The Best Elearning Methods to Improve Learner Motivation

Humans today are inundated with digital stimulation. From televisions to computers, from tablets to smartphones, most people are used to being constantly engaged and entertained.

While the rise of technology has done a great deal of good for education, it has also caused some bumps in the road that create the need for the bar to be raised. It is well known that a learner retains and can recall more information, if they are engaged in the learning process. With constant stimulation from outside sources, some educational practices can seem boring.

This is why it’s important that some specific best eLearning methods need to be employed in order to motivate learners to focus on the necessary educational content.

Increasing motivation

What factors play a role in keeping the interest of learners?

Let’s dive in and take a look:

Motivation begins before the activity. It’s worth it to get learners interested in the activity before it begins. This can be accomplished by doing pre-work or an introductory game or video. Another important factor is to make sure the goals and expectations are clearly laid out ahead of time. Let the learners know the desired outcome of the activity.
Include cooperative learning. Learners learn at a deeper level when they are discussing ideas with others. Seeing a problem from a different viewpoint causes a learner to broaden their thinking and develop critical thinking skills. Another reason is many people enjoy the social interaction with their peers and coworkers.
Provide feedback. Giving a learner feedback immediately, as is the nature of feedback in an eLearning activity, allows them to see what they are doing well and what they need to change in real time. They can adjust course as they go. It’s also valuable to give the learners a way to track their own progress. The feedback and ability to visualize their progression keep the learner interested and motivated.
Reach different learning styles. Using a variety of strategies ensures that there’s something for everyone. In other words, each person learns differently and employing different methods is the best way to reach those different learning styles. For example, including videos, games, and elements of social interaction will reach a larger audience than one tactic on its own.
Think about chunking. Presenting information in smaller, bite-sized chunks of information can help learners to better retain what they’re learning. The better the retention, the more likely a learner will be able to apply what they have learned to a real-life situation. From a practical standpoint, it’s quicker for a learner to get through a small amount of content at a time.
Keep the motivation going after the activity ends. It’s important to celebrate the accomplishments of the learners after they have completed the course. Give them a reason to continue their learning after the activity has ended. Learners should be given a takeaway or a concrete reminder to reinforce what they’ve learned.

Keeping learners motivated isn’t always easy. The best way is to strategically plan, from preparing the learners before the activity begins, keeping them engaged throughout, and then sufficiently reinforcing the content afterward.

Contact the team at Designing Digitally, Inc. to increase the learner motivation seen at your organization.