E‑Learning Design

These tools and resources assist e‑learning developers in creating quality products and will help those new to e‑learning understand the basics.

• E-learning Essentials [PDF – 3 KB] Learn about instructional components essential to every quality e-learning course.
• E-learning Essentials Interactive Learn about the essential instructional components of e-learning with this interactive tutorial.
• E-learning Examples See how CDC e-learning courses apply essential instructional components.
• Quick-Learn Design Toolkit [PDF – 930 KB] Learn how to create brief e-learning lessons that are compatible with mobile devices.

Below are frequently asked questions and answers about e-learning design.

What is e‑learning?

Electronic learning, or “e-learning,” is commonly described as learning accessible through computerized electronic technologies, such as the Internet, intranet, compact disc, or other digital media.

What is a quality e‑learning product?

Instructional designers and e-learning developers recognize that e learning supports distinct learning objectives. Through a variety of instructional strategies, particularly interactive strategies, e-learning can be effective and engaging. Products that engage learners while achieving learning goals provide a quality learning experience.

What makes e‑learning effective?

Design and development of effective e-learning requires a number of analytic activities to help ensure learning takes place. CDC’s e-learning developers have identified six components essential to quality e learning.

These components are described in detail in CDC’s E-learning Essentials products and demonstrated in the Examples of Quality E-learning.

What is a Quick-Learn Lesson?

Quick-Learn lessons are a form of e-learning designed to address one or two learning objectives and take less than 20 minutes to complete. Through responsive design, the lessons adapt for easy viewing on computers and mobile devices (e.g., smart phones, tablets).