What's the Biggest Problem with E-Learning Today?

Ever signed up for an online course with high hopes-only to lose motivation after a week? You’re not alone. Millions enroll in e-learning platforms every year, but less than 10% finish them. The biggest problem with e-learning isn’t the technology, the platform, or even the cost. It’s engagement. Without real human connection, accountability, and meaningful interaction, even the best-designed courses fail.

Why E-Learning Feels Like a Solo Marathon

Think about how you learn best. Most people don’t absorb information by watching videos alone in their pajamas. We learn by asking questions, getting feedback, and seeing others struggle and succeed. E-learning platforms often remove all of that. You’re left with a checklist of modules, a quiz at the end, and silence. No one checks in. No one cares if you skip a lesson. No one notices if you’re stuck.

A 2024 study by the University of Toronto tracked 12,000 learners across 15 major platforms. The data showed that learners who had zero interaction with instructors or peers were 7.3 times more likely to drop out before completing the course. That’s not a bug-it’s the default setting on most platforms.

Designed for Scale, Not for People

E-learning platforms are built like factories. They prioritize enrollment numbers over completion rates. Why? Because more sign-ups = more revenue. Completion rates don’t show up on investor dashboards. So platforms focus on flashy interfaces, AI recommendations, and gamified badges-not real learning.

Take Coursera or Udemy. You can enroll in a course on Python programming, watch 20 videos, and pass a multiple-choice test without ever writing a single line of code. The system doesn’t require you to apply what you learn. It doesn’t check if you understand it. It just gives you a certificate you can put on LinkedIn. That’s not education. That’s credential inflation.

The Missing Human Element

In a traditional classroom, if you look confused, the teacher notices. If you’re quiet, someone asks if you’re okay. If you miss a deadline, there’s a conversation. Online, none of that happens. You’re invisible.

Some platforms try to fix this with discussion forums. But those are often ghost towns. A 2023 analysis of 500 popular courses found that less than 12% of learners posted a single comment. And of those comments, 87% were just “Thanks!” or “This helped.” No real dialogue. No problem-solving. No community.

Real learning needs tension. It needs pushback. It needs someone to say, “That’s not right-here’s why.” That doesn’t happen when the only feedback comes from an algorithm.

Self-Discipline Isn’t a Skill Everyone Has

One of the most common myths about e-learning is that it’s great for self-starters. But self-discipline isn’t a trait you’re born with-it’s something you build through structure and support. Most people don’t have that structure outside of school or work.

Think about someone working two jobs, caring for kids, and trying to learn digital marketing at night. They don’t need another app telling them to “stay consistent.” They need someone to hold them accountable. They need a weekly check-in. A reminder. A nudge. A human voice saying, “You’ve got this.”

Platforms that offer live coaching or cohort-based learning see completion rates that are 3-5 times higher. But those programs cost more. And most platforms won’t invest in them because they don’t scale.

Content Is Too Generic

You’ve seen it: “Learn Excel in 30 Days!” “Become a Data Scientist in 6 Weeks!” These courses treat everyone like they’re starting from zero. But learners aren’t blank slates. Someone who’s worked in accounting for five years doesn’t need the same intro to spreadsheets as a college student.

Most e-learning platforms use one-size-fits-all content. No personalization. No adaptive learning paths. No way to skip what you already know. That’s not just inefficient-it’s demotivating. When you’re forced to sit through content you already mastered, you start to feel like you’re wasting your time.

A 2025 survey of 8,000 learners found that 68% said they quit a course because “it felt too basic” or “it didn’t match my skill level.” That’s not a content problem. That’s a design flaw.

There’s No Real Consequence for Quitting

In a traditional university, skipping class affects your grade. Missing a deadline means losing points. In e-learning? You can disappear for six months, and the system won’t care. There’s no penalty. No pressure. No stakes.

That’s why so many people treat e-learning like Netflix. They start a course, binge the first three videos, then forget about it until a year later when they get an email: “Your certificate is ready!” They click “claim,” and suddenly they’re a “certified” project manager-even though they never did a single project.

Without consequences, motivation fades fast. And without motivation, learning doesn’t stick.

What Actually Works?

The platforms that are seeing real results aren’t the biggest ones. They’re the smaller ones that focus on community and accountability. Think of cohorts like MicroMasters from edX, or bootcamps from General Assembly. They cap class sizes. They assign mentors. They hold weekly live sessions. They require real projects. They give feedback.

These programs cost more. They take more work. But they finish at rates above 60%. That’s not magic. That’s design.

The solution isn’t better apps. It’s better human systems. E-learning doesn’t need more AI. It needs more teachers, more peers, more structure-and yes, more discomfort. Learning is hard. It should be.

So What’s the Real Fix?

If you’re choosing a course, don’t pick the one with the most reviews or the prettiest website. Pick the one that:

• Includes live sessions with instructors
• Has a small group of learners you can interact with
• Requires you to submit real work-not just quizzes
• Offers feedback from a human, not a bot
• Has a clear deadline or completion timeline

If you’re building or managing an e-learning program, stop chasing enrollment numbers. Start measuring completion. Start asking learners: “What did you need that this course didn’t give you?”

The biggest problem with e-learning isn’t the tech. It’s that we stopped treating learning like a human experience. And until we fix that, no platform will ever solve it.