E-learning has emerged as the new, advanced paradigm of modern education. The market for e-learning is developing at a fast rate, with some sources reporting its value at $182 million in 2017. Both companies and educational institutions see the value in this innovative strategy, so the market is predicted to expand at 5 percent every year.

With e-learning being one of the most effective preparing technique for both corporations and universities, adopting it is certainly a reasonable decision. If you are considering this decision as well, here are 7 laws that drive successful e-learning.

Law #1: Eliminate Computer Anxiety

As strange as it may sound, research indicates that learner attitude towards computer is a critical factor in their outcome. For example, a positive attitude increases the chance of successful computer learning, while negative attitudes reduce interest. A person may have sufficient computer skills but their emotional fears of potential negative outcomes such as looking foolish can profoundly affect satisfaction.

For example, one Turkish study found significant positive correlation between computer anxiety and personal educational outcome in teachers. Therefore, computer anxiety relates to both educators and learners.

Takeaway: reduce or eliminate computer anxiety using prior training.

Law #2: Provide Timely Response to Learners

If an instructor is capable of responding to students’ needs and problems in a timely manner, learning satisfaction will improve. On the other hand, if students’ needs are not met promptly, they tend to develop a negative attitude toward the educator; moreover, their interest in learning decreases.

Since educators are major actors in learning activities that cannot be asked a question by raising a hand, their availability and prompt response are critical to achieve the best educational outcomes for students.

Takeaway: The instructors should be available during specific hours to respond to students to ensure that their satisfaction level is high.

Law #3: Design Quality and Flexible E-Learning Programs

The design of online courses has been considered a crucial factor in a number of studies. For example, a group of researchers from the U.S., Australia, and Taiwan concluded that characteristics of e-learning such as online interactive discussions and multimedia presentation for course materials played an important role for increasing interest and engagement of learners.

For example, courses containing multimedia, interactive activities, quizzes, and brainstorming produce more positive results in terms of motivating continuous online learning.

Takeaway: create engaging, quality courses. ELearning Industry, for example, recommends keeping learning modules short, using video materials, and providing interactive elements that give learners the opportunity to engage with each other.

Law #4: Provide Appropriate Feedback and Assessment Mechanisms

They are critical for e-learners because they need to feel that their efforts are properly assessed. For example, one way to improve the quality of feedback mechanisms is to employ not just one, but several evaluation methods to provide the group with highly sophisticated performance analysis.

There are some benefits for educators as well. For example, a variety of assessment techniques allow them to canvass learning effects from different aspects, so they could improve instructions. In other words, diversity in assessment ensures that learners’ performance is evaluated from different angles, and their strengths and weaknesses are properly identified.

Takeaway: diversified assessment and motivates students to exhibit their best efforts while feedback mechanisms significantly influence satisfaction.

Law #5: Conduct Formative and Summative Assessment

In an e-learning classroom, these are two primary types of assessments; on the one hand, formative is conducted after completing each topic. On the other hand, summative is conducted at the end of the course, so its purpose is to determine whether or not a learner achieved the course goals and reached the desired level of proficiency.

Formative assessment is a highly beneficial assessment strategy because it focuses on the needs of learners instead of what they should already have mastered,” says Paul Westbrook, an educator at write-my-essay-for-me.com. “It thus allows them to have sufficient time to improve.”

Takeaway: Use formative and summative assessments to reinforce the learning and provide meaningful and useful feedback.

Law #6: Use Self-Paced e-Learning

This mode of learning ensures that the class is free to learn at their own pace and allows defining personal learning paths based on their individual needs and interests. In other words, you put your class in charge for their success. For example, some people prefer to get done with a course very fast while others choose to go through the same content multiple times. Self-paced learning ensures that you’re able to meet all these requirements and still have to scheduling issues.

Takeaway: adopt self-paced learning allows the class, be it university students or employees, to enjoy more flexibility and tailored instructions.

Law #7: Perceived Usefulness

In order to be motivated to reach the best learning outcomes, the class needs to perceive the course useful. The knowledge provided by it should be applicable in real life and help them solve various issues they encounter. Only in this case the will find value in what they learn in the course.

According to experienced educators, a good way to ensure that the learners understand the usefulness of the course is to study them before developing it. Just like companies study target audiences to develop more personalized products and services, you should also know the students to design a great course for them.

Takeaway: any course you develop needs to be useful to learners, so make sure they can find value in the knowledge you provide.