Myth 2: Books are better than e-learning. My course cannot surpass a book.
Today we are going to discuss one more common misconception about e-learning.
Myth 3: Just put the content with some relevant pictures, and my job is done.
In reality, you cannot be farther away from the truth.
Although illustrations are better than plain text, E-learning is NOT just “Content + Pictures”. E-learning is a learning environment wrapped around an objective. Although that environment is virtual, its objective is very REAL. That objective is to train the learner so that s/he can apply the learning in real-life scenarios, and perform better at the given job.
Why use real life scenarios?
We use real life scenarios as experience has more retention, than merely memorized facts. When a learner is presented with a content that is put up with a picture (even if it is most relevant), the brain perceives the information as a passive knowledge that it hasn’t tried out yet. It is yet to become an experience, and hence has lower retention. Suddenly the content shifts from ‘Application Level’ [user can apply the knowledge in real life] to ‘Understanding Level’ [user needs to understand the content].
How to make the e-learning application oriented?
This gives the learner a freedom to explore, one of our basic elements of learning. The example showcased on Articulate Community is an excellent example, on how effectively it can be done.
3. Once a topic is over, present the user with a similar situation but with a little twist.
Create an interactive scenario, and let the user deduct the solution by own – by combining 2 or more knowledge threads from the content. This will jog the learners mind as he will be unable to solve it by merely memorized concepts.
So, you still think that pictorial learning is the best e-learning?