5 effective forms of visual content for e-learning modules

Author

Monique van der Wal

Date

December 15, 2025

Reading time

4 min.

Themes

Infographic, e-learning, interactive video, animation, 2d animation, 3d animation

We are not telling you anything new when we say that an e-learning is much more than just a piece of (interesting) text. Photos, videos, and interactive questions make e-learning not only more attractive but also more effective. What are the best ways to apply visual content? We answer that question in this blog.

We are not telling you anything new if we say that an e-learning is much more than a piece of (interesting) text. Photos, videos, and interactive questions not only make e-learning more appealing but also more effective. What are the best ways to apply visual content? We will answer that question in this blog.

Interactive Video

Interactive videos are an absolute must in e-learnings. With interactive videos, you make training adaptive. An example of this is that a question is asked to which the learner must obviously respond. If a wrong answer is given, additional explanation follows, increasing the chances of achieving the intended learning objective.

Another advantage of interactive videos is that learners are challenged to actively participate in the e-learning. Of course, everyone participates, but in an e-learning that mainly consists of blocks of text, there is a risk that the learner reads slumped and quickly scrolls down. An interactive e-learning has little text and lots of visuals, which forces the learner, consciously and unconsciously, to sit up straight.

Moreover, with interactive video, you optimally use the power of visuals. It’s not just about what the learners see, but also about what sound does and how you are challenged to be active through the visuals. We have a lot of confidence in our texts, but words almost never beat visuals, partly because with an interactive video, you can get straight to the point instead of constantly repeating everything in texts, as in these last two sentences.

Interactive video

Interactive videos are an absolute must in e-learnings. With interactive videos, you can make training adaptive. An example of this is that a question is asked to which the student must naturally respond. If an incorrect answer is given, additional explanation follows, increasing the likelihood that the intended learning objective will be achieved.

Another advantage of interactive videos is that students are challenged to actively participate in the e-learning. Of course, everyone participates, but in an e-learning that mainly consists of chunks of text, there is a risk that the student reads slumped and quickly scrolls down. An interactive e-learning has little text and many images, which consciously and unconsciously forces the student to sit up straight.

Additionally, with interactive video, you make optimal use of the power of images. It is not only about what the students see but also about what sound does and how you are challenged by the image to be active. We have a lot of confidence in our texts; however, words almost never win over images, partly because with interactive videos you can get more to the point instead of just repeating everything in texts, as in these last two sentences.

Gamification

Gamification is very popular, and that makes perfect sense. By applying game elements to learning material that has nothing to do with games, you create an attractive e-learning experience. E-learnings feature everything from a funny owl telling the story to a competition between participants. With gamification, you provide an excellent trigger to continue learning.

The goal of gamification is to make activities more attractive, motivating, and interactive. By rewarding learners for completing tasks, their engagement increases, and they become more motivated to continue.

A well-known example of gamification is the language app Duolingo. This app helps users learn languages by breaking lessons into small, playful tasks. Each completed lesson segment earns points, and users can level up, build streaks (daily sequences), and earn virtual prizes. There is also a competitive element with leaderboards, allowing users to challenge each other. All of this makes language study feel less like 'homework' and more like a fun game.

Duolingo is effective because it leverages reward and repetition. The app encourages daily use, provides immediate feedback, and tracks progress in a visually appealing way. This concept can be perfectly applied in e-learnings.

Heatmaps

A heatmap is a visual representation that shows how users behave on an online learning platform, such as e-learning. This probably sounds more complicated than it is. A heatmap displays colors like red, yellow, green, and blue. These colors indicate where learners click the most, how far they scroll, and where they hold their mouse the longest. Heatmaps promote interaction with the learner, layering, and provide depth for those who need it.

Heatmaps help not only the learners but also the developers of the e-learning. This gives us insight into the behavior of learners. If they largely skip certain passages, something is wrong and we can optimize the e-learning.

Infographics

A heatmap is an example of an infographic. Infographics combine text and images to display complex information in an organized and visually appealing manner. They are ideal for summarizing processes, statistics, or comparisons.

What might you think of with an infographic? For example, a picture that step-by-step explains how to safely start a machine or conduct a conversation with a customer. Each step is visually supported by an image and a short explanation, making the process clear and easy to remember.

A comparative infographic is another example. This is an image that shows the differences between two things, such as formal and informal communication. By using columns, colors, and icons, you can see at a glance how the two forms relate to each other.

An infographic is a simple way to make your e-learning visually appealing, clear, and effective.

Animation

The first animated films are over a century old. At that time, it was about the unimpressive number of 12 frames per second. By the way, that was not the biggest problem; it was the quality of the image, which looked about as fluid as the dance moves of a robot (or the average Dutch person).

Nowadays, animations are hardly distinguishable from real imagery. With 2D- and 3D animations, you can make the invisible visible. For example, you have no idea what is happening on the bottom of the sea, what is going on underground, or how abstract data processes work. Another example is the iceberg theory regarding safety. An animation allows you to explain these complex issues in a simple and, above all, clear manner.

Animation

The first animated films are over a century old. Back then, it was about the rather unimpressive number of 12 frames per second. That wasn't the biggest problem, though; it was the quality of the image, which looked about as smooth as the dance moves of a robot (or the average Dutch person).

Nowadays, animations can hardly be distinguished from real images. With 2D- and 3D animations, you can make the invisible visible. For example, you have no idea what is happening at the bottom of the sea, what is going on underground, or how abstract data processes work. Another example is the iceberg theory regarding safety. An animation allows you to explain these complex matters in a simple and, above all, clear way.

Conclusion: an e-learning cannot do without visual components

Anything is possible, but when it comes to e-learnings that consist solely of text, we hit the brakes. And hard too. It's not that we're against text, but without the use of visual components, you miss the opportunity to get the most out of the e-learning.

If you ask us to develop an e-learning, we choose a combination of interactive video, infographics such as heatmaps, gamification, and animations. This gives us the opportunity to create an engaging e-learning that is not only useful for the participants but also fun to follow.

By using various visual components, the student is challenged to put in effort, without it being done in a coercive manner. Learning happens almost effortlessly as a result.

4 suggestions for content for B2B marketing

Customer testimonial. A form of video content that we often apply for various clients, because it is much more powerful when someone else explains why your company surpasses the competition. This way, you also avoid the ‘We from the toilet duck…’ effect, and your message comes across authentically. Additionally, you increase your reach and impact by turning a customer into an ambassador.

Content video series. Establish yourself as an expert in your field by diving deeper into a specific topic in a series of different episodes. The goal is to inspire and inform the viewer, thus building your brand identity. I recently wrote a blog about this.

Blogs. Although video works well in online algorithms, it is certainly not the only path to Rome. Written blogs are an excellent way to share insights or affirm your role as an expert. Moreover, as long as they are authentic and well-written, they are also very beneficial for searchability on Google.

Business vlogs. Opinions on influencers are divided, but it is a fact that a personal touch to a message works well. Make employees ambassadors by allowing them to take the viewer through their day in an accessible and personal way. Then let it be externally edited, and in this way, you have cost-effective, striking, and personal content. Ideal for instance for recruitment.

About the author

Monique studied illustration and then completed a master's in fine arts. At Indall, she works as a creative, specializing in graphic design. She develops concepts and infographics, among other things, to make technical content practically understandable.

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Monique van der Wal

creative