Instead of thinking of online training as an impersonal way to use technology to replace humans, think of it as an opportunity to do cool things you couldn’t in a traditional classroom setting. Think gamification, scenarios and gesture-based mobile learning! Maybe you’re wondering “Where do I begin?” Well, we’ve created a simple list for you to get started bringing the life back into online training.
Here are 4 easy ways to personalize your online training
- Use conversational tone.
This is an easy way to engage your learner because all you need to do is add a few first and second person pronouns, like I, we, me and you. In addition, see how you can make commands sound friendlier. For example, instead of saying “Click the Next button,” you could say “Let’s click the Next button.” Always choose simple and clear words instead of unnecessarily long, confusing ones. Think about how you’d speak naturally, and use that as a guide. Remember, the key is to be conversational, which doesn’t mean adding slang words and phrases. Don’t forget to proofread your course too! Here’s a great guide to help: 6 Quick Tips for Proofreading Your e-Learning Course. - Provide some info about the instructor.
Show your learners that there’s a real, live human on the other side of the computer. Just add a photo and a couple details, so learners can see that their instructor is a relatable person who enjoys walking her dog, skiing with his family or whatever you do on the weekends. This isn’t a full bio—the focus of your course is still the content—it’s just enough info to make your e-Learning course more personal. - Take advantage of collaborative tools.
A lot of e-Learning is self paced, so a collaborative tool like a discussion forum facilitates communication between learners or between learners and the instructor. Discussion forums are part of the popular informal learning trend, which has tons of value for your learners and organization. Informal learning is cool because your learners can access, share and comment on documents through an online LMS like Lectora Express, which promotes collaborative learning. This post can help you get started adding informal learning to your online training program: Top 3 Informal Learning Tips. - Add characters.
Sometimes all you need to do is add a human face to accompany the information in an online training course. People relate to and connect with photos of actual human beings. One way to do this is using characters to guide your learners though portions of your course, like a quiz or even having the characters present the information. To learn more about how to effectively add characters, read this post: Using Characters in Your Online Training.
Take these tips, and start creating online training your learners can relate to! As an e-Learning developer, it’s your opportunity to make a creative, personal experience that your learners will engage with. Sign up for a free 30-day trial of Lectora Inspire, and see how easy it is to create personalized e-Learning courses.For more ideas that will add life to your online training course, read this blog post: 5 Ways to Grab Your Learners’ Attention.
