You don’t need algorithms, data tracking or complicated branching to personalise eLearning. Small, thoughtful design choices inside a course can make the experience feel relevant and respectful. This blog shows how to personalise eLearning in ways learners appreciate, plus the kinds of personalisation that tend to feel invasive or pointless.

What do you do when a course says it’s personalised learning… but it just feels awkward?

Imagine opening a module and the first screen says:

“Hello Sam, we’ve built this just for you.”

Then the next slide looks identical to every other course in your LMS.

Learners aren’t fooled. They know when personalised learning is real, and when it’s just decoration.

The good news is, inside an eLearning course, you can personalise meaningfully without collecting extra data and without turning the module into a branching maze. Thoughtful touches can make the whole thing feel smoother, more relevant and more respectful of people’s time.

Why personalisation inside eLearning matters

Three simple reasons:

1. Relevance makes learning stick

When examples mirror a learner’s reality, the content lands more quickly.

2. Choice creates autonomy

Adults learn better when they feel in control of the journey.

3. The experience feels more human

Personalisation doesn’t need to shout. A subtle, well-designed experience often feels like someone understood what you needed before you asked.

This aligns with Popcorn’s approach to designing simple, beautiful learning experiences that help people get what they need without unnecessary friction.

What meaningful personalisation looks like inside a course

1. Let learners choose their focus

This is one of the most powerful techniques and the least intrusive.

At the start of a module, offer options like:

• “I’m new to this topic”

• “I want a quick refresher”

• “Show me examples for my role”

  
  

The course stays modular, and learners feel in control.

2. Use scenarios that match common realities

For example, in a feedback module, you might offer:

• A scenario for someone managing a remote team

• A scenario for someone in a customer-facing role

• A scenario about peer-to-peer feedback

  
  

The learner chooses what fits.No tracking. No profiling. Just relevance.

3. Provide optional depth instead of forcing it

Personalisation often comes from what you don’t make mandatory.

Offer “learn more” buttons, additional examples or deeper dives. People can explore if they want, or skip if they’re short on time.

It respects attention and avoids overwhelming people, which is a key part of cognitive-friendly design.

4. Give people tools they can adapt

Templates, checklists, conversation prompts and action-planners can be personalised by the learner, not by the system. They become meaningful because the person shapes them.

5. Allow self-assessment and reflection

Short reflective questions help learners personalise the meaning of the content:

• “Which part of this is hardest for you?”

• “What would you try in your next conversation?”

  
  

This gives the course a personal feel without collecting any sensitive information.

6. Let learners revisit or skip intelligently

Inside a module, simple actions like “skip this if you already know it” or “review this before moving on” create a sense of adaptation without over-engineering the course.

Personalisation that feels odd eLearning

1. Fake branching

If every choice leads to the same screen, learners know instantly. It erodes trust.

2. Asking unnecessary personal questions

Inside a course, long diagnostic questionnaires or probing questions (“How confident are you with handling conflict?”) can feel intrusive, especially if learners don’t know where that information goes.

3. Collecting more data than the course needs

If you don’t need it to help someone learn, don’t ask.

4. Role-play that doesn’t match anyone’s reality

Nothing kills immersion like a “personalised scenario” that bears no resemblance to someone’s actual job.

A simple rule for personalisation inside eLearning

If it helps someone understand faster, apply something more easily or feel more in control, it’s meaningful. If it’s there to look clever, it probably isn’t.

This fits neatly with what storytelling research tells us: people respond when they can see themselves in the narrative and not when the system pretends to know them personally.

What good looks like: a quick example

Imagine a course on handling difficult conversations.

A meaningful, non-creepy personalised flow might include:

• A choice at the start: “I’m preparing for a conversation with a colleague / direct report / customer.”

• A scenario tailored to that choice.

• Optional “practice” screens with different difficulty levels.

• A downloadable conversation planner the learner can customise.

• A reflection prompt to help them plan their next step.

  
  

FAQs

Do we need complex branching to personalise a course?

Not at all. A few simple “choose your route” screens can deliver the same effect with less development effort.

Isn’t personalisation too time-consuming to build?

It depends on the approach. Scenario choice, optional deep dives and flexible examples are all lightweight and scalable.

How do we avoid personalisation gimmicks?

Ask: “Does this make the learning easier?” If the answer is no, leave it out.

Can this work in compliance training?

Yes. You can personalise examples, scenarios and practice while keeping the required content consistent.