This is part 1 of a three-part article series about Active Learning.
Active learning in your custom training program means creating a platform by which learners get to aggressively participate in their education. It is not enough that they sit and listen. It is important that they engage in the learning process because that is how retention rate will increase. When you are actively involved in something, you do not just observe, you get to experience the lesson. We all know that experience is the best teacher. That is what you want the trainees to have as they go through your training program.
Now using this method in your online training program is not as difficult as you think. Imagine the world of social media. It is a great example of how we can connect with each other through the Internet. Thanks to the technology that is available to us, it is possible to be more engaged in the learning process.
But let us dwell on the why of active learning first. Why do you need this in your training program? How can active learning take your custom training to the next level?
First of all, it allows you to address the various learning requirements of your learners. We all have different personalities and strengths. Somehow, this has an effect in our learning preferences. Through active learning, trainees will have the opportunity to experiment how they want to learn because they are more engaged in the process. Should they be more vocal and opinionated? Should they try to take a step back and be more observant? The interactive elements in the custom training program will allow the learners to identify the role that they will play.
As this happens, the performance of the learners will increase as they learn new things in the program. Since they are taking charge in how they learn, they feel the responsibility when it comes to what they will learn and how much they can get from the program. This increases their motivation to do good in whatever the elearning course will require from them.
Not only that, as the learners go through the stages in the training program, they will also develop skills like proper decision making and critical thinking. This is thanks to the active roles of learners, they get to take the lead in their own training. They can decide how they will accept the information presented to them since they can see how this program will affect them.
Another benefit of active learning is the way it creates a stronger sense of community between the learners. The activities in the program will engage everyone through interaction. The example of the activities include discussions, problem solving, and even debate. As they share their thoughts and listen to one another, they strengthen their dependence for each other. This is very helpful especially for custom training programs in the workplace. It teaches the participants how to work together regardless of the department that they belong to.
Active learning is something that elearning and training creators can use to make the courses they create effective.
In the second part of this series, we will be discussing the 3 activities that you can use to implement active learning in your custom training program.
Image courtesy of Stuart Miles for FreeDigitalPhotos.net