1. Asynchronous eLearning
A.K.A: Learn when you want, where you want, pants optional.
Asynchronous learning is self-paced and learner-led. It’s flexible, scalable, and doesn’t require everyone to be online at the same time. People can move through content at their own speed and revisit tricky topics. When surveyed, 56% of employees in the US value training at their own pace, underscoring the importance of flexibility in training programs.
No pressure, no awkward silences, no ‘Can you hear me now?’ on Zoom.
The Benefits:
- Great for step-by-step demonstrations, system training, product education, or skill-building.
- Easily and infinitely reusable, and consistent.
- Learners can revisit topics and train at their own pace.
The Drawbacks:
- Learners miss out on immediate feedback and collaboration, which can reduce engagement and clarity.
- Without set schedules, learners must be highly self-disciplined to stay on track and complete the course.
- Questions or issues may go unanswered for extended periods, slowing progress and increasing frustration.
Common Formats of Asynchronous Learning
There are many ways to implement asynchronous learning.
Video Lessons
Pre-recorded lessons can be bite-sized and practical, or full in-depth breakdowns. This is a great way for your learners to take in the information passively and without pressure.
Blogs, Articles, and Readings
Don’t underestimate the written word.
- These are perfect for deep dives, reference guides, or resources that people can skim, download, or print (yes, some people still do that).
- Useful for policies, playbooks, or frameworks that don’t need to be “taught” so much as understood.
- Tip: Keep language simple, break up long paragraphs, and make it mobile-friendly.
Independent Research & Projects
Give learners the tools, then get out of the way.
- Perfect for developing critical thinking, self-management, and real-world application.
- Great for role-specific training, scenario-based learning, or capstone-style assignments.
- Can be structured with checklists, milestones, peer feedback, or reflection prompts.
Microlearning
Tiny lessons, big retention.
- Think: a 3-minute explainer video, a single quiz, or a daily flashcard.
- Ideal for just-in-time learning (e.g., “How do I file a leave request?”) or drip-fed onboarding content.
- Works wonders in mobile-first environments and for learners with limited time.
Mobile Learning
If your learners are on the move, your content should be too. One of the main benefits of asynchronous learning is that it’s on your own time, so it may be best to ensure the learning can be done at any time, anywhere.
- Design with small screens in mind: UI that scales with screen size, vertical videos, tap-friendly quizzes.
- Great for retail, hospitality, field workers, or anyone who's more likely to open an app than a laptop.
- Bonus: Make it downloadable for offline learning on planes, trains, or dodgy Wi-Fi zones.
Gamification
Inject a little playfulness. With asynchronous learning, people may find it difficult to focus or stay engaged in learning if it’s not interesting and no one is around to make it more interactive. Gamified learning adds interactivity and play, and makes the experience more memorable.
The first thing people generally think about here is competition and leaderboards. Gamification is more than just points and badges - it’s the strategic use of game mechanics to drive motivation, reinforce behavior, and deepen learning outcomes. In asynchronous learning, it can help combat disengagement by introducing goals, feedback loops, and a sense of progress, all of which tap into intrinsic and extrinsic motivators.
Think beyond trendy gimmicks: thoughtfully designed challenges, unlockable content, progress tracking, and scenario-based simulations can make learning more immersive and meaningful.
Whether you're certifying product experts or energizing compliance training, gamification can transform passive content into a dynamic, goal-oriented experience that keeps learners coming back.
Virtual Reality (VR)/ Augmented Reality (AR)
Immersive learning without real-world risks. This is a great solution for hands-on training - especially if there are safety risks that come with the job.
- VR is ideal for safety training or technical equipment handling
- AR can overlay instructions or feedback on real-world environments.
- Note: These are fantastic if you’ve got the hardware and dev resources to support them.
Podcasts
For learning during the commute, the gym, or cooking.
- Great to use for storytelling, to support mobile learning, or reinforcement of complex topics in a more conversational tone.
- Can supplement other modules or serve as an entry point to deeper content.
Interactive Simulations
Try, fail, retry - safely and asynchronously.
- Simulated environments help learners practice real-world decision-making (like managing angry customers).
- Perfect for compliance, customer service, product knowledge, or software training.
Social Learning
Learning doesn't have to be lonely, even if it is asynchronous.
- Set up forums, discussion boards, or in-app comment threads.
- Use prompts or peer-review assignments to spark conversation and idea-sharing.
- Bonus: Helps distributed teams feel more connected, even asynchronously and in their own time.
Tips for Making Asynchronous Learning Actually Engaging
Let’s be honest, the risk with self-paced learning is that it collects digital dust. Here’s how to keep learners coming back:
- Add interactivity: Quizzes, polls, and choose-your-own-path content keeps people involved, not just scrolling.
- Set deadlines or learning goals: Even self-paced learners need a nudge. Use progress bars, unlockable modules, or automated reminders.
- Mix media: Don’t just dump videos into a portal. Break things up with images, text, audio, and activities.
- Keep it short: Aim for 3–7 minute videos, bite-sized readings, and digestible sections. Long = zoned out and forgotten.
- Make it relevant: Always tie the content back to real-life tasks or goals. Learners should know why this matters.
Asynchronous Learning is Best For...
If Your team is remote or global
No one has to wake up at 4AM for a webinar. Everyone wins.
If Learners are motivated and self-directed
If your audience is used to navigating tools like Duolingo or LinkedIn Learning, they’ll love this.
If You need to scale your training
Train 10 or 10,000. The content doesn’t care. It’s just waiting to be clicked.
If You want to save money (and your sanity)
Once created, asynchronous courses can be reused and repurposed endlessly. It’s a one-time investment with long-term payoff.
