Just Because It’s Short Doesn’t Mean You Will Remember It

Here at Intela, we are big fans of microlearning. There is a huge amount of research demonstrating that presenting small nuggets of information spaced over time improves learning retention. Much of this is due to limitations on our working memory: Working memory is short-term (no more than a few minutes) and limited – capable of …

Text. Pictures. Narration. Animation. What’s Best for Instruction?

When I teach my workshop on Modern Learning, I always ask my students the following question: You are creating an eLearning course using text, graphics, animation and narration. You are showing an animation. What is best for learning: Animation plus text Animation plus narration Animation plus text and narration Usually 50% or more of the …

Is There a Failure Rate That Leads to Optimal Learning?

I think we all have an intuitive sense that learning should be difficult, but not too difficult. If, for example, you enrolled in a third grade math class you would likely do very well but wouldn’t learn anything you didn’t already know. On the other hand, if you enrolled in a graduate course in theoretical …

A Study That (Maybe) Justifies Using VR for Training

Earlier this year I wrote a blog post (here) questioning the value proposition of using VR for training. I DID NOT argue that VR was not effective; what I did argue was that I have yet to find a study that shows that VR is MORE effective than traditional, less expensive, forms of training -- …

Using Microlearning to Ensure Long Term Mastery

In our past two posts we examined strategies for using microlearning for (a) delivering new content and (b) creating a sustainment learning strategy. This week we will consider how to use microlearning in the case where there is a large learning event and the goal is to achieve and sustain mastery. Returning to the classic …

Sustaining Learning with Microlearning

Slight change of plan. This week we will discuss using microlearning for sustained learning; next week we’ll look at the mastery strategy. Last week we discussed a microlearning strategy that can be deployed when the microlearning is the learning (there is no large-scale learning event). This week we will consider how to use microlearning in …

Do You REALLY Know What Training Transfer Is? Maybe Not.

When I teach learning workshops, I often ask the attendees: “What is transfer of training? How do we know it has occurred?’ Of course, I always get the same answer: “If the learner can apply what he or she has learned in a course back on the job, then training transfer has occurred.” So, I …

Why Are You Quizzing Me on What I Already Know?

Intela has a variety of evidence-based Microactivities that improve and sustain learning. One of the more popular activities is the Learning Sprint. A Learning Sprint is a flashcard-like exercise in which learners are required to answer questions from an item pool over a period of several days or weeks (exact scheduling can be set by …

Learning Myth #10: Memory is like a muscle. The more you use it the stronger it gets.

We all know that our muscles improve with use. If we start lifting weights we gradually get stronger and, over time, can lift heavier weights. If we begin running regularly we will improve our speeds. But what about memory? Does the analogy with our muscles work?  Will our memories improve if we “exercise” them? When …

You Have a Test. Have You Studied? Good. Are You Confident? Not So Fast.

Last week we showed the results of a survey that provided evidence that learners overwhelmingly choose to study for an exam by re-reading the course material, to the exclusion of other more effective study methods. But what about confidence? Who is more confident: learners who restudy or learners who take practice tests?  And how does …