5 Tips for Designing Effective Online Learning and Training
This is the era of online learning and training. E-learning provides an opportunity to reach out to diverse and geographically dispersed groups of learners. However, online learning must be designed in a way that is different from traditional face-to-face learning.
Here are some tips that to creating online learning and training that is engaging and effective.
Quality should be on the top of the priority list. Simply using flashy images and high-end technology will not suffice. The content must be relevant and up-to-date. The learner will only be interested in content that fulfills a need. If the module does not answer the question ‘What’s in it for me?’ satisfactorily, then the learner will lose interest midway. Consequently, the quality of the content must be relevant and top notch quality.
The information in the course needs to be easy to read and consume. The message must be consistent throughout. Listed below are some ways that can help the learner retain information better.
- Using appropriate headings
- Using bulleted lists
- Highlighting keywords
- Sizing graphics appropriately
- Using white space effectively
- Using readable fonts
- Utilizing a suitable color template
Online learning and training has the ability to transcend boundaries. Even when the learners are geographically dispersed, they can interact and collaborate with each other, with the help of online forums, chats, and video conferencing. The course needs to provide enough scope for the learners to interact. The more they collaborate with each other, the better they learn. Instructors play a major role the level of interaction. Without them moderating the online interaction, desired outcomes will not be achieved. Online instructors serve as facilitators of learning.
It is imperative to provide constructive feedback to the learners. In a self-paced course, feedback can be provided after the learner answers assessment questions or submits an activity. If there is an instructor facilitating the learning, then feedback can be provided via real-time chats or answering questions on forums. Live web-conferences can even be held with the learners.
Less is always more. Instead of going overboard with animations, interactions, assignments, it makes sense to embrace simplicity. Using all these elements in small doses enhances the user experience. It also ensures that the brain is not overloaded with extraneous material. Online learning and training needs to be designed keeping the weakest link in mind.
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