The More We Click, The Less We Learn

We call it “digital learning.” But sometimes, it feels more like digital drowning. I’ve seen teams log into back-to-back virtual sessions, race through e-modules, and complete every course on the tracker, only to remember almost nothing a week later. It’s not that they don’t care. It’s that their minds are full, not fed.

The truth is, somewhere along the way, we started chasing numbers instead of nurturing understanding. Completion rates went up. Reflection went down. And this isn’t about blaming technology. Tech is brilliant, when used with empathy. But without it, even the best platform can become a pressure cooker.

After two decades of designing and delivering learning across ships, resorts, and corporate environments, I’ve realized this: 

Learning isn’t about speed. It’s about space.

Digital tools should help people focus, not fight for their attention. They should build clarity, not clutter.

If your learners end the session drained instead of inspired, that’s not learning, that’s overload.

Maybe it’s time we stop asking, “How much can we fit into this hour?” And start asking, “How much will they really take away from it?”

Because true learning doesn’t happen when the slides stop moving. It happens when the message starts staying.

So the next time you design a digital session, try this: Add one less slide, and one more pause.

You’ll be surprised how much louder silence can teach.

#LearningAndDevelopment #DigitalLearning #CognitiveOverload #LearningCulture #HumanCenteredLearning #LeadershipDevelopment #CorporateTraining #LearningStrategy #LifelongLearning #LearningDesign