Six Ways to Keep Your Learners Motivated
Delaney Caulfield
6 Ways to Keep Your Learners Motivated
In a world of constant distractions, keeping your learners focused and interested in your eLearning content can feel like a near Herculean task.
But it doesn’t have to be. According to a research article by Dennen and Bonk, there are 10 key elements for motivating online learners.
I have boiled those down to the following six surefire ways to keep learners motivated and engaged with your eLearning course:
1. Set clear goals
Explaining the course expectations at the very beginning can create an environment that engages learners and encourages them to share their ideas. Having clear goals will help learners know what they need to achieve to be successful. In addition, a course that is goal-driven can provide learners with a sense of accomplishment when they start reaching those objectives. This will motivate learners to continue to participate and provide them with a sense of pride in their achievements.
2. Provide feedback
Give learners meaningful feedback that reflects their progress in the course content. You can implement this through quizzes and other learning activities that help them improve their knowledge and understanding of the material. Providing regular feedback can encourage learners to stay engaged with the course content.
3. Demonstrate real-world application
Relating the course content to learners’ lives, either by making connections in the content or creating scenarios and asking the learner to work through the best course of action, can create a meaningful connection between them and the eLearning material. Think of it this way – as a learner, would you rather read about good customer service, or work through a low stakes scenario that would mirror real-life interactions you might actually have on the job?
4. Create community
Creating an online community where learners can interact and share knowledge with one another can foster a sense of collaboration and deeper engagement with the course information. Try to implement social learning methods to encourage discussion between learners. This will introduce them to other perspectives, and encourage them to become active participants in the online learning environment.
5. Personalization
Personalization can give learners a sense of control over their learning experience. If you can, create personalized learning pathways which the learner can change to match their individual interests and goals. A bit of choice goes a long way in keeping learners motivated. You can also encourage ongoing learning by recommending learners explore additional courses, which may be beneficial in reaching their goals.
6. Gamification
Use gamified elements like badges, leaderboards and certificates to reward learners for their achievements. This can create an element of competition, and motivate learners to stay on track. You can also use a variety of learning activities – scenarios, simulations, animations, and different types of quizzes – to keep your learners engaged and interested in the material.
Looking for a way to implement these motivation methods into your eLearning course? Download our latest eBook now to uncover the secrets behind developing a winning learning strategy and create engaging content that inspires your learners.
TopicsChoose Topic
Delaney Caulfield
Delaney graduated from McMaster University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Cultural Studies. After working in an assortment of industries, she spent nearly a decade sharpening her writing and editing skills in the fast-paced field of journalism. Now she works as an Instructional Designer with BaseCorp where she enjoys flexing her passion for learning and creativity.