Choose the Right Type of Interactivity to Engage the Learner
By Cindy Schott, Senior Instructional Designer
What do you remember about the last online course you created? Did your learners feel engaged? Energized? If not, review the online course to see which of the four levels of interactivity were in use. Incorporating the right level of interactivity increases learners’ participation, focus, and retention of material.
The four levels of interactivity are Passive, Limited, Moderate, and Full Immersion. Unfortunately, many online courses today tend to employ just one type of interactivity, Level 1: Passive, because it is the easiest and least expensive approach.
The best type of interactivity to use will align with your strategy and the objectives you set for a course. Instructional designers may find that a mix of interactivity will help to achieve the objectives. Keep in mind that budget and resources will influence your choice, especially with Levels 3 and 4. However, tools and technology continue to improve, making interactivity easier, less time consuming, and less expensive. For data, trends, and predictions on teaching and learning methods, see 39 Interactive Learning Statistics.
Following these tips can help you choose when to use the four levels of interactivity:
Level 1: Passive (no interactivity)
Course characteristics: heavy text, static images, audio, video, rollovers, basic quiz questions, basic navigation
When to use: For lecture-based format, presenting basic concepts, understanding
Level 2: Limited (some interactivity)
Course characteristics: basic animation, clickable images, simple exercises (basic puzzle/matching, drag and drop), audio, video
When to use: For understanding
Level 3: Moderate (custom interactivity)
Course characteristics: audio, video, animations, story-based scenarios, branching scenarios, specialized interactions
When to use: For skill development, compliance, decision-making
Level 4: Full Immersion (simulation interactivity)
Course characteristics: mix of multimedia, high-end images, avatars, virtual reality, 3D simulations, gamification
When to use: For hands-on application, evaluation
Instructional Designers who include a variety of interactivity aligned with the instructional strategy and objectives increase learners’ engagement, attention, and ability to retain information.
For more information on the four levels of interactivity, when to use each, and how they relate to objectives, read Interactivities in eLearning: Decoding the 4 Levels and Their Examples.
Resources:
Gutierrez, Karla. “Levels of Interactivity in eLearning: Which One Do You Need?” Shift. Accessed October 3, 2022. https://www.shiftelearning.com/blog/bid/190140/Levels-of-Interactivity-in-eLearning-Which-one-do-you-need.
Omer, Ayesha Habeeb. “4 Levels of Learning Interaction in Online Courses.” eLearning Industry, March 10, 2018. https://elearningindustry.com/learning-interaction-online-courses-4-levels.
Pappas, Christopher. “eLearning Interactivity: The Ultimate Guide for eLearning Professionals.” eLearning Industry, April 18, 2015. https://elearningindustry.com/elearning-interactivity-the-ultimate-guide-for-elearning-professionals.