaction: a fully immersive learning experience

At the highest level of e-learning interactivity, learners engage in fully immersive experiences like  360° images, interactive videos, simulations, games, and media-rich role-play or branching scenarios. These types of interactions replicate real-world environments and decision-making processes, allowing employees to practice skills in a safe, controlled space. For example:

• A medical training course might include a simulation where learners diagnose and treat virtual patients. 
• A leadership course could feature a branching scenario that challenges learners to navigate complex team dynamics or communication barriers.
• A sales training course might incorporate a 360° image of a retail store or sales floor, where learners can click on different sections to identify sales opportunities, customer interactions, or product placements. 

These highly interactive features provide deep, experiential learning that is highly engaging and effective for skill-building and knowledge retention.

What are the best practices for adding interactivity?

When it comes to building interactive e-learning, aim for quality over quantity. Focus on adding interactive elements when they’re relevant, advance your course learning objectives, or otherwise enhance the learner experience. Thoughtfully designed interactions could promote critical thinking, offer practical application, reduce cognitive load, or improve knowledge retention.

However, more is not always better. Adding interactivity without a clear purpose or strategy risks overwhelming and frustrating learners. Incorporating elements like click-and-reveal content and immersive simulations takes effort for course creators to build—and energy for learners to respond. So, make sure that the value is worth the effort. 

Design interactive e-learning experiences 

The bottom line? Incorporating varying levels of interactivity ensures learners stay engaged, develop critical thinking, and apply what they’ve learned in practical ways. Whether it’s through click-and-reveal content or fully immersive simulations, interactive e-learning is key to creating more dynamic and effective online courses.

Want additional tips for creating compelling online training? Check out our post, How to Make Virtual Training More Engaging.