We recently collaborated with a client to create microlearning videos based on their pre-existing sales methodology and training materials. The client had a team of experienced instructional designers, subject matter experts, and course creators to script the content prior to our video engagement. We quickly realized what a struggle the team had writing or rewriting good concise learning content.
Seeing this struggle made it clear that other content creators had to be dealing with the same challenges.
Here are 3 challenges the team faced and how we helped improve their content creation process in order to align to the modern learner:
1. Repetition, Repetition, Repetition.
There’s the old “tell them what you’re going to tell them, tell them, and then tell them what you told them” method. Which we love, but there’s a difference between doing it succinctly and beating a dead horse. The great thing about online learning technology is it puts the learner in control. If they missed something in a video, they can use the play bar to rewind the video and play it back.
Improvement: Be deliberate with your delivery.
To get over this hurdle, you need to get good at editing. Whether it’s you or someone else on your team, read and re-read your content to ensure you’re not saying the same things over and over again. Act as if you have to pay a dime for every word you use.
2. Explaining Everything.
It’s an easy trap to fall into. If you are very close to your content, you may have the tendency to over explain because you know so much.
Improvement: Focus on one learning objective.
If you continuously ask yourself, “What’s the one thing I want someone to get out of this?” as you write AND edit, you will keep yourself on track. Using this method, we are able to omit entire paragraphs in our editing process! Sounds simple, but many people write objectives at the beginning of a project, yet don’t rely on them to guide the process.
3. Giving Little Or No Context.
When teaching a methodology or process, it’s easy to jump right into the “how-to”. And, yes, we said to be succinct and to the point, but you also have to set the stage.
Improvement: Give context.
To ensure content is recalled and remembered, create context for your learners. How can you relate the concept you’re teaching to something they’re familiar with? Short stories and relatable experiences are the best way to set the stage and create context.
The next time you’re challenged with creating a new training initiative in Learning and Development, think about these 3 challenges and try the improvements we implemented. We hope our experience will help increase your training’s effectiveness and shorten your production timeline.