How to Build Better Interactive Scenarios for E-Learning |  |
| How to Build Better Interactive Scenarios for E-Learning Posted: 28 Apr 2015 12:20 AM PDT
As many of you know, I tend to divide courses into two buckets. One bucket is information. The other is performance. When I meet with a client I quickly asses what type of course they want to build so that we can best meet the organization's goals and control the cost of development. Information-based courses are common and many people complain that they're just click-and-read. However they are legitimate and do meet a need. Here are few common examples:
Performance-based courses focus on achieving specific objectives through performance and behavioral change. Generally there are two types of performance-based courses:
While many complain about them, information-based courses have their place. Ideally, we build courses to instigate changes in performance or behavior. With a focus on specific objectives you also get valuable metrics to demonstrate success. However, when consulting with the client I do try to get to the performance issue so that we're not just pushing information. If we can't find the performance issue, then we either don't build a course, or we build one that's simple and doesn't cost too much in time and money. Interactive Scenarios: ProceduralProcedural courses are more how-to type elearning. They generally go through a defined flow or process. They're less about making nuanced decisions and more about following the proper procedures to achieve a specific outcome. Often these are the source of many of our click-and-read courses. While it's easy enough to make an information-based course where the learner learns the proper sequence and is tested on it (like the typical linear courses), a scenario-based interaction can add some real world context. For example, in the real world even if the process is clearly defined, there are other considerations like timing of the steps and maintaining accuracy. This type of context makes the interactive scenario work even if the procedure is relatively simple. Think of the classic I Love Lucy chocolate factory clip. It's easy enough to build an information-based course on how to pick up and wrap chocolates. But what the information-based course lacks is the pressure that a real-world context applies. This pressure is easy to simulate in interactive scenarios. So you can teach and assess their understanding of the procedures and do it in a real-world context. Interactive Scenarios: PrinciplePrinciple-based courses are different. They tend to lean less on specific steps and more on working through the various nuances in the work environment. They require that the learners collect information, assess it, and make the appropriate decisions.
Let's say you're a new manager and have to deal with various employee issues. Each employee has unique needs. The organization teaches guiding principles that help you make good decisions. So instead of going through prescribed steps, you collect information, analyze it, and make decisions. In this case a decision-making scenario works really well. It allows you to teach the learner to evaluate information and make good decisions that are aligned to the organization's needs. Because the decisions are nuanced, sometimes they'll make bad decisions which can produce negative consequences and sometimes they make good ones. Just like in real life. Although in real life, a bad decision may seriously impact the organization. And that's where an interactive scenario comes in handy. They get to practice the decision-making required in a realistic situation that produces great opportunities for feedback. When they make good decisions, they gain confidence and can demonstrate to the organization their level of understanding. And if they make poor decisions they can receive feedback that will help them make better decisions in the real world. And it's all done in a safe and non-threatening environment. Elearning is valuable for more than quick, click-and-read courses. Focus on the performance requirement and then craft a learning experience that mimics real world activities. Even if you build simple courses, adding interactive decisions and real-world pressure will create a more meaningful experience that impacts learning. Download your free 46-page ebook: The Insider's Guide to Becoming a Rapid E-Learning Pro Upcoming Events (2015)
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Posted By tremeex to tremeex at 4/28/2015 07:25:00 AM
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Posted By tremeex to tremeex at 4/28/2015 07:25:00 AM
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Posted By tremeex to tremeex at 4/28/2015 07:25:00 AM
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Posted By tremeex to tremeex at 4/28/2015 07:25:00 AM
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