“C’mon, Does eLearning Training Really Increase Retention?”

“Industry Insider” answers the BIG question about eLearn training systems design…

“C’mon, Does eLearning Training Really Increase Retention?”

This is a reprint of the conversation that Torri Ellman, long-time eLearning training systems designer and eLearning project manager had with a client who asked some penetrating question about eLearning, eLearn Training Systems and the design of eLearn storyboards.

CLIENT QUESTION: Do you create the questions and answers for the quizzes?

ANSWER: Yes, we can certainly do that. Since each client has specific needs and concerns we always keep them involved and are always happy to have our Instructional Designers work with them. If you would like questions and answers used from your specific materials used that would be no problem at all to do.

CLIENT QUESTION: Are there any stats to ensure the number of questions associated with the material is adequate for assessing learners’ retention?

ANSWER: That is a great question. I will check with our team of Instructional Designers to see if they have more that specific question, but here are some great testimonies to the effectiveness of eLearning:

1. “…learners…can better understand the material, leading to a 60 per cent faster learning curve, compared to instructor-led training. Whereas the average content retention rate for an instructor led class is only 58 per cent, the more intensive eLearning experience enhances the retention rate by 25-60 per cent. Higher retention of the material puts a higher value on every dollar spent on training.”
   – WR Hambrecht + Co on e-learning
2. Millbank studied the effectiveness of a mix of audio plus video in corporate training. When he introduced real-time interactivity, the retention rate of the trainees was raised from about 20 percent (using ordinary classroom methods) to about 75 percent (Millbank, 1994). However, this mixture takes bandwidth, which is not plentiful in some organizations.
3. Millbank, G. 1994. Writing multimedia training with integrated simulation. Paper presented at the Writers Retreat on Interactive Technology and Equipment.
   –Vancouver, BC: The University of British Columbia Continuing Studies (p. 75).
4. Higher retention of content through personalized learning —          Technology-based solutions allow more room for individual  differences in learning styles. They also provide a high level of simulation that can be tailored to the learner’s level of proficiency. With 24 x 7 access, people can learn at their own pace and review course material as often as needed. Since they can customize the learning material to their own needs, students have more control over their learning process and can better understand the material, leading to a 60% faster learning curve, compared to instructor-led training. The delivery of content in smaller units, called “chunks,” contributes further to a more lasting learning effect. Whereas the average content retention rate for an instructor-led class is only 58%, the more intensive eLearning experience enhances the retention rate by 25 – 60%.  Higher retention of the material puts a higher value on every dollar spent on training.

– Jack E. Bowsher, “Revolutionizing Workforce Performance: A Systems Approach to Mastery,” 1998; D. Peoples, Presentations Plus, 1992; Training Magazine, 1998.

I can say this about eLearning; it works well because it can be much less intimidating than instructor-led training, in many instances. Learners have the option of going at their own pace and have the wonderful benefit of being able to go over the material as much as they need to without the fear of anyone knowing that they didn’t fully get it the first time around.

CLIENT QUESTION: I have heard I need to develop an eLearn storyboard.  I am not quite sure how to do build eLearn storyboards.  Is this necessary?

ANSWER: Designing your elearning program is a complex process which requires you to manage many parts, simultaneously. Much more than simply throwing ideas on your elearn storyboards, a system must be followed in order to manage the entire elearning education training program.

So, it is not necessary for you to develop your own elearn storyboard as that is part of our standard operating procedure as outlined on the link below.  I think you will get a lot out of reviewing our 11-Step process for designing user-friendly, highly efficient web-based training systems.

CLIENT QUESTION: Are there typically a certain number of pages you do?

ANSWER: There is not a certain number of pages that we do as we tailor a course to fit the needs of the user and the client.  We have produced courses that had a seat-time as short as 11 minutes to ones lasting over 7 hours.  Please be assured that if you would like to show Sam and I some of your course material for an online course it would be kept confidential and would never be used for anything.

CLIENT QUESTION: Sam indicated an effective strategy for increasing retention and creating added-value for my customers is to distribute eLearning courses approximately 10 minutes in length prior to and/or after the training that I deliver.  Approximately how many pages equals 10 minutes?

ANSWER: It is hard to say exactly how many pages would be the equivalent of 10 minutes without seeing a sample because depending on the topic and how in-depth the training needs to be, it can vary greatly.  To give you an idea of how many pages are used in some computer-based training courses, the sample we have online for the Mortgage Fraud course came from just about four (4)  pages of content that was provided. As a general guideline we like to put a mastery test within every 10 minutes of seat-time to ensure the learners are retaining the material.  Tests and quizzes can be scored and set up so the learner cannot continue with the course until they receive a passing score which further serves to ensure retention of the materials. Mixed in with that we often put matching games or fill in the blank games to reinforce the course materials which help keep the learner interested.

++++++++++++++++

Do you have a Training System that needs to be transformed into a web-based learning program?  If so, please tell us more about your program here.

About eLearn Training Systems
eLearn Training Systems (ETS) develops online training systems for companies, schools and organizations. ETS specializes in re-designing “paper and ink” training materials into an automated and user-friendly online training system, integrating current teaching modalities to heighten the trainee’s performance. For more information about eLearning and online education, visit: www.elearntrainingsystems.com

Advertisement