Learning Conversations - Latest comments on Interaction or Engagement?

Mark [Member] in response to: Interaction or Engagement?

Mark [Member] — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 04:33:22 +0000

"If ... the e-learning materials were critical to you qualifying..." - that's the crucial bit. That's what would motivate me to engage - even if the materials weren't particularly well put together. I would read the most uninteresting academic paper if, by doing so, it would provide useful material for something for my Masters.

The problem comes when that initial motivation to engage isn't there. That's when designers/producers etc have to go into overdrive to make the materials appealing. And that's particularly where organisations need to create the motivation to engage; whether it's through performance management, coaching, marketing gimmicks, advertising, promotion - the whole works.

Clive Shepherd [Visitor] in response to: Interaction or Engagement?

Clive Shepherd [Visitor] — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 04:21:30 +0000

It seems to me from what you're saying that the problem with corporate e-learning is that it is not engaging rather than just because it follows the typical e-learning tutorial format. If those materials were well-designed and you were really interested in the content, then presumably you'd find them as interesting as the texts, podcasts, etc.

I'd say the real problem is that your exposure to corporate e-learning materials is of the compliance variety, i.e. things the company has to go through the motions of teaching. If you were learning to become something like an engineer, the e-learning materials were critical to you qualifying and were really well put together, I don't think you'd have any trouble being engaged.