Learning has deep roots in our emotions. Plato knew this 2,000 years ago, but it is only recently that neuroscientists have discovered conclusive evidence to support this premise. Science all along knew that emotions are triggered after the brain processes the information it receives. (We knew this too, from experience.) Now a revolutionary study by Dr. Shlomo Wagner of the University of Haifa has proven that a person’s emotional state directly influences how his/her brain processes information. Emotions are either pleasant (positive) or unpleasant (negative). When a person experiences positive emotions, the person learns well. When the person experiences negative emotions, the learning is not so effective. According to Dr. Wagner, the brain responds differently to different emotions.

Traditional LMS's are a major limitation on the amount of data to be analyzed for decision-making. However, thanks to technological advances, companies now have a unique opportunity to improve their eLearning programs and the learning experience of their employees. Enter the world of Big Data. The use of Big Data allows you to get an unparalleled perspective on the performance of each employee, their difficulties, and what attracts them most, among other things. In this article we will explain what Big Data is, what its benefits are, and how it can be used in eLearning, to maximize the impact of your training programs.

Unless you have a phenomenal photographic memory, chances are you struggle to remember things and wonder how you can make information stick better. The answer? PAY ATTENTION! When you pay attention, you are far more likely to retain that information. This also applies to the learners you design eLearning courses for. Effective eLearning course design starts with understanding the science of attention. Neglecting this important step makes the difference between learner’s remembering your content for a few minutes, hours, or a lifetime. Try some of these techniques for getting learners’ attention from the get-go:

Malcolm Gladwell, author of ‘Outliers’ says that to truly master something takes 10,000 hours of practice. That’s a long time. But while Gladwell is probably not too far off the mark, we’d add one small caveat: 10,000 hours of practicing the right way, with the right foundations. So we’ve put together the 10 commandments eLearning professionals must follow to see their courses be a success. Take these rules, incorporate them into your eLearning, and get busy mastering your craft.

We have access to virtually unlimited information at our fingertips these days. Sound instructional design takes all of this information that is whizzing by in all directions and creates structure around it. This structure focuses on concepts consistent with how people learn. Traditionally, this occurred through macro learning opportunities like classes, degrees, and classroom training programs. Advancements in technology have allowed two disruptive innovations to emerge: Microlearning and Personalized Learning. These developments are of interest to learning leaders and L&D professionals who aim to equip their employees with the most relevant information while reducing the time, and ultimately money, that is spent on workforce development. At the same time, employees are looking for ways to engage in asynchronous instruction that is tailored to their current knowledge and builds towards complete mastery.

Your company has just upped the training budget and rolled out a new set of eLearning courses. You are upbeat and confident that these courses will help your employees be on top of their game. And then comes this shocker: the surveys reveal that your employees think your courses are not hitting the mark! They report not feeling motivated to take them. Worse, many amongst those who went through the training felt they wasted their precious minutes and hours. Can you fathom what went wrong? After all, you invested so much time, effort, and money into their development. It is natural for you to want to know before you launch a new set of training programs. According to the findings of a study published by CLO report, 45 percent of workers report that the training they go through is not relevant to their job needs. This is a piece of statistic that will make every training manager around the world sit up, shudder, and wonder aloud, “Have we been creating and dishing out content worth hundreds and thousands of dollars for nothing?”

64% of students say the ability to access courses on their phones is a must. Therefore, implementing training programs on mobile devices is no longer an option, now it is a norm. Therefore, one of the biggest challenges in 2021 is to improve the effectiveness of corporate learning programs, and for this, you must be where your students are. It's that simple! Mobile device usage has expanded. But, in 2020, device usage increased significantly due to the coronavirus. If you haven't taken your training programs mobile yet, we urge you to start considering it, as it brings benefits such as: Learners can have access to information at any time, anywhere. More than 70% of employees use search engines to learn what they need for their jobs; will unlock their smartphones 9 times an hour, and watch videos for no longer than 4 minutes. Higher engagement: Its ability to include more interactive and collaborative content, leads to higher participation. Online communities and social media features in mobile learning environments are a great way to keep learners interested and engaged. A learning process that adapts to modern needs. Removes formality. Mobile learning removes the sense of formality attached to education that non-traditional learners find unattractive. Before you start your journey in this world, it's important to know what the challenges come with mobile learning and, of course, how to deal with them. Read on and find out.

The essential responsibility of every Instructional Designer is to ensure a high-quality learning experience. That has not changed in our increasingly multi-device world. The basics, from audience analysis to writing to the objectives, are still important. However, the role of the instructional designer has evolved and now involves a new mindset to adapt and thrive in a multi-device world.