How To Create Learning Experiences that Last. There are endless examples of how to create learning experiences that actually work. The great French writer, Victor Hugo, did not learn to write until after years of struggling through grammar school. So how did he get such amazing talent? He studied, and he read.
What is the most important thing to remember when designing a learning system?
It is to keep it simple. People learn best when there is a clear path from A to B. If there are too many steps, or if you have to figure out the right way to get somewhere, you will spend a lot of time trying to figure out what the right thing to do is, rather than actually enjoying what you are doing. If you have too many options, you will be confused and lose your way in the process.
If you can design a system that offers multiple choices, rather than just a few, you will encourage more interest. People like to make things complicated, so give them plenty of options. Don’t make them feel dumb by holding all the answers up to their noses. Just remember that as humans, we do need order and predictability in our lives. If you throw too much freedom and unpredictability into your system, you will likely discourage people from taking you seriously.
Make sure that there are rewards for good behavior. Rewards are the psychological motivation behind most forms of learning. They make us want to repeat the action that brought us reward. If you use a reward system which gives out ice cream coupons for staying on track, people will be motivated to stay on track. You might have to customize your rewards somewhat, but that is okay.
People need to feel like they have some control over the learning process
Sometimes, that control comes in the form of a reward. Give people something to look forward to if they follow your directions. This does not mean that you have to give them chocolate or an ice cream coupon. Rewarding good behavior makes people want to get up to complete the task.
Remember to be honest with yourself about what works and what doesn’t. Don’t be afraid to try new methods and experiment with creative ways of learning. The best method is to never stop trying. Keep your mind open and learn as much as possible. Only then will you realize your full potential.