Teaching is learning. Training is tasking. So, eLearning… not eTraining. Right?
There is a lot of research out there about how our brains work, and its effect on how we learn. We have internalized these studies, papers and books as well as our own experiences as learners and teachers to inform our approach to eLearning: Tell, Show, Do, Review. Sounds really simple, but success depends on its execution.
Tell:
Deliver the essence before delivering the details and tell the learners what they’re going to learn. Set expectations and they’ll appreciate knowing what’s coming.
Show:
Give as many examples as possible – there are many different types of learners out there, so make sure you’ve got them covered.
Do:
We all learn better by doing. And we retain more when it’s hands-on. Make the learning interactive (this doesn’t mean only electronically). Give your learners the opportunity to practice, make mistakes, practice some more and assess themselves.
Review:
Summarize the key concepts for your learners and enable them to go back and look at any part of the course again. Use the feedback as another learning opportunity – don’t give negative feedback – by explaining why an answer is correct or not.
How do you begin?
Create a story your audience can’t wait to get through. Pick the right blend of media, tools, and delivery to make the learning engaging, memorable, useful and knowable.
Meet your audience where they are: do your sales people spend a lot of time on the road? Then give them a mix of print, mobile, and podcast delivered content. Do new employees have regular orientation meetings? Then craft some great eLearning that’s supported with live content, like role plays or interactive group games.
You know it.
When you learn, you get a broader picture, a better context and a way to ultimately share what you’ve learned with others – whether you’re instructing them, or selling to them.
You don’t just remember it. You know it. And it shows.
