10 best elearning examples to inspire you in 2023
We’ve rounded up 10 of the best elearning examples – each perfect for different goals and audiences – to give you fresh ideas for how to engage your audience in 2023. We support hundreds of elearning projects across all of our customers. And if there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that each one is unique. Every course developed has a specific goal and audience that determines the design approach. Get inspired with these expert examples of digital learning!
This post was updated in 2023 to reflect the latest and greatest elearning examples from the past year.
To get those creative juices going we’ve included a range of HTML5 elearning examples:
- Branching
- Scenario-based learning at scale
- Adaptive assessments
- Gamified scenarios
- Microlearning
- Question pools
And much more!
Read on for our detailed roundup, showcasing the most effective elearning content examples and best in modern elearning design with some innovative elearning examples.
10 best elearning examples to get you inspired
1. Question pools
Assessments are often critical, especially where compliance is concerned. But how do you make sure they test your learners thoroughly enough? And how do you reduce the likelihood of sharing answers? Question pools are a great solution to making corporate elearning effective for all.
In this pharmaceutical compliance test, question pools are used to create a robust assessment. Question pools mean that when a learner retakes the test, they’re unlikely to see the same questions again. This helps ensure learners truly understand the content – they won’t be able to simply choose a different answer on a second attempt. It also makes it harder for learners to share answers as it is unlikely their colleagues will have been posed the same set of questions.
Example of question pools:
Giftable |See this compliance test with question pools elearning example
This elearning example is a great learning approach for:
- Business critical content that needs to be tested, such as compliance rules and regulations
- Audiences who need to prove a thorough understanding of a subject before starting a particular task
Looking for more inspiration and tips on creating elearning for regulatory training? Check out these engaging compliance training examples.
2. Gamified scenario
Creating a sense of play in your corporate elearning is great for engagement – and easy to achieve through gamification. High pressure scenarios like the sales simulation below are the perfect partner for game-like approaches.
You can appeal to the learner’s competitive spirit by rewarding good decisions or completion of elearning tasks with points, as well as upping the pressure with a timer. With this example of elearning, learners are incentivized to apply their skills correctly, making the content more likely to stick in the learner’s mind when handling a real situation.
Gamified scenario example:
Giftable |See this gamified scenario elearning example
A great learning approach for:
- Learners who are motivated by competition
- Content that involves high pressure scenarios – gamification is great for replicating this sense of pressure – or less serious topics that you can have a bit of fun with
3. Quick onboarding
New starters have a lot to take in those first few days in their role, but you can ease the learning curve by providing quick, focussed overviews. Single scrolling pages are great for upskilling learners on key tasks quickly – they can easily refer back to the content on their phones.
In this example of digital learning, practical tasks are broken down into clear, simple steps, with video demonstrations and checklists providing further support. In-page navigation makes it easy for learners to complete each section of the page.
Quick onboarding example:
See this quick onboarding elearning example
A great learning approach for:
- New hires or contractors who need to get up to speed with tasks and equipment quickly
- Short, focussed processes with practical steps to follow
Use this template for free!
This innovative elearning example was created using one of our Learning Accelerator templates – you can use this template yourself to quickly build your onboarding training! This template is free and available to all Elucidat customers (and free trial users).
4. Dive into the detail of a process
Processes can’t always be covered in a quick overview. Sometimes you’ve got to dive into the detail – and that’s where a clear menu structure becomes crucial. Breaking the details of a process down into manageable chunks or corporate elearning tasks means learners can walk through the steps one at a time.
In the digital learning example below you can see how adding scenarios to this structure helps learners to practice and embed the learning, getting them up to speed quickly.
In-depth process example:
See this in-depth process elearning example
A great learning approach for:
- Processes that require detailed explanation, visual descriptions or have multiple steps
- Audiences that need to know a process inside out
Use this template for free!
This example was created using a Learning Accelerator template. If you’re looking to build in-depth process elearning modules this template is for you. This template is free and available to all Elucidat customers (and free trial users).
5. Microlearning elearning example for skill development
When your employees are developing their skills, theory isn’t enough. To improve, learners need to reflect on their current skill level, understand the practical steps they need to put into action, and commit to practicing on the job. This example on how to manage remote teams shows how corporate elearning can support this process of professional development.
After kicking off with an attention grabbing statistic about remote teams, 5 top tips are presented. Crucially, learners don’t just read the tips; they are encouraged to reflect on which ones they want to implement in their teams. At the end of the digital learning, each learner creates their own action plan, committing to put their new knowledge into action.
Skill development example:
See this microlearning for performance improvement elearning example
A great learning approach for:
- Managers or confident employees who want to take ownership of how they develop their skills
- Skills-based training where there’s not just one ‘right way’ of doing things
Use this template for free!
This example was created using one of our Learning Accelerator templates – meaning you can use this template yourself to quickly start creating elearning to support your skill development training! This template includes example elearning modules and is free and available to all Elucidat customers (and free trial users).
6. Scenario-based learning at scale
When working with a high volume of learners, small tweaks can make all the difference. By giving learners a range of choices to explore, this investigative scenario feels more relevant and personal to each individual. By allowing them to ‘work’ a case and draw their own conclusions they are drawn through the story and have autonomy in how they approach their learning.
Scenario-based elearning example:
Giftable! | See this scale-friendly elearning example
A great learning approach for:
- Large organizations with multiple or diverse audiences in different environments
- Addressing nuanced topics where learners need to see several viewpoints. Think ethics training, discrimination or health and safety.
See more scenario-based elearning examples.
7. Pre-assessment
We’re all familiar with assessments at the end of elearning modules to test understanding, but have you tried an assessment at the start to determine who needs to learn what?
This elearning modules example shows how an upfront quiz can be used to show and hide relevant follow-up content based on the questions that a user passes or fails. Adaptive content like this is win-win for you and your audience. You can reduce overall seat time while retaining confidence that everyone sees the learning content they need, and your users won’t have their time wasted on content they already know.
Example of an adaptive assessment:
Giftable! | See this adaptive assessment elearning example.
A great learning approach for:
- Broad audience groups with a wide range of prior knowledge.
- Content that needs to be tested or revised regularly. Think compliance, policies, procedures.
Our giftable examples can be shared into a free trial account. Get yours by booking a demo.
8. Branching – Choose your own adventure
Putting learners in the driving seat is a great way of increasing their engagement with an elearning experience. ‘Choose your own adventure’ style scenarios like the example below immerse users in a story and allow them to make decisions that control the outcome. This approach allows users to learn through experiencing consequences rather than being informed of them.
This video-based elearning example shows powerful video scenarios interspersed with decision points and the ability to see the impact of your decisions. Remember that audio or text-based scenarios would work just as well.
Check out one of our award-winning Branching video example:
See this branching video scenario example from the Open University.
A great learning approach for:
- Audiences that respond well to experiential, active participation.
- Content with real-life decisions and impact. Think soft skills and ethical dilemmas.
Check out more brilliant branching elearning examples.
9. ‘On-the-job’ elearning example for fast-paced environments
Learning shouldn’t be separated from the day job. Short, snappy performance support resources designed to be used while working can keep the learning alive. They often go down well with learners too, as they’re designed to be succinct and useful above all else. Well-chosen and paced interactivity makes the content digestible and maximizes knowledge retention.
This retail elearning example shows how a quick interactive resource could be used for just-in-time support for sales advisors working on a shop floor.
Performance support elearning example:
Giftable! | See this mobile-friendly performance elearning example.
A great learning approach for:
- Audiences that have a lot to remember and are likely to need reminders. Audiences that respond well to learning ‘in the moment’.
- Theoretical content that needs to be made practical; think new procedures or change management. Or factual content that learners might need refreshers on; think product or systems training.
10. Comparing opinions
Adding an element of social sharing and comparison to a learning experience appeals to the natural curiosity in all of us. Social polls are an effective way of sharing users’ responses with each other in an impactful – yet anonymous – way.
This example shows social polls that compare the audience’s opinions as a way of showing the grey areas in a subject. Social polls also make great attention grabbers at the start of a module or an effective way of making a quiz competitive by sharing correct and incorrect stats after each question.
Live social polling in elearning example:
Giftable! | See this social poll elearning example.
A great learning approach for:
- Audience groups that you’re trying to unite and get to know each other better, or competitive audiences that would enjoy seeing how they compare with others.
- Content with grey areas and no ‘right or wrong’.
Want to plan your project and produce elearning 4x faster?
Now that you are inspired with some quality elearning examples and creative elearning designs, it’s time to take things to the next level. Check out Elucidat’s Learning Accelerator and produce online training super fast. This groundbreaking add-on makes it easy for anyone to create great elearning modules quickly. Templates are recommended based on your project goals. Just follow the best practice guidelines and start creating your own elearning with impact. Simple as that!
Need a bit more help deciding on the best practice approach for your specific audience and goals? Our experienced Learning Consultants can help. Download a list of our services here or get in touch to discuss your elearning program or sample elearning courses.
If you’re looking for some more resources to help you plan and execute your next project, check out our free elearning templates. Here’s a list of our top three to start with.
And if you are still deciding on the best tool for your team be sure to check out our comparison blog of most popular elearning authoring tools.
