Lately I have been speaking with a lot of RTOs, and I keep hearing the same thing:
Their eLearning courses cover everything required for compliance, yet they’re being flagged in audits as “dry,” hard to navigate or simply not engaging for learners. The content is there, but the experience is missing.
This is more important now than ever.
With the 2025 Standards for RTOs in place, it’s not enough to deliver content, you need to demonstrate quality outcomes. ASQA’s own guidance reminds us that the way training is structured and presented directly shapes learner engagement and progress.
That’s exactly where I help. I work with RTOs to redesign courses so they don’t just meet compliance, they stick with learners. And the process is simpler than most people think.
Why Engagement Matters Beyond Compliance
Compliance guarantees the boxes are ticked. But interactivity is what keeps learners motivated, builds confidence step by step and gives them chances to practice.
When learners disengage, the course might still be “compliant,” but it won’t deliver outcomes.
That’s why auditors often call out courses that feel more like content dumps than structured learning journeys.
Step 1: Storyboarding First
One of the biggest mistakes I see is skipping storyboarding and jumping straight to content or visuals. Storyboarding is the blueprint of your course—it maps out how learners move through material and where interactivity happens.
Interactivity in eLearning isn’t about adding clicks for the sake of it. It’s about designing meaningful moments where learners think, apply, and connect.
Here’s how I frame it:
- When teaching knowledge → Use tools like clickable infographics, timelines, hotspots, flip cards, or drag-and-drop exercises. These help learners explore and absorb information, which you can then reinforce with knowledge checks or short scenario questions.
- When building skills → Learners need practice. This might include branching scenarios where they make choices and see outcomes, guided simulations that walk them through processes, or drag-and-drop activities that mirror real workplace tasks.
- When developing abilities → This is about application in context. Case studies, role plays, or applied projects help learners integrate what they’ve learned and show they can use it in realistic situations.
This scaffolding creates a clear learner pathway and avoids the common pitfalls auditors notice: passive content, linear progression without practice, and no checkpoints for learners to pause and reflect.
Step 2: Designing with Purpose
Once the storyboard is done, it’s time for design. This is where you bring the plan to life—not by adding more interactions, but by making the learning environment clear, consistent, and easy to use.
Key principles I use with RTOs:
- White space: Give each screen breathing room—just like silence in music, it helps focus attention.
- Consistency: Keep formatting uniform. Buttons should look the same, titles should be in the same spot with the same size, and instructions should follow the same style. This builds familiarity and prevents confusion.
- Legibility: Choose font sizes and colour contrasts that are easy to read and meet accessibility requirements. No squished text or low-contrast colour blends.
- Accessibility: Add alt text, ensure keyboard navigation works, and design with screen readers in mind.
- Navigation: Keep it consistent and intuitive. Whether it’s player “next” buttons or on-screen controls, learners should never be left guessing how to progress.
- Layout: Balance text, visuals, and interactive elements so screens feel clean and easy to process—no overload.
When storyboarding and design are treated as two distinct stages, courses become more than compliant—they’re structured, professional, and learner-friendly.
Quick Wins for RTOs
If you are looking to improve your courses without a complete rebuild, here are some practical starting points:
- Map every interactive element back to an outcome—it gives learners a purpose and strengthens your audit evidence.
- Reframe performance criteria as tasks, not text. Instead of telling the steps, ask learners to choose them.
- Pilot with a small group—feedback shows continuous improvement, which ASQA looks for.
- Start small—add one scenario, one checkpoint, or one branching quiz. Even modest changes can lift engagement and results.
Final Thoughts
Compliance makes sure content is covered. But design and structure are what make learning effective.
Storyboarding defines the learner journey, and design ensures the course is clear, consistent, and accessible. Together, they transform eLearning from dry and audit-driven to engaging and outcomes-driven.
That’s the process I guide RTOs through every day.
If your courses are compliant but feel flat, let’s talk.
Curious how this could work in your RTO?
Schedule a free strategy session below.
We will discuss how you can improve interactivty in your eLearning.
