Nobody likes boring learning activities. There’s been much research on how fun and engagement impact learning motivation, effectiveness, and retention. The results are in. Individuals learn best when learning is accessible, relatable, and emotionally engaging.
Part of the joy of learning comes from doing. Teaching strategy cannot be limited to lectures alone. There must be many avenues open for the individual to engage in other forms of learning such as participating in discussions, completing writing assignments, and experiential learning.
As a Content Specialist, I draw upon several years of experience in the film and television industry to combine the best of Hollywood with learning to make it engaging in a cost-effective, scalable way. Everything I create and deliver (from the script through to audio-visual elements) is crafted based on the needs of the audience, and where I want them to land, by the end of the story.
It could be something simple like incorporating colour psychology into the design of an image. It could be adding music to grab attention, set the mood, and establish an emotional connection. Or it could be more complex, such as the realistic and relatable narrative between animated or live-action characters (or both).
We don't see things as they are, we see things as we are.
Individuals need to see themselves reflected in the story for learning to stick (a call-out to diversity and inclusion). Whatever the solution, I start by understanding my audience.
True learning doesn't feel tiring or hard. It feels like everything is in sync. It begins with curiosity which then drives engagement and interest. Before long, a state of flow has emerged: you’re deeply absorbed in what you’re doing. There’s neither boredom nor distraction because it is an immersive experience.
Our biggest competitor is time lost due to distraction and the instant gratification of multimedia. So effective learning is immersive and engaging. And this means different things to different people which calls for accessibility and relatability.
I have invested time in growing my skills to make learning engaging. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, we needed to rapidly innovate and adapt to meet the needs of our audience whilst simultaneously moving our delivery online. It was a mammoth task. But the pandemic was also an opportunity to reset and look for better ways to engage with people whose ability to focus was impacted by anxiety, overwhelm, and exhaustion.
So, I did what most people wouldn't do - I did a course in stand-up comedy!
I wanted to add humour to learning, to 'lighten the load' and make it more engaging. Humour aids in information retention. It increases motivation and energy by activating the brain's dopamine reward system. It has the power to reduce resistance and make learning more digestible. You’re hitting the mark when learners quote funny lines from your content in their feedback.
Investing in the success of our people is essential to the success of our business. Our multi-award-winning Future Ready program is a great example of this. Future Ready focuses on core capabilities essential in all businesses - innovation, continuous improvement, collaboration, adaptation and growth, and critical decision-making.
The curriculum enables our people to develop and grow through Future Ready self-paced courses and practical learning. It enables our people to apply for and be awarded Future Ready Credentials - recognition of our capabilities against a global standard.
Future Ready’s success depends on its ability to attract learners, through ease of access, relatability, and emotional engagement.
The gratification that comes from being able to add value and receive recognition is an emotional pay-off that motivates learners to continue their learning and development journey. This emotional appeal is evoked through carefully crafted audio and visual elements, relatable characters, stories, and a satisfying ending that engages learners on a transformational journey. When we add value at every step of the learning journey, everyone wins.
Want to build a connected future? Take a look at our open jobs here.
