Thanks to many rapid eLearning tools available on the market, instructional designers are able to save time and resources by reusing learning objects such as eLearning modules, videos, and documents. However, the main problem with Reusable Learning Objects (RLOs) is that many training products are customized to address a very specific need, and become outdated relatively quickly. Developing a library of RLOs means designing content with sustainability in mind. Another term used for this type of content is “evergreen,” meaning that in a month, six months, or even a year, the content will still be relevant and applicable to learners. Evergreen content can eventually save a lot of time by not requiring extensive edits and updates. Consider the content you may use for training products currently on your shelf - what pieces of information are easy to recycle and require very little maintenance? Here are some examples: Stable: compliance laws, harassment awareness training, and … [Read more...] about Which ELearning Content Can Be Reused -Understanding Reusable Learning Objects
The ELearning Course Designer’s Blog
How to Create Effective Video-based ELearning – What Everyone Needs to Know About Video
Some studies claim that the adult attention span has become shorter than that of a goldfish, which is only about 8 seconds long. Whether or not this measurement is accurate, the message is that the ability to stay actively focused on anything is a challenge for most learners. If you add typical distractions of daily life, such as emails dinging, chat windows popping up, and colleagues stopping by to chat, your training is up against some serious competition! Video-based learning has the potential to make your training products memorable and engaging. However, in order to reap the benefits of this type of learning, videos must be short and interactive. So, what are some things that you can do to make your training videos captivating? First, you should combat the learner’s short attention span by “chunking” videos into small pieces, rather than putting multiple topics into one long segment. Asking your learner to watch a video for 2 minutes is much more doable than having the … [Read more...] about How to Create Effective Video-based ELearning – What Everyone Needs to Know About Video
4 Proven Ways to Create Courses That Support Human Learning and Cognition
The human brain can do amazing things: It can learn new concepts, solve complex problems, and memorize and recall information and facts. How this complex structure works has been the subject of study for millennia. As an instructional designer, you can leverage your learners’ brain power to create more effective course content and design. Here are some tips and best practices that should help eLearning content designers create instructionally sound learning materials. Less is More: This design principle is heavily influenced by Hick’s Law, which, simply stated, guides designers to limit learners’ options as much as possible. The more bells and whistles you incorporate into the design, the less effective the course becomes. The Power of Stories: Emotion and memory come together in our brain. Neurobiology research cited in the Harvard Business Review shows that the human brain reacts more favorably to a well-crafted storyline than to drab facts and figures, or … [Read more...] about 4 Proven Ways to Create Courses That Support Human Learning and Cognition
Content Analysis: How to determine the best learning approaches
The proliferation of learning technologies has given rise to a number of approaches that instructional designers can use to deliver eLearning content. Based on extensive research, the National Training Laboratories (NTL) developed an effective Learning Pyramid that demonstrates a clear relationship between the teaching method of choice, and content retention rates. Your choice of how (the most effective approach) you wish to deliver learning, should be based on what (the content) you want to deliver (not the other way around!). Content Domain Analysis and Content Level Analysis should be conducted prior to selecting the instructional approach. Content Domain Analysis must be carried out in order to determine the fundamental objectives of the content. For instance, does the content address cognitive, emotional or physical characteristics of a … [Read more...] about Content Analysis: How to determine the best learning approaches
Technical Training – How to Make Technical ELearning Stick!
Teaching technical concepts is not an easy task, and delivering technical information through eLearning is an additional hurdle to overcome. Online learners often tune out, click through text-heavy slides barely skimming information, and still get that satisfying “check the box” completion status on their assigned training - all without actually retaining a thing. The core challenge of creating technical training is to translate very dry, mundane information into a memorable and engaging experience. The information must also clearly explain the inflection points where the learner should choose one option over another. How can you make sure your training hits both of these marks? Working with the right Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) will be central to your success. The learners will need context of where the technical information fits into their job, and this is where SMEs can help. Developing training that makes users relate to the technical information goes back to a cornerstone of … [Read more...] about Technical Training – How to Make Technical ELearning Stick!
3 Easy Ways to Create Effective ELearning Graphics
We all know that graphics can make our eLearning courses fun and engaging, but we also know that our graphics should be relevant to the content, and that we should avoid decorative graphics as much as possible. Designing effective graphic that really works is time and resource consuming, so in this post, I will cover 3 easy ways to create effective eLearning graphics. Crop existing stock photos – Using existing stock images can be a real time saver, but most of the stock images are simply boring. Furthermore, a lot of these images have been used and reused so many times that most of us are so tired of looking at them that we often ignore them to the point where these images become meaningless in the course. Luckily, there is an easy and quick fix for that. Consider cropping photos, so that you only leave the details that are truly pertinent to your message. You can easily crop stock photos using Photoshop, but if you don’t have that tool available to you, you can consider other … [Read more...] about 3 Easy Ways to Create Effective ELearning Graphics