5 Step Design Model To Gain Attention Of A Learner

Gain The Attention Of A Learner

As you all know according to Gagne’s nine events of instruction, Gain Attention is the first key step taken into account when designing instruction. The basic idea is to grab the learners’ attention by presenting an interest device or a teaser. But most of the time we are a failure in doing so.

SHIIC To Gain The Attention Of A Learner

Therefore, I urge you to try something different from what you were doing till now. Here, I introduce you to a 5 step design model called SHIIC to gain the attention of a learner. It is not necessary, but can be handy if you are trying a change to your design approaches. This is a model which I have embraced from the Trainer’s Guide and even they use this model to gain the attention of the classroom participants. It’s a mnemonic which describes the various ways through which you can maximize the interest of the learner.

S stands for Specificity

H stands for Humor

I stand for Interactivity

I stand for Importance

C stands for Curiosity

For example, consider an eLearning required for the awareness of the importance of using LinkedIn network and how to use it to build a professional network can be started through the above mentioned openings through the SHIIC model.

1. S stands for Specificity.
   At the beginning, you can give a particular detail about the topic of the course. For example, LinkedIn is a business-oriented social networking service founded in December 2002 and launched on May 2003. It is the world’s largest professional network.
2. H stands for Humor.
   Then, present a scenario or conversation. For example, a conversation between two college outgoing students discussing about how one of them misunderstood the name LinkedIn as a matrimonial or dating site and landed up connecting with different professionals. Please excuse me; this might be a bad humor incident but something better if you can think of. For adult learners, it might not be appropriate to add humor to the context; however, it is up to you to take the right decision.
3. I stand for Interactivity.
   Interactivity can be achieved by a quiz or a drag & drop session. For example, a multiple choice question; How LinkedIn is different from other networking sites and options can be the list of few common features of the other networking sites and a unique feature of LinkedIn. Provide appropriate feedbacks for the correct and incorrect selections. A similar approach can be implemented if you are using a drag & drop option.
4. I stand for Importance.
   Next, state the importance. For example, provide the significance of LinkedIn for the working professionals.
5. C stands for Curiosity.
   Finally, build their curiosity. For example, state the benefits of having a LinkedIn profile such as the high possibilities of wide exposure or a career growth in his/her professional field.

This is how you can gain attention by following the SHIIC model.

Now, after gaining the attention of the learners you can move on to next event in the Gagne’s nine events of instruction.

I hope this model can help you improve your attention grabbing strategies.

Would you like to share more examples associated with this model or do you have a different model / approach to gain the attention of a learner? Please comment.