The Case Against the Scroll: Why the "Clunky Click" Still Reigns in E-Learning

The e-learning industry is obsessed with chasing the next trend. Right now, that trend is an undeniable shift away from the classic, slide-based "click next" navigation to the sleek, continuous scrolling page model. On the surface, this move makes sense: scrolling feels modern, mirroring the seamless experience of a webpage or a mobile app. It's often easier for developers to build and undeniably easier for a learner to navigate.

But this rush to abandon the "clunky click" is a dangerous one. By embracing continuous scrolling, we risk importing the worst habits of social media—the dopamine scroll—into the learning process, sacrificing deep retention for the sake of perceived modernity.

The Cognitive Case for the Necessary Pause

The fundamental problem with scrolling is that it encourages learners to scan, not stop.

Our brains are conditioned by platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter) to continuously glide through content, searching for the next stimulating piece of information. When this behaviour is applied to mandatory training, the learner’s focus shifts from completion to comprehension. They are looking for the end of the page, not the application of the knowledge. The continuous flow creates a cognitive "blur" where discrete, important facts merge into an undifferentiated wall of text and imagery.

This is where the much-maligned "clunk" of the click-next button becomes a valuable instructional design tool.

The mandatory click-to-advance forces a natural pause and registration of the content. This aligns perfectly with the principle of segmenting within Cognitive Load Theory. Segmenting ensures the learner consumes information in small, digestible chunks, preventing their working memory from becoming overwhelmed. That physical action of clicking next acts as a subconscious signal: "I have finished this thought, and I am now ready for the next one."

Furthermore, the structure of a slide-based course allows for clearer visual cues that aid in retention. Instructional designers can use distinct colour schemes and subtle navigational hints to segregate topics effectively. The clear boundary between one slide and the next allows the learner to subconsciously categorise and organise information, which is far harder when navigating a single, endlessly flowing stream.

Tyfu Learning: Focusing on How We Learn

At Tyfu Learning, we firmly believe that the key factor in creating effective learning materials is a deep consideration of how we learn as human beings. Our entire formal education system is built on discrete, chunked learning: classes, chapters, modules, and semesters. We are taught to master one concept before moving on to the next defined unit. For critical topics like soft skills training, which involve building complex cognitive frameworks, breaking the information down into clear, sequential steps is crucial. To suddenly transition to a continuous, undifferentiated flow of content for critical topics is to abandon a proven cognitive method for a fleeting design trend.

Finding the Right Tool for the Job

The objective is not to eradicate the scroll, but to advocate for intentional design.

• Scrolling is ideal for short, linear, informational content, like five-minute updates or reference material where speed and accessibility are paramount.

• Click-next (or a defined, step-based navigation) remains essential for any training requiring deep retention, mastery of complex steps, high-stakes application, or tracked compliance.

E-learning developers must resist the pressure to choose the tool that is easiest to build and instead commit to the design that fosters the deepest, most sustained learning. When it comes to effective knowledge transfer, the "clunky click" is often the most sophisticated choice we can make.