We encounter a UX issue with our learners relatively often when they are just starting to take our courses: they think a lesson is video-only, but the lesson actually contains much more content below the fold.
We may be able to modify our lesson design to avoid this issue, but I also think Skilljar could enhance the layout of multi-content lessons.
Our standard course lesson is a multi-content lesson composed of the following blocks:
- Embedded video
- Text and image lesson instructions
- Quiz
The video is a recording of our live course, walking through the steps described in the text, so these are essentially two different ways to access the same content.
However, in our live courses, in particular, we observe the following behavior from learners: they find the lesson, but for some reason, they start watching the video. The video they are watching simply repeats the demo we just gave them live. At this point, they get confused and wonder where the exercise instructions are. Or they don’t even start watching the video; they just ask us, “Where is the exercise?”
The primary reason they get confused is that, on smaller displays, the lesson loads and perfectly fits just the embedded video. Therefore, they assume the lesson is only a video. They do not scroll down to see the rest of the lesson.
Here is a screenshot illustrating the problem:
You can view it yourself here (free registration required).
I’m agnostic to the solution, but I think a UX designer could improve this somehow. Perhaps a small table of contents, a section jump button, or an expandable section under the current lesson on the left-hand navigation pane.
Whatever it is, I think the interface needs to make it clearer to the learner that there is more to see if they scroll down.
Thanks.