Achieve Your L&D Goals With These Best Practices in E-Learning Platform Design

Authored By:

Sudeep Banerjee

SVP, Workforce Solutions

When it comes to learning and development at the workplace, e-learning platforms have not just changed the game, they have created a new set of directions on how employees can learn. With the rise of hybrid and remote work environments, leaders can ensure proper onboarding, training, and learning of employees through dedicated e-learning platforms.

From supporting comprehensive courses tailored for employees across different age groups to structures, these platforms have helped organizations repurpose their workplace learning and development initiatives to resolve skill gaps and enhance employee engagement. However, providing e-learning platforms for L&D, that cater to individual needs, is only one part of the bigger picture. Development cannot happen in isolation.

When your training platforms aim beyond individual development to foster a culture of collaborative learning and growth, it results in business-wide benefits. Effectively addressing this requires the adoption of best practices in e-learning platform design in the context of the modern workplace.

E-learning Platform Design Best Practices for Hybrid Workplaces

E-learning has gained significance owing to its scalability to accommodate global workforces. As per the State of Online Learning Report 2024, over 68% of employees agree that online learning directly improves job performance especially when contextual and convenient.

E-learning addresses critical skill gaps at the workplace and serves the need for professional growth and development. However, 92% find it most effective when combined with collaborative learning.

The business use of learning platforms should combine the dual benefits of technology and design to foster learning, collaboration, and team cohesion. A learning ecosystem that combines these is essential to create a sense of community and help employees learn and grow their professional network.

Understanding UI and UX Design for Learning Platforms

The two main components of e-learning platform design, UI and UX work together to create high-quality e-learning platforms. They directly influence how learners interact with the content and their overall satisfaction with the learning experience. UI short for user interface, refers to the design and construction of the product. For example, a well-designed UI in the form of organized menus and clear icons ensures that the platform is visually appealing, intuitive, and easy to navigate.

Simultaneously, UX referring to the user experiences, defines the user’s journey as they interact with the platform. Elements like progression paths, and feedback charts can make the process engaging, efficient, and effective, providing a seamless flow that keeps learners motivated.

Why is Accessible E-Learning Platform Design Central to Engagement?

Accessibility compliance is critical in empowering everyone to learn and share information they feel is valuable. By designing user-friendly learning platforms, organizations can roll out programs that engage employees while taking care of their regulatory requirements.

While every organization strives for a workforce with varied business skill sets, diversity also lies within the personal, physical, and mental abilities of employees. Moreover, the working environment of employees in the hybrid setup also differs. Leveraging designing to address this includes:

Use Inclusive Design Principles

By incorporating learning platform design principles like equitable use, flexibility, intuitiveness, and visual hierarchy. E-learning platforms can ensure accessibility for everyone regardless of their disabilities. For instance, an employee with visual impairments can switch to dark modes or high-contrast themes to reduce eye strain and actively participate in discussions.

Creating Responsive Platform Designs

Designing systems with cross-platform compatibility is necessary to ensure that the platform is responsive and functions well on multiple devices like desktops, tablets, and smartphones to accommodate different working environments. Device-agnostic platforms allow employees to access learning platforms and collaborate in activities while working from the office, at home, or on the go.

Adding Multimedia Elements To the Platform

Flexibility between videos, audio, and text can help learners engage with the platform as per their needs and preferences. This ensures that users can adjust playback speed, and customize subtitles and screen layouts for more intuitive interactions.

WCAG Compliance For Enhanced User Accessibility

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines further state the use of assistive technologies, logical structures, and several other features that enhance user accessibility. Following the WCAG guidelines creates an all-encompassing solution for leaders and managers that can propel employees into an environment of multi-fold development opportunities.

Learning Platform Design Principles For Collaborative Learning

Gamification and Leaderboards

Challenges and quests encourage teamwork and foster a sense of shared goals. Points, badges, and levels motivate employees to complete tasks and participate actively. Similarly, leaderboards add a competitive edge, displaying top performers and inspiring employees to strive for higher rankings. Incorporating game-like elements can make learning interactive and ultimately enhance skill development and knowledge sharing across the organization.

Collaboration Tools

Every employee has a different learning curve and every department has unique training requirements. Integrating tools for effective collaboration, such as real-time chat, video conferencing, discussion forums, and shared workspaces can optimize the learning experience of individuals and departments. It can provide a space for micro-learning and concrete discussions within the larger organization.

AR and VR Plugins

VR meeting rooms enable remote teams to interact as if they were physically present, improving communication, understanding, and retention. Similarly, augmented reality plugins in the case of safety drills, can help employees gain a more practical and immersive learning experience.

Intuitive Dashboards for Predictive Analytics

AI can make predictions based on employee performance data. Creating intuitive dashboards and reports that present such predictive analytics insights in a user-friendly manner can help leaders make informed decisions about team formations and department allocations.

By employing the best practices in e-learning platform design, L&D can sustain employee engagement while achieving its development goals to unlock organizational success.

Written By:

Sudeep Banerjee

SVP, Workforce Solutions

A future-focused and experienced executive offering more than 20+ years of experience serving as a tactical partner to globally recognized corporations—helping businesses reach next-level success by tapping into the power of human capital and technology effciency. Championed multi-faceted Edtech, Learning & Development (L&D) transformations, workforce solutions, AI-driven training, and learning automation. Leading with vision, strategy, design, and execution for corporations with large and complex ecosystems. Spearheaded enterprise growth with adept at leading high-performing teams, driving business growth, and delivering excellence in client service.