Are you wondering how AI is going to affect your training efforts? Are you starting to experiment with AI to create e-learning courses and crossing your fingers, hoping that there will be more pros than cons? In the era of AI, it’s easy to get caught up in automation, algorithms, and concerns about efficiency.

At Illumina Interactive, we know that some things never change. No matter how advanced technology becomes, e-learning is ultimately about people—real human learners with emotions, motivations, and unique ways of absorbing knowledge.

AI robot and woman facing each other

If you want to create effective e-learning experiences, you have to design courses that speak to learners as human beings, not just as data points. Whether you’re using AI tools or crafting content manually, the key to engagement is understanding the people on the other side of the screen.

Text "The key to engagement is understanding the people on the other side of the screen.Here are the best practices we follow when creating e-learning solutions for our clients or partners:

1. Start with Empathy, Not Just Data

A young woman with glasses intently focuses on her laptop screen, illuminated in a dimly lit setting.AI can analyze behavior patterns, but it can’t feel frustration, excitement, or confusion the way humans do. Good e-learning starts with empathy:

  • What are your learners struggling with?
  • What motivates them?
  • How does their learning environment impact their focus?

User research, surveys, and direct feedback help bridge the gap between algorithms and real needs. AI should enhance this understanding, not replace it. Research on human-centered design[6] and instructional design principles[5] supports the idea that learning experiences should be built around user needs rather than just raw performance metrics.

2. Make Content Relatable and Conversational

Do your learners request robotic, monotonous training modules? We didn’t think so. Whether AI helps generate your scripts or not, the tone should be engaging, warm, and human. Speak like a real person teaching another person. At Illumina, our instructional designers always strive to:

  • Use stories and real-world examples.
  • Write in a conversational tone.
  • Show personality and humor where appropriate.

Overly complex, jargon-heavy content can reduce comprehension.[1] Research on social presence in online learning[2] further highlights the importance of making e-learning feel more interactive and human.

Woman has video conference with her remote team using laptop and camera

3. Personalize the Learning Experience

Woman at laptop thinking while looking off in the distanceAI shines in personalization, but you have to use it thoughtfully. Instead of treating personalization as just adaptive quizzes and automated recommendations, our Illumina team makes sure to consider deeper elements where appropriate:

  • Allowing learners to choose their own learning paths.
  • Adapting content based on learners’ interests, job roles, or skill levels.
  • Providing flexible pacing so learners don’t feel rushed or held back.

AI-driven personalization can enhance engagement by catering to individual learning styles[3], but AI should support—not dictate—the learning process.[4] The best personalization strategies balance AI efficiency with human flexibility.

4. Prioritize Interaction Over Passive Consumption

Video call. Attractive African-American guy is using laptop for video communication, a guy in glasses sits at the table in modern office, looking into webcam and talking onlineAI-generated courses often lean heavily on text, slides, and pre-recorded videos. But, having created thousands of online learning experiences for learners with diverse needs, our team knows that true learning happens through interaction. Your e-learning courses will have greater impact when you apply these elements:

  • Encourage discussions in forums or live sessions.
  • Use interactive scenarios where learners make choices and see outcomes.
  • Design activities that involve problem-solving, collaboration, and reflection.

Studies on constructivist learning theory—which aims to allow learners to construct their own understanding of a subject by actively engaging with the material presented to them—suggest that interaction is essential for deep learning.[2] Recruit AI to help you facilitate engagement, not to turn courses into passive content consumption.

5. Ensure AI Supports, Not Replaces, Human Connection

AI is great at generating lessons, grading assignments, and answering FAQs, but it can’t replace the value of human mentorship. The learners we have worked with across industries have always needed real instructors, coaches, and peers. Whenever possible, Illumina’s designers and developers create courses that:

  • Offer opportunities for learners to connect with instructors and each other.
  • Make human support accessible when needed.
  • Encourage peer learning through group projects, discussions, or knowledge-sharing platforms.

AI should be seen as a tool that enhances human interaction, not one that replaces teachers and mentors.[7][8] AI-powered tutors and chatbots can provide support, but human connection remains vital.

Group discussion

Keep It Human

AI is a powerful tool for creating scalable, efficient e-learning experiences, but it should never overshadow the human aspect of learning. The best courses respect learners as individuals, speak to them in a relatable way, and foster real connection and engagement.

Let’s ensure that we use AI to serve people—not the other way around. At the end of the day, learning isn’t just about information transfer; it’s about growth, understanding, and human experience.

Mary Ellen Whitaker is a Senior Learning Content Designer who has been with Illumina Interactive since its founding in 1997. She is passionate about bringing her human touch to all her projects!

This content was crafted by the author, with AI assistance for research, organization, and clarity.

1. Clark, R. C., & Mayer, R. E. (2016). e-learning and the Science of Instruction: Proven Guidelines for Consumers and Designers of Multimedia Learning (4th ed.). Wiley.
2. Garrison, D. R., Anderson, T., & Archer, W. (2000). “Critical Inquiry in a Text-Based Environment: Computer Conferencing in Higher Education.” The Internet and Higher Education, 2(2-3), 87-105.
3. Holmes, W., Bialik, M., & Fadel, C. (2019). Artificial Intelligence in Education: Promises and Implications for Teaching and Learning. Center for Curriculum Redesign.
4. Luckin, R. (2018). Machine Learning and Human Intelligence: The Future of Education for the 21st Century. UCL IOE Press.
5. Merrill, M. D. (2002). “First Principles of Instruction.” Educational Technology Research and Development, 50(3), 43-59.
6. Norman, D. A. (2013). The Design of Everyday Things. Basic Books.
7. Selwyn, N. (2019). Should Robots Replace Teachers? AI and the Future of Education. Polity Press.
8. UNESCO (2021). AI and Education: Guidance for Policy-makers.