The Puzzle of the learner's mind
The success of any e-learning course pretty much lies in the engagement of its learners.
If they lose interest in what the course has to offer, all efforts in developing the course go down the drain. How will you ensure your learners get what they want? Is it rocket science reading the mind of your learners?
Think about something that you learned years ago, but still remember. Analyze why you remember what you learned so long ago. The learning stayed with you because you were taken through an experience that was simple and memorable. You were taken through small, meaningful goals that made learning effective.
The crux of learning is pretty much the same, though learners have evolved over generations. It is ultimately delivering what the learner was. It is about successfully being able to read the mind of your learners.
So, how to design courses that cater to the needs of the learners?
- Develop customizable courses – Learners today want personalised learning experiences. They no longer want the one-size-fits-all course. Remember to add clickable course maps, and personalised training resource recommendations based on past performance. LinkedIn says employees’ lack of time to dedicate towards learning is the #1 challenge facing talent development today as per a survey 58% of employees prefer self-paced learning over instructor-led learning.
- Design courses that give them what they want – It helps to do some primary research about the learning needs of your target audience. Learners today don’t have the time or patience to go through a long course filled with information that they may not need. Give them concise, easy-to-remember information that they can use in their day-to-day work. Include short micro modules that can answer their just-in-time questions quickly and efficiently.
- Build-in interactions – Accept it. You’d be bored yourself if you had to sit through a video, not having anything else to do. It’s monotonous and boring. Break the monotony and introduce small interactions that lead the learners to perform some action. Do not wait until the end of the lesson to engage the learner. Provide small tasks that they can apply in real-life situations. Introducing interactions helps learners to get involved in the course.
Learners keep evolving, and there is no sure-shot way to know exactly what runs behind the curtains of their minds. But keeping in mind these simple pointers will help you develop courses that are engaging and meaningful. To Know more about the best courses click here.
