The Science of Learning: A Guide for eLearning Professionals

A brand new era of education, known as eLearning, has begun thanks to the astonishing advancement of technology.

As specialists in the field of eLearning, one of our responsibilities is to create and deliver online courses that are productive, engaging, and efficient. In order to accomplish this, we need an understanding of the science that underpins the learning process.

Let’s go deeper into the learning principles and theories, as well as the significant impact that microlearning has had on the eLearning industry.

Understanding the Basic Principles of Learning

The core principles of learning give us a glimpse into how people learn and remember information. These principles include:

  • Active Learning: According to this guiding philosophy, students should not merely be passive users of information but rather actively participate in the process of their own education. Learners are able to more successfully internalise the material when they are engaged in it through activities such as conversations, quizzes, and real-world examples.
  • Spacing Effect: According to a number of studies, the best way to learn is to break up one’s studying so that it occurs over a period of time rather than cramming it all into one sitting.
  • Dual Coding: In order to improve one’s ability to comprehend and remember information, the dual coding theory proposes mixing verbal and visual content.

The Application of Learning Principles to eLearning

We are able to apply these ideas within the context of eLearning, which allows us to enhance the experience of the learner. The creation of interactive modules, such as those containing quizzes, case studies, and discussion forums, can be used to foster active learning. The impact of spacing can be achieved by dividing the content into smaller, more manageable chunks that can be worked on in stages during the course of the project.

Because the vast majority of e-learning platforms have multimedia capabilities, dual coding is an approach that is relatively simple to implement. To make the learning experience more engaging for learners, we can provide them with audio explanations, videos, and infographics.

The Power of Microlearning in eLearning

The principles of learning are perfectly aligned with the practise of microlearning, which involves providing knowledge in discrete, chewable chunks. Learners in today’s world benefit greatly from learning experiences that are concise and laser-focused because their attention spans only endure for a few minutes at a time. Microlearning is excellent for the just-in-time requirements of today’s learners since it boosts engagement and retention, and it can be completed quickly.

Take for example the situation of Company X, which changed its approach to compliance training by adopting the microlearning method. Their completion rates increased by 20%, and post-training tests revealed a notable rise in the amount of information they were able to retain.

Leveraging Learning Theories in eLearning

Various learning theories can guide us in creating impactful eLearning courses. Two notable theories are:

  • Cognitive Load Theory: This theory emphasizes managing the amount of information presented to learners at any given time to avoid cognitive overload.
  • Constructivist Theory: Here, learning is seen as a constructive process where learners build new ideas based on their current and past knowledge.

eLearning courses designed with these theories in mind can effectively manage the learner’s cognitive load, promote meaningful learning, and accommodate individual learning styles.

Conclusion: Revolutionise Your eLearning Experience

The way in which we produce content for eLearning may be revolutionised if we understood and used the science of learning. It gives us the ability to design learning experiences that are not just interesting and useful, but also in line with the way that our brains operate. We at Inelso eLearning Solutions are here to assist you on your journey to transform the way you learn by guiding you along this route. We make it our mission to put these essential benefits of eLearning into practise by designing courses that the learners will find valuable and enjoy taking.

 

“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” – Benjamin Franklin.