The keys to successful engagement

The start of the 2020s has seen a plethora of buzzwords and colourful concepts in the world of HR.
Be it the Great Resignation post-Covid, the advent of teleworking, or quiet and conscious quitting.

These phenomena reflect a desire for emancipation by employees, who are in search of a better work-life balance.
This trend should be taken into account at all stages of training, by asking the following question:

How can you engage an emancipated learner, searching for meaning, who is no longer only focused on their professional fulfilment?

Training plays a vital role, in that continuous learning forms the foundation of successful emancipation and is the key to employability.

It is the employers’ responsibility to appeal to learners using attractive and engaging means.

Here is a selection of Best Practices to enhance learner engagement:

• Customise learning: it can never be repeated enough. Learning comes from repetition 🙂
  One of the keys to engagement in Digital Learning is customisation. Learners have needs and different skills levels; we must therefore provide content which is adapted to each person. Modern Digital Learning platforms often use AI to recommend lessons and resources according to the learner’s profile.
• Interactivity: interactivity is crucial for engagement. Quizzes, practical exercises, discussion forums and real time discussions are just some of the ways to promote learner participation. They can also provide instant comments – a precious tool for learning – which mimics their habits on the most popular B2C applications. Let’s capitalise on these habits and offer forums for interaction at every stage of training.
• Gamification: as discussed in the last point, basing oneself on the market’s most popular applications is key. There are countless neuroscience articles about the role of games in memorisation. Rewards, badges and rankings can all motivate learners to progress in their training.
• Feedback: put learners in the driving seat. By giving learners a way to express opinions about training they have completed, you can gather the raw materials you need to optimise your content – and also to enhance engagement.
• Using videos and interactive media: videos have become a vital tool for online learning. They allow us to present information in a more engaging and memorable manner. Using interactive media such as simulations and virtual tours can also enhance the learning experience.
• Follow-up and ongoing evaluation: learners are more likely to become engaged if they see their progression. Digital Learning platforms must supply the tools needed to track progress and instructors should offer constructive feedback.
• Flexibility: in today’s world of frenetic information overload, in which the race to capture attention is so competitive, we must adapt to learners’ consumption patterns. Whether they are mobile or sedentary, we must supply them with the information they need to learn. Of course, when speaking about flexibility, we mustn’t forget to be responsive, i.e., to ensure that content can be consumed on all devices (mobile, tablet, PC).
• Fostering reflection: encouraging learners to think about what they have learned is a powerful way of consolidating understanding and engagement. Learners should have at their disposal a variety of pedagogical training methods. From traditional lessons, to assessment, anchoring and role plays, none of these methods should be overlooked.
• Clear direction and well-defined objectives: learners need to understand what they are going to learn and why that is important. Clearly defined learning goals help to sustain attention and motivation.
• Support and additional resources: learners may require additional resources to deepen their knowledge. Providing access to a varied content library can offer freedom of learning to learners who are now used to unlimited content.

Digital Learning offers countless opportunities for learner engagement. The practices described are just some of the ways of maximising this engagement and optimising online learning. It is important for instructors and designers of lessons to continue to explore new methods for sustaining learner engagement and enhancing the learner experience.

Alexandre Borel

Responsable de l’écosystème partenaires de Teach on Mars et de sa Brand Awareness , Alexandre est passionné par les Edtech et plus globalement par l’apprentissage continu. Il a rejoint Teach on Mars en 2019 pour participer à cette audacieuse révolution mobile.