I’ve been learning everything I can about instructional design and eLearning development. I know learning theories, models, and tools. The tricky part for me is explaining everything I do in my work; I am actually amused when I find out something I’ve been doing has a name. I’m sure you can explain ADDIE by heart and know that you should use Bloom’s action words to write objectives. What I’m getting at is, What strategies do you use in your eLearning development? I get stuck when I get asked this question in interviews; I don’t know if it’s just me… I was doing a little online research and came across a great article by eLearning Industry. Here are the recommended names for some eLearning strategies (and how I recommend using them):
- Scenarios: I find these the most useful for soft skills training and other types of learning that require social interaction, critical thinking, situational awareness, and decision-making. An eLearning scenario is the best substitute for in-person role-plays; it is also a better option for introverted people who do not particularly enjoy acting things out in a group.
2. Guided Learning: This is the technical term for courses where an avatar or mentor is available to offer helpful hints. The term makes me think of teaching more than corporate learning, but I can see how it makes sense because the avatar is helping the learner through the process. Honestly, it is a great way to share more information with the learner without adding slides or bullet points; and the use of the avatar is optional, so a person does not have to use it if they do not really need it.
3. Learning through Exploration and Discovery (LEAD): In this strategy, which is a new term to me, the learner can choose their “journey” or path through the course content. It creates a sense of autonomy, which is great for intrinsic motivation. The learner completes the entire course, but in the order they prefer. If you have a good theme, it can take away the monotony of simply seeing the slides checked off in the player.
4. Simulations: Simulations really help people learn new software programs by following a method: Watch, Try, Do. First, the learner sees how to perform a task on screen, next, the learner practices by interacting with a mockup of the program, with hints displayed, and lastly, the learner uses the software alone. It’s akin to the process I used to use to teach a lot of 6th Grade Math: I do, We do, You do. I think it’s called gradual release of control or something like that.
5. Storytelling: For learner engagement, this is a vital tool. A story can be the “hook” (yes, a teaching term) that draws in attention and evokes emotion in the learner. Storytelling often goes hand-in-hand with scenarios, as the scenarios are just different pivot points in the story. I love to script a story once I have the information for a project, so I can be sure it flows and I can make typically boring and dry content more interesting and important for the learner.
6. Gamification: Gamification is definitely a 2021 buzzword. It can have several meanings, from AR/VR (which I really want to learn) to Role-Playing Games (RPG), or even normal courses with added competitive elements such as points, badges, and leaderboards. I have a lot of experience with leaderboards since I have hosted webinars that show people tools that can be used to add them to Storyline 360 courses. I am definitely competitive and most of the people I have worked with, in any job, were competitive, too. Fun competition can really transform the learning experience.
I hope you enjoyed these strategies and their examples. Please share your favorite eLearning strategies, whether they are on this list or not! I look forward to learning from you all.