Forum Discussion
Estimating timings on a course
I estimate with Word count. Typically narrated text is 125 - 150 words per minute.
Reading speed is around 200.
I agree with you MarkNolker
I am actually not a supporter of specifying the length of a course because I believe it interferes with the learning experience. There are learners who get too stressed about not finishing everything on time and instead of focusing on the course, they focus on watching the time.
Scenarios, in particular, make it difficult to specify the length of a course, especially if they are branching. But unfortunately for tracking purposes in the LMS, the length is usually required.
When I am required to specify the time, I usually include a quick instruction/blurb to the learner that the times are approximate, and every person takes a different amount of time to complete the course.
Hi TeddyParvanova- I agree - in parts.
On one hand, it can put pressure on the learner ("It said this takes 10 minutes, I am already on 20...").
On the other hand, it gives learners a way of estimating if the learning course / module fits into their planned / availble time slot. We have courses ranging from 5 minutes to several hours. I think it is important for learners to have an idea what they are taking on.
Also, in a corporate environment, I have been asked to run a report for a company section about how much time employees have spent in training (certain certifications require this kind of number, be it sensible or not).
The "real" time spent in training is difficult to get and also not very helpful since I have found that some people seem to leave the learning course open while doing other things (in a sales office, interruptions are the norm). This distorts that number massively. It still gives a good idea about how long people spend on a course, so after a while, it can be helpful to look at that figure and reset it to a more realistic value.
Really appreciate you adding to this conversation not just with the technical approach, but with some practical upsides/risks to consider. Thank you FelixFranke !
