4 Things You Need To Do To Maximize Global Learner Engagement

4 Things You Need To Do To Maximize Global Learner Engagement
Photo by Artem Bali on Unsplash
Summary: In today’s interconnected world, learners can access content from across the globe—which means more and more digital learning providers are making localization a priority. Here are 4 things you must do if you want to reach a global audience and maximize their engagement with your eLearning.

How To Maximize Global Learner Engagement

By making your eLearning available only in English, you could be putting some of your learners at a disadvantage if English is not their first language.

Level The Playing Field

It’s hard enough to learn something new; it’s much more difficult trying to do so in a language that’s not native to you. You need to level the playing field by starting all of your learners from an equal place and help to ensure that everyone has the same opportunity to succeed.

Translating eLearning content into other languages will help maximize the chance that every learner who completes your eLearning will use the knowledge to transform their behavior.

Take inspiration from this translated example.

example page

Personalize Content Geographically

Analyzing the data you have available about your learners’ digital behavior can provide you with key insights and a new understanding. You can then use this information to maximize your engagement across the globe.

For example, if you find that learners in the United States prefer videos to be a maximum of 2 minutes, but learners in India favor longer videos, you can tailor video length to each learner’s location.

It’s hard to argue with data. Listen to what the trends are telling you about your learners’ preferences and use this knowledge to inform your content, so you can localize and translate where necessary.

Not sure where to start with the data? Take a look at the top 10 eLearning analytics to track.

Create A Sense Of Value And Inclusion

The eLearning providers at the forefront of their industry are no longer thinking of digital learning as something to be created and then be rolled out from the top down. They’ve reframed the learning experience, striving for learners to actively seek out the information they need. It’s all about proactive learning.

It doesn’t matter how proactive your learner is—if the content is irrelevant, ostracizes them, or at the very worst, is socio-culturally insulting, they’re not going to stick around.

It’s important to be aware of cultural nuances and take these into account when developing your eLearning. For example, in Brazil, the color purple symbolizes death, whilst in France, the color yellow indicates betrayal, jealousy, or weakness. These details may seem small, but they could make all the difference in your learner feeling valued and included.

Obey The Law

If increasing your learner’s engagement and maximizing their chance of success isn’t enough of an incentive for you, you should be aware that in some instances, you may need to localize and translate your content to be legally compliant.

For example, it is compulsory by law to provide both English and Welsh language options in some places in Wales.

To ensure that you’re not breaking any rules, check the regional requirements for the locations where your learners are based to understand exactly what is required from you as an eLearning provider.

How To Localize And Translate Content Efficiently

If you understand the importance of localizing your eLearning, have a look at this translated eLearning example for inspiration. What impact could offering multi-language versions of learning content like this have across your organization?

Adapting and translating eLearning content for global audiences may seem like a burden, but with the right systems and processes in place, it can be done both efficiently and easily—and will no longer seem like a chore!

Take a look at the step-by-step process for managing translations in Elucidat.