The rise of online learning: what Learning Design still gets wrong
Online learning is booming—and it's not slowing down. As someone who spends her days deep in the world of Learning Design, I should be thrilled, right? Well, I am… mostly. But I also have a few lingering concerns.
Hi, I'm Bianca Raby—educator by training, entrepreneur by nature, and a bit of a tech realist. I've been in the education sector for over two decades. Back when I started, we were learning how to send emails and transition from floppy disks to USBs. Now, online learning is not just common—it's expected. And it's deeply woven into the fabric of modern Learning Design.
Also, if you prefer to watch, check out this video here:
The double-edged sword of online learning in modern Learning Design
We've seen huge technological leaps thanks to Moore's Law—the idea that computing power doubles every couple of years. But let's be honest: this digital revolution is moving faster than our brains can comfortably keep up with.
And that's the first red flag.
What's worrying me about online learning
The very devices that deliver online learning are designed to distract us. Our attention spans are shrinking, our screen time is through the roof, and digital fatigue is very, very real.
Now, I'm not anti-tech. But the environments we create for online learning often don't support real learning and Learning Design principles—unless you've got monk-like discipline.
And let's face it—most of us are juggling full plates. Parents, professionals, partners. We know we need to keep learning to stay relevant, but when exactly is that supposed to happen?
- Before the kids wake up? That means skipping exercise.
- During the workday? Good luck avoiding the email pings and phone dings.
- At night? When your brain is toast?
The beauty of in-person learning was that it demanded presence. You showed up, and you learned. No tabs open. No Slack messages. You didn't need smart Learning Design to stay engaged.
With online learning, just showing up isn't enough. The effort-to-learn ratio is much steeper, this is where effective Learning Design comes in.
And what about the kids?
Imagine being a child, trying to focus on online learning using the same device that's home to games, YouTube, and endless dopamine hits. It's a tug-of-war, and learning often loses.
We can't just digitise old content and expect magic. We need intentional, human-centred Learning Design that acknowledges the mental load and complexity of modern life.
So, where do we go from here?
I'm not saying we ditch online learning—far from it. But as professionals in Learning Design, education, and leadership, we must slow down and ask: Is this really the best way to teach this? And if it is, how can we do it with compassion and realism?
Have thoughts? I'd love to hear them. What's your relationship with online learning right now?
As always, stay awesome.