What is Interactive E-learning? Interactive E-learning is an interchange of thought processes between learners and eLearning tools through which learners get involved in the process of eLearning.
E-learning interactivity works as a form of dialogue in online classrooms. It is important to maintain an active interaction in online learning to make it more engaging and effective.
E-learning refers to learning through electronic technologies. Interactive E-learning is sort of similar to the interaction between teacher and student in the traditional classroom.
However, the interaction in E-learning usually replaces the presence of a teacher with an electronic device.
Interactivity in E-learning acts as an important link between the learning materials and the learners’ understanding. The interactive elements of online courses are designed to give learners a more engaging and involving learning experience.
Interactivity is a key component in the E-learning system that plays an important part in the effectiveness of the online learning process. The purpose of creating Interactive E-learning is to deepen the learner’s understanding of the course materials.
E-learning interaction involves different levels and various types of activities to get action and reaction from learners and to provide them with an experiential learning environment.
What are the types of interactivity in elearning?
What is Interactive E-learning and types of interactivity in elearning? Different extent of Interactivity affects the overall quality of the E-learning process in varying ways. There are four main levels of interactivity in E-learning.
Passive E-learning Interactivity
The passive interactivity level is the initial stage of E-learning. This level is also known as No interaction level. There’s no interaction between the learners and the study materials.
At this level, the E-learning process is clear, direct, and linear. Learners get content through simple videos, audio, text reading, and onscreen navigation. The learning contents in this level are less engaging, resulting in an average learning outcome.
Limited E-learning Interactivity
The second level of E-learning interactivity is basic but has more engaging elements than the first level. Limited E-learning Interactivity level includes animations, clickable tabs, drag and drop actions, MCQs, and multimedia content.
At this level, learners get the opportunity to engage more with their learning materials and control their learning experience.
This level of interaction is also suitable for assessment tasks and for retaining more information. It’s a common types of interactivity in elearning.
Moderate E-learning Interactivity
This level of E-learning interactivity offers a non-linear, customized, and complex learning process. Learners get more control over their learning experience.
Moderate E-learning interactivity level includes narrative animations, case studies, MCQs, complex drag and drop activities, simulations, customized audios, and multimedia contents.
The interactive contents of this level are designed to provide learners with problem-solving and decision-making skills, practical application of knowledge, and informative feedback.
Full E-learning Interactivity
The last level of E-learning interactivity requires full immersion of the learners. They get full control over their learning experience. At this level, learners are presented with more engaging and interactive learning materials that help them develop their attitude and behavioral skills.
Full E-learning Interactivity includes contents like interactive videos, AR/VR, gamification, simulated work exercises, and multimedia content. The complex learning situations provided by this level help learners improve their critical thinking skills and analytical skills. What is Interactive E-learning? Are the types of interactivity in elearning concepts clear to you?
What are the interactive elements in elearning?
The right mix of learning activities makes an online course engaging and effective. There are several types of interactive activities available to be included in e-lessons. Let’s talk about the best interactive elements in elearning.
Stories
The story-based E-learning process is very powerful and engaging. Learning materials presented in a story-like manner with characters relevant to the learners are highly interactive and appealing.
Character dialogues can be added to build a conversation between the illustrated characters. The E-book is another way of presenting stories with text narration, 3D E-books can also include images and videos which make it more interactive for the learners. It is one of the best interactive elements in elearning.
Simulations and Scenarios
If you are looking for interactive elements in elearning then the Simulations and Scenarios are ideal for you.
There are activities that take learners to virtual situations where they don’t face the consequences in reality. In order to create immersive simulations and scenarios, realistic images, sound effects, and voiceovers are used.
Different types of engaging scenarios and simulations are used to create engaging learning experiences such as,
- Museum Simulation involves a 3D walkthrough a virtual museum with more than 4 sections where images and videos can be featured
- Role-based Individualized Simulation puts learners in a certain situation where they are required to solve problems and make decisions. Instructive feedback is given to the learners to make them aware of the complexity of the situation.
- Goal-driven Immersive Learning Situation is a scenario template that is used to provide learners with an interactive tour of a process or a real-life situation with hotspots. Learners select their own path through the tour with the help of instructive feedback.
Games
One of the most popular interactive elements in elearning is games. E-learning incorporated with games is more fun and appealing. With the right application of game mechanics like leader boards, levels, points, etc., the engagement rate can soar to new heights. Some highly interactive games that can be added to online courses are the following,
- Slot machine is a game of positive reinforcement and can highly motivate the learners.
- Spin the wheel can be used for assessment. Learners answer a variety of questions assigned to the wheel they stop at.
- Tic-tac-toe games with questions can be very effective to reinforce important learning concepts.
- Audio-visual crossword is a familiar game that helps learners to recall words with the help of images and audio clips as clues.
Quizzes and Assessments
It is a great example of interactive elements in elearning. Assessment is a standard method of evaluating a learner’s grade. While the quiz is a shorter assessment. Both these activities can be used in online learning courses to reinforce feedback and to help learners for improvement.
For example, Million-Dollar Quiz can be applied which follows the traditional MCQ structure and tests learners’ knowledge in an entertaining way.
Virtual assessment, incorporated with multimedia, is also a great activity to be included where learners are given stories and scenarios before the test. I hope you got the overall idea of interactive elements in elearning.
Benefits of Interactivity In E-learning
In E-learning, interactivity plays a crucial role in enhancing learners’ engagement levels and sense of accomplishment.
E-learning interactivity helps learners to utilize their critical thinking and motivates them towards meaningful learning. Interactive elements also activate alertness, attentiveness, and long-term memory.
E-learning interactivity imitates real-life scenarios where learners solve problems and make decisions without taking any risks. It helps them to get a deeper learning experience and prepares them for real-life tasks.
Interactivity also promotes reflective learning which helps learners to make their problem-solving strategies. Interactive activities help to create an emotionally driven learning experience that enhances knowledge retention. Interactive elements in lessons work as motivators for learners.
Interactivity has proven to be an important requirement in all types of learning. With the growing technology, various forms of interactive elements are designed to make E-learning courses more successful. What is Interactive E-learning? I hope you have understood.
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