Five Tips for Learner Engagement

KNOODLE.COM

By Debbie Kurtz

Here are some rules of thumb for creating great learning experiences that engage learners and lead to higher adoption.

#1 - It's About Them, Silly

“I need to cover all this content, because it’s important to me!”  This attitude—which is all too common among trainers—leads to glazed looks. Don’t overwhelm or bore your learners.

To hold their attention, the information must be relevant, practical, and to the point. Start with the end in mind: what do you want people to DO with this knowledge? Be learner-centric and provide just the right amount of content and discuss why it matters to them.

All that extra stuff you’re tempted to squeeze in? Put it in the “additional resources” section.

#2 - Visuals Make Learning Stick

People learn better when visuals are involved. Our brains are wired to process pictures more so than words. Pictures shouldn’t just be eye candy. Spend time selecting or creating the right visuals to help tell a story or explain a complex idea.

#3 - Let Them Try It Out

"Telling Ain’t Training", by Harold Stolovitch, is a wildly popular resource among training and development professionals. Aside from the poor grammar, I couldn’t agree more with the sentiment in this book title.  

Instead of just “telling” with presentations, create opportunities for participants to explore concepts and try them out. Use practice activities to build skills and improve transfer of knowledge to the job.

#4 - Game On!

Gamification of learning is red hot these days. Everybody loves to win! Game-style activities lead to engagement, while bringing structure and clarity to the learning experience. Here’s a big caveat: the game design must reinforce the behavior you’re looking to change! 

Bad example: Throwing quiz questions into a Jeopardy game board
Good example: Awarding points for correct resolution of a customer issue

Check out Karl Kapp, author of “The Gamification of Learning and Instruction” for some great tips.

We often think of games as hi-fi, like video games or virtual simulations. But low-fi games can be just as fun and engaging, and they don’t need to cost much. For more inspiration, check out "Gamestorming", co-authored by my friend and former manager James Macanufo.

#5 - It's An Experience, Not An Event

Our brains remember information better when learning is spread over a period of time versus cramming it into a one-day session. Put yourself in the learners’ shoes, and create multiple touch points to help them build knowledge, apply it, and share it with others.

Research tells us mixing things up boosts learner attention and retention. Avoid being a one-trick pony by utilizing a range of methods and tools. There are a lot of options to choose from, including technology solutions that won’t break your budget. Consider a mix of social learning, e-learning, mobile apps, on-line resources, games, face-to-face workshops, peer coaching, and more.