Hi all, in our online academy, learner currently have to wait 1 day before the next module is unlocked for them (e.g. after completion of module 1 they need to wait before beginning with module 2). This is supposed to 'guide them' to use the one day to practice the learned content and prevent them from moving through the content too hastily. However, the more general question arose now whether we shouldn't give adult learners the ability to move through the online course at their own pace, thus disabling any time-restrictions.
What are your thoughts/experiences? (we are relatively new to the field of eLearning).
I think that that one-day of time restriction is huge. Actually, I don't think having a time restriction between classes is a good idea because not necessarily everybody would have the time to do one class a day. Somes people might find the time to do 2 or 3 in one day, and no time at all the next days.
But, I understand what you mean by ''Moving through the content too hastily'' What we are doing at my job is that we are keeping the next button disable, so he cannot skip a slide before the end of the narration. (we do that because we noticed that client was just spamming the ''Next'' button without reading or listening to the content, and then, they were calling our customer services to complain that this or this information ''Wasn't there'' (it was.) )
I am also new at this (I am graphic designer) but this is what my colleague taught me :) )
Tim: In my decade or so building elearning, I haven't found many companies halting a user's progress. That's not too say it's a bad idea, but in general, learners are given the freedom to move on, if they want.
If they have demonstrated they know the process or content, it kinda makes sense for them to move on.
My take is that if there is an expectation that they must practice/use/apply the knowledge from one course before taking another, and it is required for sound learning purposes, then that is how you build the curriculum. In other words, rather than an artificial waiting period, put in an application-based mini course in between the regular courses where they have to show/report/discuss what they've done with the knowledge to put it into practice. In this way you make the practice/application the gating factor, not an arbitrary time period.
All that being said.... tread lightly here. Different adults learn differently as we know. So some like to assimilate it all and then go apply. Others may have scheduling/practical constraints where they cannot apply something yet, but do have time to learn more (and then apply both things later).
So just be sure if you are requiring them to apply it before moving on, that it is truly necessary, and not just knowledge transfer you could easily guage via the traditional quizzing.
I think it's better to have learners learn by their own pace and not restrict them between modules by time period. If we want them to practice what they learnt in their real life and then come back to learn more(next module), I think it's better to create a real life task, ask them to complete and earn a code when they done the task. And they can use that code to access to the next module.
I agree with the consensus that learners prefer to be self-paced Tim. You will always get that 'one' learner that just wants to get through the content without acquiring knowledge. However what you can do is post up a quiz or assignment from your LMS if you're using one. The score from this quiz or assignment goes towards an achievement, e.g. pass or fail or a (%) score. Then place restriction on this so that the learner cannot proceed to the say, the next unit without a PASS or 80% score. Good Luck
6 Replies
I think that that one-day of time restriction is huge. Actually, I don't think having a time restriction between classes is a good idea because not necessarily everybody would have the time to do one class a day. Somes people might find the time to do 2 or 3 in one day, and no time at all the next days.
But, I understand what you mean by ''Moving through the content too hastily'' What we are doing at my job is that we are keeping the next button disable, so he cannot skip a slide before the end of the narration. (we do that because we noticed that client was just spamming the ''Next'' button without reading or listening to the content, and then, they were calling our customer services to complain that this or this information ''Wasn't there'' (it was.) )
I am also new at this (I am graphic designer) but this is what my colleague taught me :) )
Tim: In my decade or so building elearning, I haven't found many companies halting a user's progress. That's not too say it's a bad idea, but in general, learners are given the freedom to move on, if they want.
If they have demonstrated they know the process or content, it kinda makes sense for them to move on.
My take is that if there is an expectation that they must practice/use/apply the knowledge from one course before taking another, and it is required for sound learning purposes, then that is how you build the curriculum. In other words, rather than an artificial waiting period, put in an application-based mini course in between the regular courses where they have to show/report/discuss what they've done with the knowledge to put it into practice. In this way you make the practice/application the gating factor, not an arbitrary time period.
All that being said.... tread lightly here. Different adults learn differently as we know. So some like to assimilate it all and then go apply. Others may have scheduling/practical constraints where they cannot apply something yet, but do have time to learn more (and then apply both things later).
So just be sure if you are requiring them to apply it before moving on, that it is truly necessary, and not just knowledge transfer you could easily guage via the traditional quizzing.
I think it's better to have learners learn by their own pace and not restrict them between modules by time period. If we want them to practice what they learnt in their real life and then come back to learn more(next module), I think it's better to create a real life task, ask them to complete and earn a code when they done the task. And they can use that code to access to the next module.
I agree with the consensus that learners prefer to be self-paced Tim. You will always get that 'one' learner that just wants to get through the content without acquiring knowledge. However what you can do is post up a quiz or assignment from your LMS if you're using one. The score from this quiz or assignment goes towards an achievement, e.g. pass or fail or a (%) score. Then place restriction on this so that the learner cannot proceed to the say, the next unit without a PASS or 80% score. Good Luck
Agree with this 💯 percent.
This discussion is closed. You can start a new discussion or contact Articulate Support.