7 Tips To Engage And Inspire Modern Learners In eLearning

How To Engage And Inspire Modern Learners In eLearning: 7 Tips For eLearning Professionals

Modern learners are multitaskers. They are accustomed to 24/7 access to information, and they expect the same of their eLearning experiences. They also want to move beyond simply completing the eLearning course, so that they are able to integrate the knowledge into their daily lives and put the skills into practice. The question is – how do you appeal to their mobile-friendly characteristics and get them fully engaged in your eLearning course? These 7 tips will help you hook them right from the start.

1. Make it visual.
   Modern learners are, above all else, visual. While past generations relied on textbooks and other written forms of media, modern learners are constantly exposed to eLearning videos, virtual presentations, and a wide range of multimedia formats. Include plenty of visually compelling images and videos that immerse your modern audience. This also gives them the ability to control the pace and playback of the eLearning content, boosting their knowledge comprehension and retention.
2. Highlight benefits instead of objectives.
   The learners of today are only truly interested in information that improves their lives or is relevant in real world environments. They aren’t fond of theories or ideas that cannot be applied outside of the virtual classroom, and are drawn toward eLearning experiences that stress benefits instead of objectives and goals. Tie each of your eLearning activities and exercises into a real life application to increase their level or participation, and lead off by listing all of the benefits they can expect to receive.
3. Offer small bursts of knowledge.
   Modern learners don’t have spare time to sit around and participate in a lengthy class lecture or presentation. They need to get the essential information sooner rather than later, which is why it’s always wise to break your online lesson down into bite-sized bits. You can then reinforce their knowledge to boost retention by recapping the information in later modules and increasing the frequency of instruction. For example, you can encourage your learners to access the eLearning course on a daily basis for just a few minutes at a time. That way, they can still benefit from the eLearning course without having to rearrange their entire schedule, which makes them much more willing to interact and engage with the subject matter.
4. Give them control of their learning path.
   The current generation of learners likes to have complete control of their eLearning experience. More specifically, they prefer to engage in eLearning experiences that are personalized just for them. As you cannot possibly create an eLearning course solely for every member of your audience, you can meet this need by developing flexible online courses that enable your learners to customize them themselves. For example, they can set their own goals or choose which module they complete next. They can go at their own pace and opt for an online video presentation or text-only version of the online lesson.
5. Offer on-the-go learning.
   This is a major sticking point for modern learners. If it’s not mobile, then you are already excluding a majority of your audience. Rather than creating an online course that is suitable for every device on the planet, opt for an LMS that features a responsive design. A responsive design automatically resizes and adjusts the online content to fit any screen or resolution. Thus, every modern learner can get the optimal viewing experience, and you only have to upload one master online course. Also, when developing your eLearning, bear in mind that some learners may not be able to listen to the audio components. So, include subtitles and give them the option to adjust the volume controls.
6. Create social media ties.
   Modern learners love social media. Though they are independent and want control over their learning path, they also enjoy collaborating with their peers to get feedback and share their skills. Be sure to integrate social media ties within your eLearning course, such as online activities that center on social media research or group collaboration projects that involve social networking and online project management. You can also offer them support via social media sites, and build a connection with them. For example, creating a daily post on your Facebook page or posting a weekly blog entry can show them that you are ready and willing to open the lines of communication.
7. Provide supplemental training resources.
   Modern learners are always on the hunt for new sources of information. They like to be kept up-to-date and are constantly in pursuit of knowledge that can help them in their everyday lives, such as special tips that can help make their lives easier. So, why not offering them supplemental resources via your eLearning course or site. Gather links to online videos, articles, and any other pertinent pieces of online information all in one place, and invite them to use them in order to expand their knowledge of the subject matter. In online training environments, this can also serve as an invaluable on-the-job aid, where they can go to get their moment of need information. For example, if they are struggling with a specific work process, they can simply logon to the resource page, click on the tutorial, and figure out how to carry out every step of the task.

Modern learners are familiar with technology, which means that you can develop your next eLearning course without limitations. This also means that eLearning professionals should stay up-to-date with the latest tech trends so that they can keep up with this technology-literate generation.

Want to know how you can create eLearning deliverables that turn even the most passive learners into engaged, excited, and motivated ones? Check the article 6 Tips To Engage Passive Learners In eLearning to discover 6 tips to engage passive learners in eLearning converting your eLearning course into a memorable experience.