Strategies for Engaging Online Course Content

Sitting through another online event, nodding along, but not really feeling engaged? I just experienced this feeling last week in an online webinar. There has been trouble with tech, which consumed a lot of time, there was little interaction with the participants, and the wasn’t quite built for everyone in the room. I left feeling disappointed and unmotivated. I've been moderating events, facilitating workshops, and giving trainings now for over 20 years. In this time, I’ve learned that truly engaging and great events are rare. The good part: it is a skill that people can learn. Three takeaways that I share with folks who are just starting out or for those with more experience who could also need a check-in from time to time are the following: Preparation is key. Always keep the audience in mind. And, offer various ways to learn. Preparation: With the goal and purpose in mind you should design the event. From opening with welcoming, sharing the agenda and rules of engagement to delivering the content to closing with a summary and feedback. Do several dry runs, meaning that you go through your whole program without audience or maybe with colleagues who can give constructive feedback. Also consider which tech will be used and test it before using it. Audience: The event is not for you; it’s for the audience. What do you know about the people who are attending? Do the participants know each other? Which questions could you ask to learn about their expectations, needs, and knowledge? You can do that, i.e,. through polls, surveys, or discussions. Be flexible and don’t be scared to adjust the agenda if needed, and communicate why you are doing what you are doing. There have been so many times that I was a participant and I couldn’t follow the instructions, or I didn’t understand what was asked of me. Learning: People learn differently. By offering various ways to learn, engage, and participate, everyone in the room has a chance to achieve the set objectives. It might be useful to make learning and reflection materials accessible prior to, during, and after the event. Some people prefer working alone while others prefer working in groups. Some need to hear, others need to read content. Don't just think about what you like, but educate yourself about what people with different ways of thinking need. And let me be clear. You'll never please everyone in the room. That’s okay. But by following the above-mentioned tips, you can get pretty close. And remember, there is help out there - hello Ellen and team 👋🏾 What is important to you in virtual spaces? What have been good or bad experiences? Do you need help in creating more engaging and inclusive events? Send me a DM. #Facilitation #Workshops #Training #Virtual #SaferSpaces ALT- Text in the comments.

Watch out for the Redundancy Principle while crafting eLearning courses. Remember those compliance trainings where the narrator read every word on the screen or those PowerPoint presentations where the lecturer simply regurgitated what was on the slide? ➡ They're classic cases of the Redundancy Principle at work. Don't forget about Cognitive Load Theory here either. Repeating the exact same information in different formats like this can overload learners' working memory - thus hindering learning retention and the goals of the course. As instructional designers, we must be mindful of this principle when creating eLearning content. While narration can enhance certain courses, it shouldn't simply echo what's already on the screen. Learners often tune out or even mute the audio, in order to read at their own pace. Narration should serve a purpose, like guiding learners through complex tasks or providing additional context. It's like the tutorial in a video game - helpful when it adds value but frustrating when it's redundant or excessive. So, before adding narration, ask yourself: Is it necessary or does it just parrot what's on screen? Does it serve a purpose? Will it enhance the learning experience or just clutter the course? Remember, every element should serve a clear purpose and contribute to achieving the learning objectives. By avoiding redundancy, we can create more engaging and effective eLearning experiences. #instructionaldesign #eLearning #tips #repetition #redundancy #narration #linkedin

Here's something I've learned as an instructional designer - More interactivity doesn't necessarily equate to a more effective course... In the effort to create engaging content, it's easy to fall into the trap of equating busyness with learning. But let's be real - a course overloaded with clicks, games, and gimmicks might just be pretty packaging on a lackluster product. It may look fun, but if those elements don't align with the course's objectives, they're really just window-dressing. I'm a big believer in avoiding adding unnecessary fluff - words, images, sounds - that don't contribute to learning. These elements can increase cognitive load, leading to learner fatigue and diminished effectiveness. When considering interactive features like quizzes, simulations, or discussions, ask yourself: do they enhance the learning goals? Interactivity can be as simple and profound as fostering a community through discussion, promoting dynamic, peer-supported learning environments. So, here's the takeaway for all of us designing learning experiences... Align every element of your course with the intended learning outcomes. Evaluate the relevance and impact of interactivities. Resist the allure of interactivity for its own sake. Purposeful design is key. What strategies do you use to ensure your course interactivities are meaningful and effective? #eLearning #InstructionalDesign #InstructionalDesigner #LearningandDevelopment