You’ve heard of people bingeing shows and movies. They get on to Netflix, or any other streaming platform, start viewing, and just don’t stop! On the other hand, despite complex e-learning content development exercises and layers of gamification, you might be struggling to convince your learners to get started with your e-learning. How can you transform your learning modules into binge-able content?
1. Episodization
Even while people are bingeing content, you have to assume that they’ll need to stop, take a break, and come back later. Don’t provide a large dump of content – split it up into easily consumable episodes. Deliver enough information in each to pique the learner’s interest.
Unlike TV shows you can’t leave courses with cliff-hangers, but you can introduce the next concept in an interesting way to be covered in the following episode. Leave something at the end of each episode to make them interested in starting off on the next – at the same time, if they have to step away in the middle, let your learners walk away at a logical point.
Use the principle of microlearning during your e-learning content development, to prioritize time sensitivity. Start by deciding how long each episode should be, and design the content accordingly.
2. Engaging content
Increase binge-ability by making the content engaging, meaningful, and relevant. Relevant is the most important aspect of this. Set the context with some theoretical information, but not so much that you cause the learner to become bored or disengaged!
Demonstrate the practicality and benefits of the learning as much as possible. Center relevancy at every stage. Don’t include absolutely everything about the subject – prioritize what’s relevant to the learner’s job and what you want them to learn. Work with the e-learning experts to achieve the right balance. After all, you want learners to learn fast and apply concepts immediately, not become PhDs in the field!
3. Moreishness
What does it mean for something to be ‘moreish’? It’s of such quality that one wants more, more, more! When it comes to e-learning content development, you have to balance engagement with concept delivery. Your objective is to make the learner want to learn more. By making content interesting and relevant, learners want more at the end of each module.
You can also offer branching scenarios, to allow the learner to try out the same module again and again, in different ways. While a trailer may be overkill, you can promote the course in other ways, including through gamification.
4. Availability
Just like video content is available 24×7 on a streaming platform, ensure that your e-learning content is available on your LMS at all times. That way, learners can access the content any time they want. Keep updating your content on a regular basis, by auditing your course material. If your course has been completed successfully, that’s great – it’s time to launch season 2!
Invest in e-learning content development that’s as engaging as your learners’ favorite TV shows. Contact Hornbill FX, the e-learning experts, to discuss how to get started.
