--- title: Boost eLearning Effectiveness with Coherence Principle description: Enhance comprehension with the Coherence Principle. Remove irrelevant content for focused, effective eLearning. image: https://kizerlearning.com/hubfs/Coherence_Principle.png --- [![Kizer Learning](https://kizerlearning.com/hs-fs/hubfs/KLPC_Logo2.png?width=723&height=97&name=KLPC_Logo2.png "Kizer Learning")](https://46031274.hs-sites.com) [![KLPC](https://kizerlearning.com/hs-fs/hubfs/KLPC-2.png?width=300&height=43&name=KLPC-2.png "KLPC")](https://kizerlearning.com/) - [Home](https://kizerlearning.com) - Services - [AALAS Exam Prep](https://kizerlearning.com/aalas) - [Personalized Coaching](https://kizerlearning.com/performance-coaching) - [Learning & Development Solutions](https://kizerlearning.com/ld-services) - Webinars - [Feedback That Actually Works](https://kizerlearning.com/webinar-series-april-2026) - [Productive Conflict Management](https://kizerlearning.com/webinar-series-may-2026) - [Motivation Beyond Rewards](https://kizerlearning.com/webinar-series-june-2026) - [Goal-Setting That Drives Performance](https://kizerlearning.com/webinar-series-july-2026) - [Building Trust as a Leader](https://kizerlearning.com/webinar-series-august-2026) - More - [About](https://kizerlearning.com/about) - [Contact](https://kizerlearning.com/contact) - [FAQ](https://kizerlearning.com/faq) - [Blog](https://kizerlearning.com/blog) - [Resource Center](https://kizerlearning.com/resource-center) More results [Let's Talk](https://kizerlearning.com/contact) [Book your free consultation](https://usemotion.com/meet/amandakizer/consult) [Book your free consultation](https://usemotion.com/meet/amandakizer/consult) - [Home](https://kizerlearning.com) - Services - [AALAS Exam Prep](https://kizerlearning.com/aalas) - [Personalized Coaching](https://kizerlearning.com/performance-coaching) - [Learning & Development Solutions](https://kizerlearning.com/ld-services) - Webinars - [Feedback That Actually Works](https://kizerlearning.com/webinar-series-april-2026) - [Productive Conflict Management](https://kizerlearning.com/webinar-series-may-2026) - [Motivation Beyond Rewards](https://kizerlearning.com/webinar-series-june-2026) - [Goal-Setting That Drives Performance](https://kizerlearning.com/webinar-series-july-2026) - [Building Trust as a Leader](https://kizerlearning.com/webinar-series-august-2026) - More - [About](https://kizerlearning.com/about) - [Contact](https://kizerlearning.com/contact) - [FAQ](https://kizerlearning.com/faq) - [Blog](https://kizerlearning.com/blog) - [Resource Center](https://kizerlearning.com/resource-center) [Book your free consultation](https://usemotion.com/meet/amandakizer/consult) # Boost eLearning Effectiveness with Coherence Principle by [**Amanda Kizer**](https://kizerlearning.com/blog/author/amanda-kizer) ![Employee attending an eLearning course remotely](https://kizerlearning.com/hubfs/Coherence_Principle.png) The Coherence Principle, another key component of Mayer's Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning, argues that extraneous (unnecessary) material should be eliminated to enhance learning. This principle asserts that the inclusion of irrelevant sounds, images, and even words can cause cognitive overload, undermining the learning process. ### **How Does the Coherence Principle Enhance Employee Performance?** By promoting focused learning, the Coherence Principle aids employees in comprehending and retaining crucial information, thereby enabling them to effectively apply this knowledge in their jobs. Here are examples of how you may see this principle applied to improve eLearning. > - **Poor**: A course on data privacy includes unrelated animations and music. > - **Better**: The course removes the music but retains the unrelated animations. > - **Best**: The course is void of any unrelated elements, using only relevant animations and no background music. > > --- > > - **Poor**: An eLearning module on product features includes unnecessary side stories and excessive images. > - **Better**: The module eliminates the side stories but retains some excessive images. > - **Best**: The module sticks strictly to the topic, removing all side stories and using only relevant images. > > --- > > - **Poor**: Adding unrelated images, sounds, or text to "fill space" or "make the course interesting". > - **Better**: Being mindful of relevance but still including some unnecessary elements. > - **Best**: Strictly adhering to the coherence principle – every image, word, and sound serves a learning purpose. ### **Your next steps** Critically assess your eLearning content and remove any extraneous materials. Prioritize relevance and coherence, keeping only what's necessary for understanding the core concepts. References: - 💡[Get the book!](https://amzn.to/4bQSIXk) Mayer, R. E. (2009). Multimedia learning. Cambridge University Press. - 💡[Get the book!](https://amzn.to/4cODZxq) Clark, R. C., & Mayer, R. E. (2016). E-Learning and the Science of Instruction: Proven Guidelines for Consumers and Designers of Multimedia Learning. John Wiley & Sons. Topics: [eLearning](https://kizerlearning.com/blog/tag/elearning) - Recent - Topics Recent Topics - [eLearning (8)](https://kizerlearning.com/blog/tag/elearning) - [Performance (6)](https://kizerlearning.com/blog/tag/performance) - [Assessments (5)](https://kizerlearning.com/blog/tag/assessments) - [Human Resources (5)](https://kizerlearning.com/blog/tag/human-resources) - [Communication (2)](https://kizerlearning.com/blog/tag/communication) - [Email (1)](https://kizerlearning.com/blog/tag/email) - [Surveys (1)](https://kizerlearning.com/blog/tag/surveys) - [Training (1)](https://kizerlearning.com/blog/tag/training) See all Share this [Share on X](https://x.com/intent/post?url=https://kizerlearning.com/blog/boost-elearning-effectiveness-with-coherence-principle&text=Boost+eLearning+Effectiveness+with+Coherence+Principle) [Share on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://kizerlearning.com/blog/boost-elearning-effectiveness-with-coherence-principle&t=Boost+eLearning+Effectiveness+with+Coherence+Principle) [Share on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://kizerlearning.com/blog/boost-elearning-effectiveness-with-coherence-principle&t=Boost+eLearning+Effectiveness+with+Coherence+Principle) Previous [← Optimize eLearning Using the Redundancy Principle](https://kizerlearning.com/blog/optimize-elearning-using-the-redundancy-principle) Next [Enhance eLearning Comprehension with Contiguity →](https://kizerlearning.com/blog/enhance-elearning-comprehension-with-contiguity) ## You May Also Like These Related Stories [Personalize eLearning Experience with a Conversational Tone](https://kizerlearning.com/blog/personalize-elearning-experience-with-a-conversational-tone) ![Employee attending an eLearning course remotely](https://kizerlearning.com/hubfs/Conversational_Tone.png) [eLearning](https://kizerlearning.com/blog/tag/elearning) ### Personalize eLearning Experience with a Conversational Tone 2024 1 min read [Strengthen eLearning with the Pre-Training Principle](https://kizerlearning.com/blog/strengthen-elearning-with-the-pre-training-principle) ![Employee attending an eLearning course remotely](https://kizerlearning.com/hubfs/Pre-training_Principle.png) [eLearning](https://kizerlearning.com/blog/tag/elearning) ### Strengthen eLearning with the Pre-Training Principle 2024 1 min read [Enhance eLearning Comprehension with Contiguity](https://kizerlearning.com/blog/enhance-elearning-comprehension-with-contiguity) ![Employee attending an eLearning course remotely](https://kizerlearning.com/hubfs/Contiguity.png) [eLearning](https://kizerlearning.com/blog/tag/elearning) ### Enhance eLearning Comprehension with Contiguity 2024 1 min read ### Get Email Notifications ### No Comments Yet Let us know what you think #### My philosophy I believe work works better when people feel empowered to succeed. That’s why I focus on personalized coaching, practical training, and easy-to-use tools that help leaders lead and teams grow. ##### Let's connect! [amanda@kizerlpc.com](mailto:amanda@kizerlpc.com) [AALAS Exam Prep](https://kizerlearning.com/aalas) - [ALAT](https://kizerlearning.com/alat) - [LAT](https://kizerlearning.com/lat) - [LATG](https://kizerlearning.com/latg) - [CMAR (M1/M2)](https://kizerlearning.com/m1m2) - [CMAR (AR)](https://kizerlearning.com/ar_x) - [Academy](https://kizerlearning.com/aalascertacademy) - [Free Trials](https://kizerlearning.com/freetrial) Learning & Development Solutions - [Personalized Coaching](https://kizerlearning.com/performance-coaching) - [Instructional Design](https://kizerlearning.com/ld-services) - [eLearning Courses](https://kizerlearning.com/ld-services) - [Turnkey LMS Portals](https://kizerlearning.com/ld-services) - [Webinars](https://kizerlearning.com/webinar-series-march-2026) Subscribe Now for Special Perks! - Click here to sign up for early access to new services, exclusive member-only discounts, and valuable insights to improve your career. Copyright © 2026 Kizerco LLC [Resource Center](https://kizerlearning.com/resource-center)  |  [Terms](https://kizerlearning.com/terms)  |  [Privacy](https://kizerlearning.com/privacy) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Amanda Kizer", "url" : "https://kizerlearning.com/blog/author/amanda-kizer" }, "dateModified" : "2024-07-20T22:00:30.016Z", "datePublished" : "2024-07-20T21:20:15.000Z", "headline" : "Boost eLearning Effectiveness with Coherence Principle", "image" : [ "https://kizerlearning.com/hubfs/Coherence_Principle.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://kizerlearning.com/blog/boost-elearning-effectiveness-with-coherence-principle", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://kizerlearning.com/hubfs/KLPC_Logo2.png" } } } ```