Is the e-learning industry stuck in a cycle of "sameness"? And if so, how can learning and development professionals break free from conventional authoring tools to create truly impactful and engaging experiences? A recent episode of the Future of Edtech podcast from Open eLMS delved into these critical questions, featuring a compelling discussion between host Emil Reisser-Weston and guest Jeff Batt, the founder and head trainer at Learning Dojo Ninja.
The conversation explored the limitations of traditional e-learning development, the transformative power of AI and 'vibe coding', and the evolving role of instructional designers in a rapidly changing landscape. It highlighted a future where customisation, data-driven insights, and a focus on measurable behaviour change will define success.
Key Takeaways from the Discussion:
- The "Sameness" Trap: Traditional authoring tools, particularly those focused on template-driven content, often lead to uninspired, text-heavy e-learning that resembles digital textbooks rather than interactive experiences.
- AI as a Liberator: Artificial intelligence, especially through 'vibe coding' (AI-powered custom development), offers unprecedented freedom to create bespoke, highly interactive, and engaging learning content, from games to VR simulations, without extensive manual coding.
- Evolving L&D Roles: Instructional designers are shifting from mere content creators to strategic business analysts, focusing on identifying skills gaps, measuring behavioural change, and demonstrating tangible ROI, akin to management consultants.
- The Power of Customisation: Embracing custom development and AI allows L&D professionals to move beyond "cookie-cutter" content, providing unique, instructionally sound solutions that deliver real value and prevent "AI slop."
- XAPI for Advanced Tracking: While SCORM remains prevalent, XAPI is the ideal standard for tracking the rich, granular data generated by custom, AI-powered learning interactions, offering deeper insights into learner behaviour and performance.
- Curiosity and Continuous Learning: The safest position for L&D professionals in this era of rapid technological change is to remain curious, continuously explore new possibilities with AI, and embrace a developer mindset, even without traditional coding skills.
What if the very tools designed to simplify content creation were, in fact, limiting innovation within e-learning? This was a central point of discussion, as Emil Reisser-Weston and Jeff Batt explored the constraints of widespread authoring platforms. Mr Batt, known for his expertise in pushing the boundaries of e-learning tools, reflected on his early motivations for founding Learning Dojo Ninja. His goal was to move beyond static pages and leverage custom JavaScript snippets to create more interactive and dynamic learning experiences, a stark contrast to the "PowerPoint on steroids" approach he observed in many early tools.
The conversation highlighted a common industry challenge: the proliferation of "samey" content. Mr Batt noted that while tools like Articulate Rise are excellent for beginners, their template-driven nature often results in courses that, once you've seen one, you've seen them all. This can lead to a sense of "mediocrity" where the focus shifts from innovative learning design to simply filling pre-defined structures. Mr Reisser-Weston openly shared his own reservations, describing Rise-generated content as resembling a "textbook" rather than an engaging e-learning experience.
So, how can L&D professionals inject creativity and individuality into e-learning development? Mr Batt advocated for a multi-pronged approach. For users of existing tools, he recommended utilising features like code blocks within Rise to extend functionality and create custom experiences. More broadly, he championed the concept of 'vibe coding' – leveraging AI to build entirely bespoke learning environments. This approach, he explained, allows developers to create "whatever type of learning experience you want," from single games to immersive VR scenarios, and then track these rich interactions using standards like XAPI. The key, he argued, is to templatise courses using data storage methods like JSON files, avoiding the need to rebuild from scratch every time.
The industry, however, often exhibits a certain resistance to this shift. Mr Reisser-Weston observed that many perceive e-learning as something that must look like a scrolling Rise page or a PowerPoint presentation. Mr Batt acknowledged this, noting that new instructional designers often find template-based tools the easiest entry point. This creates a paradigm where the familiar becomes the accepted standard, inadvertently stifling more imaginative approaches.
Yet, history offers lessons. Mr Batt recalled the Flash era, where custom animations and interactive experiences were more common. He suggested that a lack of development training for instructional designers led many to gravitate towards the path of least resistance. This highlights a persistent gap in the industry: a strong focus on instructional design principles, but often less emphasis on the practical development and technological aspects of content creation.
But what if AI could bridge this gap, empowering L&D professionals to embrace development without needing to be coding experts? Mr Batt asserted that AI is opening up a wealth of possibilities, enabling the creation of learning experiences across diverse platforms – from native iOS and Android applications to virtual reality environments and even voice-activated learning through smart glasses. This signifies a crucial shift: learning is no longer confined to traditional authoring tools but can happen "in any type of environment."
The recent move by Articulate towards automated, AI-driven e-learning generation was also a key topic. Mr Batt viewed this not as a threat, but as an opportunity. While it broadens the market for content creation, potentially leading to "cookie-cutter" or "AI slop," it simultaneously elevates the role of the skilled instructional designer. He argued that this development pushes L&D professionals to differentiate themselves by offering custom, instructionally sound, and highly interactive experiences that go beyond what an out-of-the-box AI generator can provide. This means embracing a role closer to that of a management consultant – identifying skills gaps, performing business analysis, and focusing on measurable business improvement and return on investment, rather than just course completions.
The discussion then turned to the fundamental characteristics of "good" e-learning. Mr Batt referenced the ICAP framework (Interactive, Constructive, Active, Passive), advocating for a move away from purely passive learning (e.g., watching videos or clicking through slides). He emphasised the need for active engagement, where learners interact with content, and constructive activities, where they apply knowledge to build understanding. He envisioned "digital tutors" or Socratic chat interfaces embedded within learning experiences, guiding learners through processes and prompting critical thinking without directly providing answers. This approach leverages AI to create a personalised coaching experience, tweaking behaviour to achieve desired outputs.
Tracking these rich, custom interactions requires a more sophisticated approach than traditional SCORM packages. Mr Batt highlighted XAPI as the ideal standard for capturing granular data from 'vibe coded' and AI-generated learning. He explained that XAPI can track nuanced actions like "Jeff Batt mastered a game" or "accomplished this in a certain amount of time," providing far deeper insights into learning effectiveness. Crucially, AI is making XAPI implementation significantly easier, allowing developers to configure tracking without writing a single line of code, thus democratising advanced analytics.
Looking ahead five years, Mr Batt predicted a future where e-learning authoring tools become increasingly chat-based, with AI generating code from natural language prompts. He also expressed hope that the industry would embrace a wider array of technologies, delivering learning through mobile apps, VR/AR, and even smart glasses that offer in-the-moment coaching. This vision requires a fundamental shift in how L&D professionals approach content creation, moving beyond traditional methods to explore new frontiers.
The safest place for L&D professionals, both speakers agreed, is to embrace technology, remain curious, and continuously explore what's possible. AI, Mr Batt stressed, acts as a powerful co-worker, partner, and tutor, empowering individuals to achieve more and capture organisational knowledge effectively.
The future of e-learning is not about replacing human expertise with AI, but about augmenting it. It’s about leveraging artificial intelligence to break free from the constraints of the past, enabling L&D professionals to design truly engaging, effective, and measurable learning experiences that drive real business improvement. The question is no longer if AI will transform learning, but how quickly organisations and professionals will embrace its full potential.
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