Learning is not confined into one set way. In fact, everyone learns very differently. We are all familiar with this concept; hence the existence of multiple studies focusing on learning types. A practice that is starting to catch the attention is micro learning. With all of the social media platforms and digital devices, it is no surprise that a person’s attention span fails to be kept for longer periods of time. Keeping this in mind, micro learning has been said to be a very successful learning tool. What Is Micro Learning, Anyway? Micro learning is any short content, chunked into small, manageable pieces for the purpose of learning. This can pertain to online videos, articles, and interactive games. Micro learning is best for: People who have very short attention spans Learning a lot of content in a short amount of time Learning at your own pace Businesses needing to teach employees new skills Smart-phone, laptops, and tablet devices Make It Fun And Engaging The … [Read more...] about Best Practices for Designing Micro Learning Experiences
Instructional Design and ELearning
Needs Analysis – How to Analyze ELearning Course Audiences
The ADDIE method is the tried and true method instructional designers use when approaching a new project. The “A” in ADDIE stands for “Analysis” - taking time to review the desired learning outcomes and figuring out how to best achieve them. It is also the time in the project’s lifecycle where the ISD professional should get to know the intended audience. The world’s most beautiful training module, with all the content, interactions, and examples one could dream of, can fall short for the learner, if it does not address the core questions adult learners have - what’s in it for me? Why should I spend my time on training when there is a growing mountain of work on my plate? Determining the core needs of your target audience is both the most important task you may perform when working as an instructional designer, and also the most difficult one. The initiation of the project is most likely not driven by the requests of an end-user, but rather managers or leadership, who determine that … [Read more...] about Needs Analysis – How to Analyze ELearning Course Audiences
Which ELearning Content Can Be Reused -Understanding Reusable Learning Objects
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
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