Integrating Responsive Design In E-learning

E-learning initiatives continue to gain steam in a variety of industries, from health care to education. As more companies adopt online training software to better educate employees, corporations have discovered the importance of optimizing these programs to the many different technological devices on the market, such as smartphones, tablet computers and e-readers.

Responsive e-learning ensures that training initiatives are not only viewable on these devices, but just as interactive and successful as they would be on more conventional platforms, such as desktop computers. This type of design optimizes the training to the specific device, meaning that images, videos and scrolling are simple and accessible on all platforms.

Adopting a responsive e-learning design allows corporations to rest easy knowing their employees have access to the online training platform from any location – which may, in turn, lead to further interaction with the software.

 

Benefits of adopting a multiscreen approach
While encouraging employees to interact with online training software in the office ensures they have both viewed and completed assigned tasks, a number of corporations have adopted a bring your own device policy. By adopting a BYOD plan, many organizations have saved money, as people conduct work or learning from personal resources. As BYOD programs rise in popularity, these companies must adapt their approach to better serve the myriad of devices on the market.

Elucidat reported that ensuring employees can access training programs on any platform allows workers the freedom to complete tasks at their own pace from any location. For example, business executives who must travel by train or plane can use that time to conduct training on a mobile or tablet device, allowing them to spend additional time speaking with clients or conducting further business.

Additionally, optimizing your training initiatives for all devices allows staff members to work from platforms with which they are already familiar, potentially saving both time and money as they quickly move through objectives.

 

Understanding the need
While responsive design can provide several benefits to employees, it’s equally important for companies to adapt in order to meet rising technological trends. According to the Pew Research Internet Project, adults are purchasing devices at an increasing rate. The agency reported that as of January 2014, 58 percent of adults over the age of 18 have smartphones, 42 percent have tablets and 32 percent have e-readers. As more people use these devices to access the Internet, digital software and educational programs, companies must adapt operations to best serve workers.

The BBC reported that tailoring software to better serve all devices would be essential for companies’ survival in the future, as they must meet the rising technological trends to stay relevant in today’s landscape. The source noted that it had to radically alter its site design following the release of the iPhone, as size, touch capabilities and screen factors could alter the way visitors interacted with the site. Businesses looking to not only cement themselves as industry leaders, but also encourage employees to interact with online training software may be best suited with a responsive design.

 

Adapting your approach 
As you begin to develop your e-learning software, its essential to pick fonts, pictures and colors that can be adapted to a variety of learning platforms. Upside Learning recommends several tactics that businesses can adopt to ensure their training content retains its quality on various pieces of technology. First, executives must decide upon a font that can be read regardless of size – thicker, more design-heavy types may not translate well across platforms, but thinner and non-formatted ones may be best. Additionally, it’s important to opt for images that can be easily scaled or resized, as they will shift as they are adapted to different devices.