Sorry, I Didn’t Hear You: Why Silence in E-Learning Is a Missed Opportunity

E-learning today is multimodal, incorporating videos, animations, games, text, audio, quizzes, interactive images, sorting exercises, discussion forums, and more. The goal? Engagement—because engagement boosts learning. But are we engaging learners effectively?

According to cognitive psychologist Dr. Richard Mayer, we may not be. Below are some common mistakes and ways to move from "good" to "great" in e-learning design. Can you spot the difference?

• An animation with text and no audio is good. It’s even better when a story is added through narration.
• An interactive picture with text is good. It’s even better when a spoken story accompanies the image.
• Written text with an instructive image is good. It’s even better when an audio story is included.
• A podcast episode is great. It’s even better when a worksheet with labeled images that capture key moments is added.

A silent intervention

Aside from videos that combine visual and auditory elements, e-learning is often surprisingly... silent.

Some innovators may include podcasts as part of their modules, reintroducing sound to the learning experience. While this adds an important auditory element, there’s still room for improvement. Why? Because effective learning happens when visual and auditory elements are used together. Dr. Mayer's research shows that learning improves significantly when both systems are activated simultaneously.

The research shows that when multiple cognitive pathways are engaged at the same time, learners retain and apply information more effectively. Simply put, visuals (videos, animations, images, etc.) are processed by one part of the brain, while sounds (narration, music, etc.) are processed by another. When both are activated together, learning improves. How can we use this research when designing learning interventions?

E-Learning Principles

Dr. Mayer identifies seven useful learning principles:

1. Spatial Contiguity Principle: Learners absorb information better when related text and visuals are placed close together, reducing the need to search for connections.

2. Temporal Contiguity Principle: Learners understand better when corresponding visuals and audio are presented simultaneously, rather than sequentially.

3. Coherence Principle: Learning improves when irrelevant content is excluded, avoiding distractions that consume cognitive resources.

4. Modality Principle: Using both audio (narration) and visuals (animations) leads to better learning than visuals with on-screen text, preventing overload of the visual channel.

5. Redundancy Principle: Learners process information more effectively with animation and narration alone, avoiding cognitive overload caused by adding on-screen text.

6. Interactivity Principle: Allowing learners to control the pace of presentations enhances their ability to process and organize information.

7. Signaling Principle: Learning is more efficient when key information is highlighted or signaled, helping learners focus on and process critical material.

A few examples of applications

Example 1: Concepts, Contracts, Values, Objectives

Alongside the words, visualise concepts or KPIs, use colour-coding or sorting tools to help learners understand differences and similarities, create new possibilities, and set targets.

Example 2: Financial Data, Reporting, Compliance

Turn financial data into a story. Present an animated chart of revenue streams alongside a narration that explains how each source affects overall financial health.

Example 3: Training teams need operationally

Avoid irrelevant images or stories. Focus on realistic workplace scenarios, such as real or anticipated conflicts between (e.g.,) sales and operations teams, to keep the learning experience streamlined.

Example 4: Don't overload with text within the video

Show an animated promotional campaign with voiceover explanations for each step. Avoid crowding the screen too much text, allowing learners to absorb both the visuals and the strategy without cognitive overload.

Example 5: Animating sequence with storytelling

Present an animated sequence (e.g.,) showing how posts and ads are scheduled, paired with narration about audience targeting and engagement strategies. Avoid excessive on-screen text that could overwhelm learners.

Example 6: Give learners control

Include interactive simulations that allow learners to decide how to handle various business crises, e.g., negative press or sponsor dissatisfaction. This enables managers to practice decision-making and reflect on their choices at their own pace.

Example 7: Chunk, chunk, chunk

Use visual or audio cues to chunk sections using descriptive labels like "Active listening Explained" or "team motivation techniques" helping learns focus on the most essential content for them.

Final thoughts

The applications of E-Learning are numerous. The key is to ensure that both visual and auditory systems are activated together, in a balanced way, to avoid overstimulation. Each picture should tell a story, and each story should be visually represented. This combined activation (and not the sequential activation) creates a multimedia experience that closely simulates real-life learning, without physically placing learners in a room or setting.