3 Creative Examples for Using Lesson Plans in Your E-learning Courses

These days, a lot of e-learning designers are laser-focused on one big question: “How can I make my courses more engaging?” It’s hands-down one of the most common topics I hear in my workshops.

The good news? There are plenty of ways to crank up the interactivity and engagement in your courses. But here’s the twist: sometimes the best way to make a course better isn’t what’s in the course—it’s what happens outside of it.

some creative e-learning projects that lean on attachments and teacher guides. The courses themselves? Fantastic examples of e-learning done right. But when paired with supporting resources and activities? They go from great to absolutely next-level.

Jamestown Exhibit

The Jamestown Exhibit is packed with interactive maps, animations, and video interviews that bring the story of Jamestown to life.

But here’s where it gets even better: the Teacher’s Guide. It’s loaded with expanded information, student discussion prompts, learning activities, and even debate questions.

I have to say, I thought the debate questions were a particularly nice touch:

Van Valen’s Gold Rush Journey

In Van Valen’s Gold Rush Journey, students step into the shoes of historians, tracing Van Valen’s adventures during the gold rush.

What sets this course apart is how student activities are woven seamlessly into the experience. They’re available as downloadable PDFs and embedded right into the e-learning project itself.

Plus, with hints and resources sprinkled throughout, this course nails the concept of blended e-learning. It’s hands-down one of the best examples I’ve seen.

Resources include:

• Teacher’s Guide
• Student Worksheet
• Gold Rush Rubric
• Journal Entry Transcript

The Drill on the Spill: Learning About the Gulf Oil Leak in the Lab

The New York Times takes a unique approach by starting with a web page and directing students to interactive graphics, infographics, and videos for analysis—all centered around an oil spill disaster.

The site also includes a treasure trove of teaching and learning materials, like articles, discussion questions, and lab activities. These resources do a fantastic job of helping students dive deeper into the spill and the efforts to clean it up.

What do you think?

• Were you surprised all three examples were designed for K-12 students?
• What did you think about the debate topics? Have you designed something similar in your e-learning? Seems like SharePoint forums or discussion boards could be a good corporate option.
• What kinds of topics would work best for student guides?
• Do you think it takes more or less time to design supporting resources?