Practice makes for perfect e-learning

Instructional designer Cathy Moore has a strong message for vocational education and training (VET) practitioners and businesses using e-learning:

It’s tempting to view e-learning as simply a quick and efficient way to present information, but we can harness far more of its potential by using it to design activities which allow learners to practice new knowledge in a safe, online environment.  

In a recent interview for The Knowledge Tree e-journal, Cathy drew on her extensive experience as a trainer and e-learning designer to provide insight into how training providers and businesses can strengthen their e-learning design, delivering the most effective possible experience for learners.

She explained that learners benefit most strongly from lively and engaging e-learning which immerses them in scenarios that are focused on developing ‘real world’ behaviours – and not just imparting information.

According to Cathy, practitioners should let go of the traditional mindset about instruction, where learners are presented with an abundance of content and then tested on how well they can recall it.

“Simply exposing people to information doesn’t mean they’ll learn it, and it certainly doesn’t mean they’ll change their behaviour.

“We can create much more effective e-learning by adopting a ‘test and tell’ approach, where we plunge learners into a situation which is compelling to them, provide information as they need it throughout the scenario, and ask them to start making decisions,” she said.

For practitioners, this may involve a change in their perspective on e-learning design.

“Creating lively e-learning involves seeing e-learning design not as information design, but as designing an experience,” Cathy said.

“Activities must come before content. If we can put the activities first, then determine what content is needed to support the activities, we’ll have much more effective e-learning.”

Cathy predicted that as e-learning continues to evolve, the VET system will see a move away from traditional, monolithic course structures, towards a suite of online materials which solve a performance problem or teach a specific skill.

“Courses will become a lot more focused and active. Core information will be made available in support materials (for example, PDFs), and reinforced through online activities so it becomes second nature.”

During November and December this year, Cathy will be touring Australia speaking at various state and territory end of year events for the national training system’s e-learning strategy, the Australian Flexible Learning Framework (Framework)*.

These events provide a forum for e-learning novices and experts to come together and discuss the technologies and strategies which underpin successful e-learning in VET.

Follow the links below to find out about your state’s or territory’s end-of-year e-learning event:      

*Note, Cathy Moore will be presenting in all states and territories except the ACT.

To listen to Cathy’s full interview in The Knowledge Tree, go to: http://kt.flexiblelearning.net.au/tkt2009/?page_id=3

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Published on 22/10/2009