10 Tips for Creating Effective E-Learning Intro Screens
Most e-learning courses have an intro screen, but there is rarely much thought given to them. They are often included simply to have something at the start of the course, so act almost like a placeholder.
In other situations, e-learning intro screens are left out completely, so the learner is launched straight into the content.
Intro screens are more than a placeholder or design feature. When used correctly, they can engage the learner and get them interested in what is coming next.
The ideal situation is that learners are enthusiastic – or at least willing – when they begin getting into the course in detail. A good intro screen will help establish this enthusiasm and engagement with learners.
The worst e-learning intro screens do the opposite by putting learners off.
How do you make your e-learning intro screens as effective as possible? Here are our tips.
1. Understand the Objective of E-Learning Intro Screens
You might have a course-specific objective for your e-learning intro screen, but there are also general objectives. These include:
- Making a good first impression with the learners who will be completing your course. Your e-learning intro screen should present a professional image with recognisable branding for your organisation.
- The intro screen should also describe the course to give learners a better understanding of what they are about to start.
- One of the most important objectives of e-learning intro screens is to engage the learner and get them interested in going through the course.
- Your e-learning intro screen should also have a call to action. This could be something like “Launch” or “Start”.
2. Create a Unique Intro Screen
Don’t create and use a generic intro screen for all the e-learning courses used by your organisation. The ideal approach is to create a unique, topic-specific intro screen for each individual course.
3. Make E-Learning Intro Screens Interactive
A static intro screen with images and text is unlikely to engage the people who will be completing your training course. You’ll get a much better response by making it interactive.
How can you make e-learning intro screens interactive? Here are some examples:
- Include video or animation on the intro screen. This could be a short, animated video describing the course. Another example is a video message from a senior member of the organisation welcoming the learner and explaining why the course is important.
- Add icons that can be hovered over, tapped, or clicked on to reveal more information. A lightbox displays the information, keeping the learner on the intro screen. This should be engaging content rather than educational content as you should avoid overwhelming the learner on the intro screen.
Making your e-learning intro screens interactive is one of the best ways to engage learners right from the beginning.
4. Keep it Simple
Following on from the above point in relation to not overwhelming the learner on the intro screen, the best approach is to keep it as simple as possible. So, don’t include unnecessary information on the intro screen and don’t use it as a way to get straight into the course content. Don’t add a table of contents either as this is also too much information.
The focus of the intro screen should be to engage the learner and draw them into the course.
5. Use Strong Visual Elements
Random and uninspiring visual elements, as well as visual elements included purely for decorative purposes, will not be as attention-grabbing and engaging as visual elements that are compelling, on-topic, and relatable.
This applies to all visual elements on the intro screen including images, backgrounds, icons, fonts, and graphics.
6. Ensure Images are Relevant
Make the images you use on e-learning intro screens as relevant as possible. This could be relevant to the course content or relevant to the learner. This follows on from the above point about images being more than simple decorative elements.
7. Describe the Course, But Keep the Description Brief
Include a description of the course on your intro screen to help the learner understand what to expect. This description should be brief, though – a sentence or two.
In other words, a high-level overview of the course without detail. Adding too much detail will overwhelm the learner.
8. Answer the Why? Question
It is also important to explain why the learner is completing the course. For example, how will it benefit them personally and/or professionally? You might also explain how the course aims to benefit the organisation locally, nationally across UAE or Saudi Arabia, or internationally.
9. Be Personable
E-learning intro screens shouldn’t be formal or mechanical. After all, you are dealing with people, so the content on your intro screens, particularly text content, should be warm, friendly, conversational, and personable.
10. Be Straight
Being straight and honest with learners is important too. So, don’t make promises about the course that are not realistic. The content of the course and the learner experience should match what you describe and promote on the intro screen.
Designing High-Quality and Effective E-Learning Intro Screens
You don’t need to spend as much time on the intro screen as other aspects of your e-learning courses. The content of the course and how you will present that content is much more important to overall success and ROI.
However, this doesn’t mean you should neglect the intro screen or just throw it together. You will get better results from your e-learning courses if you spend a small amount of time ensuring your intro screen follows the above tips.
