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From Paper to Digital - My Best and Worst Experiences with Online Learning

 

Introduction

I used to be the kind of learner who always carried notebooks. Writing to-do lists by hand felt natural, while phones or digital tools felt uncomfortable. In high school, I leaned on books and paper because that was where I felt safe. Everything changed when I started my undergraduate studies. Suddenly, assignments, research, and data analysis required Microsoft Word, Excel, and SPSS software. That was the moment I stepped into digitally mediated learning, both through formal courses in the classroom and informal learning with YouTube tutorials.These experiences shaped me in very different ways. My best experience came from YouTube videos that guided me through SPSS step by step. My worst experience happened during the pandemic, when I had to help move an entire MBA program online almost overnight. Looking back, these two experiences showed me both the strengths and challenges of digital learning.

My Best Digital Learning Experience - YouTube and SPSS

When I needed to analyze data for my undergraduate thesis, I turned to YouTube. The tutorials explained SPSS in short, clear segments. Each video walked me through one step, how to import data, run correlations, or interpret an output table. The best part was control,I could pause, rewind, or rewatch until the process made sense. Learning at my own pace gave me confidence. Looking back, these tutorials worked so well because they aligned with Mayer’s Multimedia Principles,

  • Segmenting - The content was broken into small chunks. Each video focused on a single task, which made it easy to follow.

  • Signaling - Instructors used highlights, cursor movements, and captions to point out important steps. I always knew where to focus.

  • Modality - Instead of text, I saw the software in action while listening to explanations. This blend of visuals and narration made the process clear.

  • Personalization - Many instructors used a conversational tone, which kept the videos approachable and engaging.

Because of this design, I wasn’t just watching passively. I applied each step to my thesis dataset as I learned it. That hands-on practice made the knowledge stick. Soon, I could repeat the process without needing to rewatch the videos.

My Worst Digital Learning Experience - A Pandemic Transition

My worst experience came during the pandemic while working as a program coordinator at a private university in Sri Lanka. Before COVID-19, everything was face-to-face. Students attended classes on campus, instructors taught in person, and I coordinated schedules, booked rooms, and attended onsite meetings.

When the lockdowns began, everything changed almost overnight. Classes, meetings, and program coordination had to move online immediately. There was no demonstration, no training, and no preparation. I had to run my MBA program from home while answering nonstop emails from confused students and faculty. At times, the workload felt overwhelming, and I even considered quitting. From a design perspective, this shift broke several of Mayer’s principles,

  • Coherence - Information came from many directions, often in long, confusing emails, which made it difficult to process.

  • Signaling - There were no clear instructions or markers to guide us through new platforms or procedures.

  • Segmenting - Everything was introduced all at once, leaving no time to learn gradually.

  • Modality - Instead of visual demonstrations, most instructions came as plain text, which made complex tools hard to understand.

Although I eventually figured out the platforms, the initial transition felt chaotic and discouraging.

What I Actually Retained

Despite the challenges, I walked away with new skills. I learned how to manage online platforms, coordinate classes digitally, and support students and staff through virtual communication. From my best experience, I retained practical data analysis skills. I can still import data into SPSS, run tests, interpret outputs, and create reports in Word and Excel. These skills stuck with me because the learning was hands-on, directly relevant to my thesis, and supported by multimedia that made each step easy to follow.

How Merrill’s First Principles Could Have Helped

Looking back, I realize the pandemic transition could have been much smoother if Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction had been applied,

  • Problem-Centered - Training could have started with a real problem. "Set up an online class for 30 students", so the purpose was clear.

  • Activation - Facilitators could have built on what we already knew, such as our experience with scheduling and classroom management, to ease the shift.

  • Demonstration - Live demonstrations of platforms would have been far more effective than long email instructions.

  • Application - Giving us practice time, like running a test class, would have reduced stress and built confidence.

  • Integration - Encouraging staff to share reflections and strategies would have helped us adopt digital tools more effectively.

If these principles had been followed, the transition might have felt like a guided process instead of a sudden disruption.

Takeaways as a Learning Designer

These two experiences taught me that design matters more than the platform itself. Good digital learning isn’t about whether it happens on YouTube, Zoom, or email, it’s about whether it follows sound principles. From YouTube, I learned the power of clear structure, short segments, demonstrations, and hands-on practice. From the pandemic transition, I learned what happens when those elements are missing - learners feel unsupported and overwhelmed.As a future learning designer, I want to create experiences that,

  • Start with real-world problems that matter to learners.

  • Build on existing knowledge.

  • Encourage reflection and integration into daily work.

  • Demonstrate skills with clear multimedia examples.

  • Provide immediate practice with feedback.

What I want to avoid are the same frustrations I felt, text-heavy materials, lack of demonstrations, and overwhelming information dumps. My journey from notebooks to digital learning showed me both sides of the coin. Digital learning can be empowering and engaging, or it can be stressful and discouraging. The difference lies in design. When guided by principles like Mayer’s Multimedia Principles and Merrill’s First Principles, digital learning becomes meaningful, practical, and lasting. That’s the kind of learning experience I hope to create for others.

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