Rethinking eLearning with Dr Michael Allen

Instructional design gets treated like one neat little skill far too often: Build the course. Add the activities. Make it engaging. Pop it on the LMS. Done. Except good online learning does not work like that. Behind every course that feels clear, useful, and easy to move through, there is a whole learning stack doing the quiet work: learning science, strategy, design, technology, communication, and the operational reality that arrives after launch. That last one is usually where the wobble starts. I wrote this piece for online learning providers thinking about quality, delivery, learner support, and the gap between building a course and keeping it working. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/dY8m-bdS #onlinelearning #learningdesign #edtech #strategicpartnership #instructionaldesign

Stop Using mailto: in eLearning Courses — It’s 2026 This started as a short article about why mailto: links inside online courses often create poor learner experiences. But while writing it, I realised the issue is actually much bigger. Many digital learning environments still treat communication as something external to the learning experience itself. Increasingly, modern learners expect communication, reflection, collaboration, feedback, and peer interaction to happen inside connected learning environments — not through fragmented email chains. The article explores: • why mailto: workflows often fail modern learners • structured alternatives to email-based interaction • integrated LMS communication tools • learner communities and discussion spaces • reflection and collaborative learning workflows I also explored how platforms such as LearnWorlds are beginning to integrate communication and community directly into the learning experience itself. New article: https://lnkd.in/easyNyep #elearning #lms #instructionaldesign #sociallearning #digitallearning

Stop Using mailto: in eLearning Courses — It’s 2026 Modern digital learning environments are evolving rapidly, yet many online courses still rely on communication workflows designed for a very different era of technology. In our latest article, we explore why traditional mailto: links inside eLearning courses often create unnecessary friction for modern learners — particularly in browser-based, mobile-first, and cloud-driven learning environments. More importantly, the article explores a much bigger shift taking place across digital learning platforms: Communication is increasingly becoming part of the learning experience itself. Modern LMS platforms now support: • integrated learner communication • structured reflection activities • collaborative discussion spaces • learner communities • peer interaction and feedback • in-platform workflows and engagement Rather than pushing learners into disconnected email chains, communication is moving inside connected learning ecosystems. The article also explores how platforms such as LearnWorlds are helping support this evolution toward more collaborative and community-led learning environments. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/ew_XdRWM #elearning #lms #sociallearning #instructionaldesign #onlinelearning #learnworlds

Digital learning shouldn't feel like a digital detention center. Too many courses focus on checkboxes instead of the people behind the screen. At ABK Learning Solutions, we prioritize the human touch. We know that real growth happens when learners feel a genuine connection to the material. That is why we use tools like Vyond and Camtasia to do more than just record screens. We use them to build narratives. Storytelling is the secret to moving the needle. When we transform a standard procedure into a relatable scenario, we reduce the cognitive load and increase retention. It stops being a task and starts being a discovery. Our goal is to create training that is as dynamic as the people taking it. We bridge the gap between technical skills and human experience by focusing on the why behind every lesson. This is exactly how we help organizations stop the profit leak that comes from uninspired, ineffective learning. Ready to see the difference a human-centered approach makes? Explore our portfolio and strategy at https://lnkd.in/eNE_jX6J. How do you keep your digital content from feeling like a checklist?

Students don’t always lose interest in learning. Sometimes, they lose interest in how learning is delivered. Many LMS courses still follow a simple flow: Read content → Watch video → Take quiz → Finish. But learning becomes far more engaging when students can actually interact with content. Interactive videos. Knowledge checks. Clickable hotspots. Scenario-based learning. Instant feedback. Small changes in learning design can make a big difference in learner engagement. Because students remember experiences more than content. The real question is: Are we building courses students complete… or experiences students actually engage with? What’s one feature you think makes online learning more engaging? #LMS #EdTech #EducationalTechnology #OnlineLearning #DigitalLearning #Moodle #LearningExperience #ELearning #MoodleAdmin

When online learning rapidly expanded, educators were given platforms, tools, and endless new technology. But as we’ve discussed in previous posts: - technology alone does not create meaningful learning - online tools don’t create meaningful learning... Design does. Too often, instructors were expected to build engaging online experiences without a clear pedagogical framework for interaction, accountability, reflection, and purposeful collaboration. This is one of the problems SOFLA® was built to solve. The framework was intentionally designed to help educators move beyond simply delivering content online toward creating synchronous learning experiences that are structured, interactive, learner-centered, and engaging. Because meaningful online learning requires more than access to tools. It requires intentional instructional design. 📘 The new SOFLA® book launches in one week. #SOFLA #OnlineLearning #InstructionalDesign #EdTech #TeachingOnline #HigherEd

When we talk about “adaptive learning,” what do we actually mean? I think there’s an important distinction emerging in the AI era: -- Adaptive systems optimize within existing parameters -- Humans redefine the parameters themselves Most enterprise learning systems today say they are adaptive. And many truly personalize, recommend, automate, and adjust. But adaptability is something different entirely. It requires judgment, interpretation, transfer, and the ability to respond to conditions the system was never explicitly designed for. That distinction matters more than we may think. The organizations that win won’t just use AI to automate learning. They’ll combine machine adaptation with human adaptability. Why am I bringing this up? Because on Monday at Association for Talent Development (ATD)'s conference in Los Angeles, I’ll have the privilege of hosting a conversation with Michael Allen and Christopher Allen on Dr. Allen’s new book, “Rethinking eLearning.” We’ll be showing live demos of eLearning experiences that genuinely work — and discussing why so much modern eLearning still misses the mark... And at the very end of the session… we’re going to show you “one more thing.” Something that points toward a very different future for learning design and adaptable learning experiences. If you’re attending ATD, this is one session you may not want to miss. Book it! I guarantee you, it will change your way of thinking about what's possible. “Awesome eLearning Live: What Actually Works (and Why Most Doesn’t)” Monday, May 18 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM Room 515A | Level Two https://lnkd.in/gAU2CjK4

This is an interesting hack of the concept of "alibi" in role-playing games. In a role-playing game (#TTRPG, #LARP, escape rooms, etc.), players take on another persona, aka an "alibi", which gives them "permission" to do things they normally wouldn't do. Now where I disagree with the following post is that points are badges are strictly about motivation by rewards. And I think it is a little disingenuous to paint points and badges as all of e-learning. It's just a tool for learning in general and yes, it's often overused and ineffective. My students LOVED getting badges on their papers partially because they were upper elementary students and love all things stickers. The other part is that the badges were given out at my discretion for work that wasn't part of the overall grading rubric like being extra creative or artistic or helping their classmates. There was no way to "game the system" since I controlled who got what badges. I tried very hard to be fair and equitable with handing them out and I didn't have any complaints. In contrast, an alibi motivates because it gives students permission to not be themselves. They will take risks because their alibi will face the consequences. And if they fail, they can try again. Reflection and debriefing activities help the student make the connection between their alibi and what they learned, which can have a greater impact on retaining and applying learning. Have you used alibis or personas in your classrooms or learning? #GameBasedLearning

Are your Storyline courses creating barriers without you realizing it? Many eLearning courses unintentionally exclude learners because accessibility was treated as an afterthought. The good news? Small changes can make a major impact. Join Tilak Learning Group on June 16 at 12 PM EST for a live webinar on creating WCAG-friendly Storyline courses that are accessible, compliant, and learner-centered. In this practical session, you’ll learn: • Common accessibility mistakes in Storyline • Practical WCAG strategies you can apply immediately • Ways to improve usability without rebuilding your entire course library • Tips for creating more inclusive learning experiences If you’re an instructional designer, eLearning developer, trainer, or learning leader, this session will give you practical strategies you can start using right away. Register today: https://lnkd.in/d-phsynE Please share with your L&D and eLearning network. #Accessibility #WCAG #eLearning #Storyline360 #InstructionalDesign #LearningAndDevelopment #InclusiveDesign #AccessibilityMatters #TilakLearningGroup