How To Appeal To A Wider eLearning Audience
Regardless of the subject matter of the eLearning course you are designing, like all eLearning professionals, you ultimately want your eLearning courses to reach as many people as possible. But how do you extend your reach and leave your mark upon a greater number of learners? In this article I'll share 6 smart tips for creating eLearning courses that appeal to a wider eLearning audience.
- Steer clear of content that is location or culture specific.
Ideally, you'll want to avoid using references or terminology that may only be found in a particular culture. For example, if you include various sayings in your eLearning course that may not be popular in several parts of the world, then your international audience will not be able to get the full benefit from the eLearning experience. They might even disengage altogether, because they simply aren't able to understand the significance of the old adage. Also, try to avoid pop culture references if possible, as they usually aren't shared globally. Last, but certainly not least, make sure that you are aware of what might be offensive in certain cultures especially if you are planning on selling your eLearning course in international markets. For instance, one gesture might be seen as commonplace in one country, but entirely rude and offensive in another. - Choose tools that allow quick and convenient modifications.
There are some cases where the content you currently have in your eLearning course may not be suitable for every eLearning market. You may have to add subtitles to your eLearning course or modify it in order to make it relevant for international audiences. This is why it is helpful to choose tools that allow you to make these changes without devoting a lot of time or money to the process. By creating templates that you can reuse and utilize eLearning authoring tools and Learning Management Systems that enable quick and convenient modifications, you can make your eLearning course engaging and informative for a wider eLearning audience. - Make it relevant and relatable.
Even though you are aiming your eLearning course to reach a wider eLearning audience, it should still address specific learning needs. Do your research to figure out what your learners want to gain from the experience, what learning goals need to be met, and what cultural, professional, and educational background your audience has. Every element of your eLearning course should not only appeal to a wider eLearning audience, but it should also help them engage in the eLearning experience and get what they truly need out of the content. You can determine this by conducting surveys, holding focus groups, and speaking with subject matter experts to see what should be included in your material, as well as how the information should be presented in order to achieve the best results. - Include assessments and multimedia elements that appeal to all learning needs.
The simple truth is that no two learners are alike. While one learner might respond well to audio presentations, another might get a better eLearning experience from interactive scenarios or games. As such, it is essential to include assessments and multimedia that cater to a wide range of learning needs. For example, you can create an assessment that includes both audio and visual components, or a variety of different multimedia elements (such as slideshows). Also, try to be as simple and straightforward as possible when creating the content itself. For instance, when trying to draw in a wider eLearning audience, you should not create an eLearning course that only someone who has advanced knowledge of a subject can complete. If you do plan on creating an eLearning course specifically for those with prior knowledge of the topic, then you may want to include this in the syllabus, so that other learners aren't caught off guard when they participate. - Use language that is both basic and informative.
Steer clear of lengthy paragraphs that contain complex language, and use words that are more basic. By doing so, you make the eLearning experience educational and effective for learners of all backgrounds, ages, educational levels, and cultures. Even learners who may speak English as a second language can benefit from your eLearning course if you use more simplified language, due to the fact that they won't have to struggle with complex terms or phrases. And if there is an elaborate word that you need to use but a wider eLearning audience may be unfamiliar with, they can look it up and expand their vocabulary as they improve their comprehension of the subject matter. - Include captions or subtitles.
One of the best ways to appeal to a wider eLearning audience is to include captions or subtitles in your eLearning course. This is particularly true if you have an eLearning course that contains an abundance of audio elements. By doing this, those who may be hearing impaired, have special learning needs, or use English as their second language will be able to easily absorb the information given. In addition, when learners can read the text while listening to the audio, they will be able to fill in the comprehension gaps they may have, which means that they will get more out of their eLearning experience.
Use these eLearning course design tips to reach a wider eLearning audience and take the success of your eLearning course to a whole new level. If your eLearning course is still in the development stage, put these bits of advice to good use now, in order to draw in a larger eLearning crowd when it's time for launch.
Want to know how to extend the shelf life of your eLearning courses? Read the article 6 Tips To Design eLearning Courses With Long Shelf Life which reveals 6 tips that will help you design eLearning experiences that stand the test of time while always being relevant and relatable for your future audiences.
