Creating eLearning content is exciting. However, even though you may be an expert on the subject matter of the course, it pays to resist the temptation to immediately fire up your desktop, laptop, or tablet to churn out content. Take a step back and review the bigger picture first. A bit of long-term planning will result in a more stress-free experience and will produce more engaging courses for your learners. 8 Steps To Successful eLearning Creation Developing eLearning courses is equally an art as it is a science. However, to get it right requires a tried-and-tested plan. Here’s an 8-step plan to get you started: Conduct Sound Audience And Needs Research As an Instructional Design professional, you’ll only receive rewards for the time, effort, and capital investments you make in designing and developing your eLearning course if it “sells.” Ensuring that there’s a demand for your creations requires sound audience research before you invest a lot into developing the … [Read more...] about 8 Steps For Creating Engaging eLearning Courses
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How to Increase Learner Retention by Contextualizing Your Training
Adult learners typically struggle with understanding new concepts and ideas when such information lacks perspective – their unique perception. That’s because learning theory, be they Behaviorist, Cognitive, Constructivist or Motivational, underscores that, putting information into context, and giving perspective to knowledge produces better learning outcomes. Without adequate contextualization, most learners tend to disassociate from what they are learning. And when that happens, they may disengage from learning, leaving trainers an uphill task of re-engagement. UNDERSTANDING CONTEXTUALIZATION Contextualization is all about framing learning concepts in a way that’s familiar to the individual learner. To bring contextual value to your learning, it’s important to understand where your learner is coming from – not just his/her geographic location (we’ll touch upon that in a moment), but also their previous experiences, the terminology they’re familiar with and their expected application … [Read more...] about How to Increase Learner Retention by Contextualizing Your Training
The Learning Theory Of Cognitive Development In ELearning
There has been an ongoing debate amongst educators about the role of memory versus intelligence in fostering effective learning. It has long been held that learners are more successful in retaining new content if they consciously think about what’s being taught, as opposed to simply memorizing what they see on the slides or on a computer screen. The Learning Theory Of Cognitive Development: Principles And Applications In eLearning The learning theory of cognitive development plays a huge role in the case of the former approach—understanding by thinking. Because of its very nature, where time and distance often separate instructors and learners, the cognitive process plays an even more important role in eLearning. In this article, we’ll talk about Cognitivism and its application to eLearning design. Understanding The Learning Theory Of Cognitive Development The learning theory of cognitive development is a theory in psychology, advanced by Jean Piaget, a Swiss developmental … [Read more...] about The Learning Theory Of Cognitive Development In ELearning
Low-Cost Gamification For Adult Learners
Gamification is the process of changing the dynamics of any activity by incorporating several game elements. This technique has gained popularity in various fields because of its effectiveness in increasing productivity, speed, and learning. The field of eLearning also tapped into the use of gamification to enhance the efficacy of eLearning courses and materials. However, not all companies have extra money to spend on gamification features, which can get very expensive. In this article, I will discuss some ways Instructional Designers can use low-cost gamification for their eLearning courses. 7 Tips On Low-Cost Gamification For Adult Learners Many people think that eLearning gamification means incorporating actual games in virtual courses. Although games do complete the gamification process, eLearning gamification isn’t limited to including actual games. In fact, gamification of any activity only needs to include the crucial game elements that actually target the skills discussed in … [Read more...] about Low-Cost Gamification For Adult Learners
Simulations And Games: How to Make ELearning Fun and Engaging
Regardless of our age, playing with simulators (e.g. stock market investment, driving or flight simulators) and games (Starcraft, Hearts of Iron, World of Warcraft) always puts us on the path to learning and experiencing new things. That is because if our objective is to “win” the game, then we need to explore and learn the “system” in order to beat it. That is exactly what Game-Based Learning (GBL) is all about. In this article, I will cover the types of game-based learning as well as the benefits of simulations and games. In addition, I will mention some of the tools that can be used to build eLearning games and simulations. Lastly, I will discuss how you can incorporate “gamification” into your eLearning content. Simulations And Games: Types Of Game-Based Learning Many different types of game-based learning have evolved over the years, each having a different audience and its own unique objective. Here are some alternate gaming styles to consider when designing game-based learning … [Read more...] about Simulations And Games: How to Make ELearning Fun and Engaging
Personalized eLearning: A Customized Approach To Accelerated eLearning
Today's world is far different than the one our parents and grandparents grew up and lived in. The age of "standardization" and "One-size-fits-all" no longer applies. Today, especially where technology is so ubiquitous in every aspect of our lives, "personalization" has become very important - be it in manufacturing, services or retail business. Personalization is needed to make a product or service more endearing to the target audience, and this is especially true for eLearning. As a result, the concept of Personal Learning Environments (PLEs) is becoming more relevant in today's academic world. What is Personalized ELearning? The concept of "Personalization" can easily be understood from taking a closer look at some of the existing digital technologies that all of us use. For instance, from the browser that you use to roam the Internet, to the email and messaging systems that you use to stay connected with friends and family, to the digital boxes you use to watch TV shows and movies … [Read more...] about Personalized eLearning: A Customized Approach To Accelerated eLearning