How to boost knowledge retention in e-Learners

It remains a challenge for many teachers to ensure that learners retain the information they learn, regardless of the method used. With everything from digital resources to self-education, learning content still can be difficult to retain and apply.

Student retention is challenging. However, by developing content that is engaging and has clear goals in mind, retention can be improved. Use the following tricks to make courses memorable:

Stay Relevant

Unless practiced or put to use in the real world, no input will have a long-term impact on someone. Even if the visuals in your courses are appealing, learners will quickly forget the material if it's not relevant to them.

Make sure you keep your target audience in mind when creating engaging courses. What content is suitable for them? How will they apply what they learn? Can it help them achieve their goals?

Using Diagrams to Demonstrate Ideas

Text can only provide a limited amount of information when explaining complex concepts. The simplest way to describe a multi-layer process can be difficult to remember after the training session ends.

With diagrams, you can help students understand complex concepts. In addition to comparing and contrasting data, charts and graphs can also be useful. The brain makes connections between the data and its interpretation with the aid of visual elements.

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Make use of multimedia

In addition to their effectiveness, charts and graphs can only do so much to promote knowledge retention. You can add other multimedia elements like images, GIFs, Videos, and other similar things according to your content type. Include pictures between paragraphs. Include videos showing how to perform certain tasks. Create an eye-catching infographic using words and pictures. Using these more elaborative methods, you can spice up your classes.

Highlights and Warm Colors

The psychology of colors explains how certain colors affect human behavior in different ways. For example, green is relaxing, blue encourages clarity of thought, and purple stimulates creativity. Color affects our memory as well. Our attention is increased by color, which helps us to remember certain information. Make sure you use colors to emphasize the key points in your courses, and learners are likely to remember them better and longer. 

Use micro-content

It is more likely for your learners to forget information when they have to absorb it all in one sitting. When the brain is overburdened, it becomes drained and loses the information it is attempting to process.

Dividing long text into shorter pieces is a good idea. It is more likely for learners to retain information if it is grouped. Students can then organize this data in their minds more easily.

In addition, you will build the habit of not including filler in your course content when you apply this approach. By reducing the amount of text, images become more powerful, and courses become easier to remember.

Test with simulations

Ideally, you want to place your learners in real-life scenarios with assessments. Providing learners with abstract, complex topics in an engaging and relevant way, increases understanding of more complex material. The simulation provides the context that helps students understand how a lesson is actually applied in the real world. The learners are also able to receive immediate feedback, making their experience more enjoyable. Simulations can give learners instant feedback for both positive and negative responses, allowing them to rectify mistakes quickly and get the reinforcement they need. Having an LMS such as Cloud Academy that offers various types of assessments will help in this case.

Repetition

A key component of learning is repetition. No matter if you are building muscle with physical exercise or learning a new skill regularly, repetition is an effective way of learning.

Rather than doing repetitions in bulk, it is better to space them out over time. Practice in a spaced-out manner improves memory, decision-making, and the ability to apply what is learned in new situations.

This should be considered when creating eLearning courses. Make use of diagrams and multimedia along with repetition. Keep key points fresh in learners' minds by repeating them in various formats.

Explanatory examples

Concepts are easier to understand when they are explained with examples. In this way, learners can compare and contrast multiple ideas, and relate a concept they are unfamiliar with to a concept they are familiar with.

If you want your students to retain knowledge, create eLearning content that uses relatable examples. Use facts and explanations to back them up. A simple picture can convey the message or you can also use case studies to provide more detail.

Conclusion

With changes in patterns, active participation, and retention, mental engagement is maintained. Encourage your students to think independently instead of repeating their tasks and patterns. Your learners will experience a constant flow of stimulation when you design their courses differently. This enhances the learning experience, which makes it more engaging and memorable.