#7 Lesson: Less is more in content production
In this month's Lessons on Learning, we're going to discuss an important aspect of online course-building: the value of less content. We often find ourselves tempted to include every piece of information we can think of, fearing that learners might miss out on something crucial.
However, overwhelming learners with an abundance of material can be counterproductive and hinder their motivation to engage with the course. Instead, we should focus on delivering concise and relevant content that truly supports their learning journey, because then we are building true understanding.
"Delete half of the material"
In the past month, I have had a couple of insightful conversations related to the topic. ?
First, we had a conversation with our learning designer Aino (she always reveals her best learning tips on LinkedIn so you should follow her if you are eager to get those tips) about one turnaround customer case. The customer had huge amounts of material and a very unorganized structure. It was one of the simplest learning design suggestions: delete half of the material. And you already guessed it: learning engagement went up, and good feedback started coming.
The second conversation, that was handling this phenomenon, was with Aki M?enp?? from Marble Hill Partner -Consultancy. Aki has more than 3 decades of experience in product training and sales development. ?We discussed how to develop online product training in your organization. In a short while, we were discussing that less content could end up with better learning outcomes. In this case, the outcome would be a better understanding of the product. And he had three different takeaways that you can start implementing already today.
1.??????Learners’ perspective is crucial.
The key takeaway from our conversation was the importance of considering the learners' perspective. We must invest time in the initial planning phase to determine precisely what we want to achieve and identify the essential topics.
Online courses and self-paced learning can be challenging for learners to stay motivated, so we need to ensure that the content we provide is meaningful and doesn't overwhelm them.
2.??????Crab attention with short videos.
One effective strategy is to incorporate short videos, preferably under two minutes in length, that deliver the core concepts.
For example, Aki shared an experience where a 45-second video caught the attention of a client more effectively than a two-minute video. This anecdote highlights the significance of brevity and the need to capture learners' interest quickly.
3.??????Structure your content in the right way (essentials to nice to know)
Furthermore, we discussed the importance of supplementary materials. While some learners may find additional resources, such as website links or supporting documents, valuable, it is crucial to prioritize the essential content.
By presenting the core concepts concisely through videos and possibly complementing them with applied examples or testimonials, we ensure that learners grasp the main points effectively.
领英推荐
Ultimately, our goal is to create an engaging learning experience that not only imparts knowledge but also prompts learners to reflect and apply the concepts to their context. By carefully curating content, and keeping it concise and relevant, we can strike a balance that maximizes learner engagement and retention.
Start your first online course for free!
We have just soft-launched our new option to have a test drive to Claned for 30 days. With the free account, you can start building your first online course from scratch or using templates on our repository. You also get four free courses that you can attend yourself. Also, you can invite your friends to study your courses.
Two new Learning Clan -podcasts have been released.
The first is all about fixed & growth mindsets in organizational environments. Chris and Aino talk about how to get the most out of it and how to develop it in a professional context.
The second handles product training in a corporate environment and how to get more sales with proper training. Unfortunately, this podcast episode is only in Finnish.
Learning Clan podcast -series handles topics all related to learning. The new podcast will be published monthly. You can find podcast episodes from various places, so pick your favorite and start listening!