How to crack your communication skills in eCourses
eLearning courses can be very beneficial, but it’s also important to remember how the online world is vastly different from sitting in the same room as other people. It is important that your eLearning course and its structure do not fall victim to the common problems below that are reasons why eLearning fails.
Why eLearning Failed
1. Boring video without personality
Now that smartphones can replace film crews and the need to have a standard white wall behind you is a bit excessive, many of us are working in hybrid situations. If you’re in a lounge and it matches your brand, go for it. Don’t forget to roll your shopping bags behind the sofa. A person’s skills and personality are inseparable, so show what you’re capable of!
2. Too many theories
I train technical experts who, like me, can cover the scientific basis of gestures, but they know only too well that the mastery lies in the application. This application should be directly relevant to their world. Theory adds scientific basis, but without a practical perspective, learners will find the content interesting but not use it, and this is why eLearning fails.
3. No dopamine modifications
The ability to check classes improves completeness. A short quiz, which can be as simple as multiple choice questions or a word search, is all you need to release that feel-good rush of dopamine into your veins. This comes not only from completing a section, but also from revising and testing knowledge absorption. WhatsApp groups, Slack channels, and even Trello Boards are examples of ways to stay motivated. If you don’t have a chat panel, you can use these other methods to allow queries, wins, and suggestions.
4. Chunks are too large
In the online version of my presentation training course, the program is divided into seven short modules. This will help you build into the sense of completion mentioned above and prevent you from becoming overwhelmed. We all know that it’s easier to stay motivated when you have small wins built in, rather than sweating it out over a long period of time before you feel a sense of accomplishment. Splitting up modules also allows for better absorption of information, especially when punctuated with summaries or quizzes like point 3. Learning is iterative, so take that into account.
5. Getting an answer is binding
One of the reasons people give up when working through modules is because they get stuck. If you don’t want users to interrupt your course, make it easy for them to ask questions in a way that they can answer just as easily. For some courses, a WhatsApp channel is sufficient as peer support is encouraged. However, if a student has a question related to a specific issue in a particular module, the chat feature built into your learning management system (LMS) allows the learner to type a message at the right point without any effort. They need to start giving coordinates as to what exactly they are referring to and where it is.
6. Lack of clear guidelines
People don’t always benefit from courses because they don’t know how to access them. Some will do the job on their own, while others will need guidance. These instructions may include whether to explore the material chronologically or randomly. You can define which resources may be required and which may be optional. For example, many of the videos in my lectures have slides, but if you’ve just watched the video, you don’t need the slides.
7. Video length matters
There was a time when a decent eLearning course consisted of a series of hour-long videos. Some viewers may ignore this, but in my experience users find it a nuisance. My longest video is 10 minutes, but the average is 5 minutes. Attention spans are shorter than they used to be, so we need to embrace that.
8. Information is provided in limited form.
If eLearning were all one-size-fits-all, it could be boring. However, there is a caveat. You don’t have to use a medium like video if the format is attractive and practical. Some learners like a little gamification and a quick video transcript. Others will want to watch the video and then go right ahead and apply the technique. So in my videos I will give you practical examples of how to use the technology. However, if your learners want to be more engaged, they can get a download that adds gamification to the activity. Allow for a variety of learning styles to accommodate everyone.
9. No responsibility
Without a feedback loop, learners will not know what to work on and practice. This is one of the main reasons eLearning fails. A simple feedback loop of trying out a technique through influence and presentation skills and realizing it works may be enough. However, especially when it comes to presentation skills, individuals may need a sounding board. We help our customers build this into their development programs through a white label process. For my eLearning courses, individual coaching sessions are an additional feature that allows me to introduce these responsibilities and provide feedback in addition to keeping facilitators and learners motivated.
