Animation in eLearning

eLearning is fast becoming a very popular and prevalent form of education. For a lot of people, eLearning is the easiest and most convenient option to acquire knowledge. With eLearning, they are able to study where and when they want, which, we can agree, is a major benefit.

Quality eLearning also addresses the problem of poor attention span by dividing extensive content into much smaller segments that hold the learners’ attention more easily. Another way to keep the learners engaged and interested is to introduce variation. Animation is a great tool that can increase variation in an eLearning course and here are some ideas on how to use it.

When Animation Works

There might be some prejudice against animation, stating that animation distracts from learning and the serious elements of a course. This can be true, but it is not a reason not to use it! On the contrary. We all know boredom is the major enemy of any type of learning – eLearning included – and animation brings entertainment and innovation into the course.
Animations are certainly interactive, especially when they are combined with game elements. This combo can be very effective in transferring knowledge and entertaining the learners, making them excited to learn and eagerly awaiting the next course. You can use animation for most subjects and topics with a good effect. The use of different animation software is very popular when developing eLearning courses.

Educational and Entertainment Quality

You can also consider creating an animated character and a story for that character that will tie the whole course together. For example, let’s say you are developing a course on customer experience. The animated character can, in that case, be the customer service individual that can be shown doing things the wrong way and the right way. You can also introduce other characters, such as happy or dissatisfied customers – the possibilities are limitless.

Animations can also be used to render complex subjects easy to understand. By using a series of animated slides that break the content down into short, but engaging segments, learners are able to take in the complex content bit by bit and build up a full picture that comes together once all the elements have been introduced. Animated characters are more viable for this sort of teaching as they can be manipulated in ways real people cannot.

Eliminating Distractions

It’s easy for learners to become distracted in an eLearning environment. Learning at home may mean having the family in and out of the scene, or there may be a call to answer or someone at the door. A short, animated course can be paused or repeated when the learner is focused.

To conclude, animation in eLearning is a simple but extremely effective tool that carries both educational and entertainment value.