Perhaps you're already familiar with the term e-learning. E-learning presentations are increasingly used in many professions, companies, and also in schools and universities. But what exactly does e-learning stand for?
In this article, we will explain how you can use PowerPoint to create your own e-learning presentations.
What exactly is e-learning?
E-learning stands for electronic learning and refers to all forms of learning supported by electronic or digital media. If the term e-learning is unfamiliar to you, perhaps the following expressions will. There are several other terms used to describe e-learning, such as online learning, multimedia learning, or e-didactics .
The great thing about e-learning is that it can take place anywhere. Whether on the beach, at home, or on the train: e-learning has gained particular popularity during the Corona pandemic.
E-learning involves making learning content available to learners digitally. This content ranges from podcasts and presentations to video courses and training on design, image, marketing, etc. In this article, we focus on e-learning presentations.
E-learning: these are the advantages!
E-learning is not only easy to implement during pandemic times. Below, we have summarized further advantages that show why e-learning is currently more popular than ever.
#1: Self-directed learning
Because the learning content is permanently available, participants are not bound to a specific presentation time. It doesn't matter what time of day or night the content is accessed or how quickly it is reviewed. In contrast, a lecture with a predetermined time limit assumes that every listener understands the content within that timeframe.
Once a slide has been shown and discussed, everyone is expected to have absorbed and internalized the content. This means there's no opportunity to revisit specific slides. With e-learning, however, slides can be reviewed as often and for as long as desired, and participants determine their own learning pace.
Furthermore, users can complete the e-learning modules according to their own learning preferences. This means that while one person might prefer to learn with music, others may find background noise detrimental to their learning.
This allows participants to learn in a self-directed manner and understand the concepts independently.
#2: E-learning is location-independent
As already mentioned, a major advantage of e-learning is its accessibility. E-learning presentations, in particular, can be accessed from anywhere and from any device. Unlike a lecture, where everyone in the audience needs to be in the same location (unless it's online), you can share e-learning presentations with people around the globe.
This allows you to work on one or two e-learning presentations even while on vacation or traveling .
#3: Easy access to knowledge
E-learning is a major advantage, especially for people who live far from major cities and therefore potential event locations. With e-learning, the travel involved in acquiring knowledge and facts that would normally be conveyed in lectures is eliminated.
Furthermore, access to e-learning is available anytime and from anywhere, as long as a digital medium is available – usually free of charge.
#4: Learning content can be updated regularly.
Because e-learning presentations are available online, they can be updated by the author. This has the advantage that users always have access to the most up-to-date information and are therefore always up to date.
Unlike e-learning, this is not possible with in-person presentations. Once the presentation is over and the audience has left the room, there is no longer any opportunity to correct or update what was said.
PowerPoint and e-learning? Here's how!
PowerPoint offers many features that can be used to create a creative and effective e-learning product. However, several things need to be considered. What works for a slide presentation in front of a live audience requires some adaptation for an online course.
Therefore, this paragraph will show you exactly how to use PowerPoint to create e-learning presentations in just a few steps.
At the start:
Like any other presentation, creating an e-learning product in PowerPoint begins with a blank slide . It's advisable to start with a completely blank slide rather than a structured template consisting of a title and bullet points. This openness fosters creativity and allows you to freely design your own layout.
You can learn how to create an appealing PowerPoint layout in our blog post "PowerPoint Layout" .
Learning content should always be designed to be easily understandable. This makes it easier to motivate and inspire participants.
Creating the learning unit:
Creating learning units for e-learning PowerPoint presentations also differs from creating linear presentations. For e-learning presentations, more complex structures with multiple levels or branches are recommended. This allows learners to navigate freely through the online course in various ways . Furthermore, this approach ensures that participants with diverse levels of prior knowledge are catered for and that everyone understands your content.
It is also advisable to remain open to an arrangement that suits your content when creating your learning materials.
Organization through tabs:
Using tabs helps you organize your presentation and categorize your learning content. This paragraph will show you how. You can use these tabs to create a navigation bar. This navigation bar allows you to connect learning content using duplicate slides and hyperlinks.
#1: Creating a starting slide
To create a navigation bar with tabs, it is important to first create a starting slide . This will then be duplicated and linked with hyperlinks.
- To do this, create a rectangular shape with any number of tabs, as shown below. Then color the tabs in different colors. Next, duplicate this slide so that you have the same number of slides and tabs.
- On the duplicated slides, it's important to change the tab colors accordingly. Leave the middle tab gray on the second slide and the third tab gray on the last. If you have more than three tabs, repeat this step until you have a different tab grayed out on each presentation slide.
- Once you have created all your slides, label your tabs and slides. Make sure you label the correctly colored slides with the correct content.
#2: Include hyperlinks
To allow users of your e-learning presentation to navigate to a different slide by clicking on a tab, you need to include hyperlinks in your presentation. So, if someone clicks on the second tab of your presentation, the goal is that they are taken directly to the slide corresponding to that second tab.
The link is hidden in the background. Because the slides are structured identically, it looks as if you are still on the original slide, just in a different tab.
You can insert the hyperlinks described above using the following steps:
- Select the tab, i.e., the shape above the slide where you want to place a hyperlink. This should be a colored slide, as ideally you should be working on the gray one.
- Then, under "Insert" in the menu, select "Action".
Here, under "Action on click," you can select a link to your desired slide. This can be the previous or next slide, or any other slide number X.
- Confirm your selection in the pop-up window by clicking "OK" .
- To check if the hyperlink insertion worked, you can view your e-learning presentation as a slideshow. If you click on the different tabs and the slides you linked open, then you've done everything correctly.
A navigation bar with tabs is not only useful for structuring your learning content. The option for participants to mentally create different folders for various topics also increases user motivation. Furthermore, re-engaging with specific topics is easier thanks to e-learning tabs, as it eliminates the need to revisit the entire course from beginning to end.
#3: Bonus tip: Navigation menu instead of navigation bar
Even without tabs, you can include hyperlinks in your e-learning presentation. In addition to slides, actions such as switching between slides can also be linked by text, images, or icons . You insert these into your e-learning PowerPoint presentation exactly as explained in point #2 .
Find out how to use icons to add visual highlights to your presentation in our blog article on "PowerPoint Icons" .
Add-ins for your e-learning presentation:
In addition to ordinary text slides , you have a lot of freedom in e-learning regarding further add-ins.
Learning elements such as tests and quizzes are particularly suitable for ensuring that participants learn actively. This promotes not only active participation but also engagement, and unlike in face-to-face lectures, participants don't just listen and watch passively.
Audio tracks accompanying your e-learning or pre-recorded audio can also help personalize your e-learning experience. The more senses your participants are engaged and the more engaging the material is, the better it will be remembered. Our blog article on "PowerPoint Voiceover" provides helpful information on how to use audio or audio commentary in your presentation.
Read our article on “Interactive Presentations” to learn more about how to actively involve your audience in the presentation.
Bonus tip: Make your presentations more engaging with tips from our blog
Make your e-learning presentation even more engaging for your audience. They'll appreciate the visual appeal. Remember, closing the presentation is always just a click away. You can prevent this by strategically using additional visual elements. Whether it's animations, action titles, or storytelling, all these can play a complementary and engaging role in creating your e-learning presentation. Check out our blog for helpful tips on these topics and much more!
Conclusion: E-learning - Easy implementation thanks to PowerPoint!
As you can see, PowerPoint offers numerous possibilities for e-learning projects and allows plenty of room for creative ideas. Try out our tips and create engaging e-learning presentations in no time!
Do you have an idea for an e-learning application, but are missing some of the building blocks for its implementation? In our shop, you'll find a wide variety of templates, such as graphics, icons, maps, and animations, to help you create your e-learning project. ► Visit the shop
Do you have any questions about e-learning or PowerPoint in general? Don't hesitate to contact us by email at becker@presentationload.de . We're happy to help!
Other articles that might interest you:
- PowerPoint Voiceover - Make your presentation accessible at any time via audio commentary!
- PowerPoint Icons: Visual highlights for your presentations! Includes 4 popular pictogram usage ideas.
- Interactive presentations – 7 tips for effective design!
- PowerPoint Layout: Tips & Tricks – Including 6 modern ideas for your slide layout!