Michael Allen's Guide to e-Learning, 2nd Edition

Chapter 10Seven Magic Keys to Motivational e-Learning

Yes, I actually do have seven “Magic Keys” to making e-learning experiences compelling and engaging. As described in the previous chapter, motivation is essential to learning and one of the most important success factors for us to consider in designing and delivering instructional events.

Creating great e-learning is never as easy as following a recipe. I can't emphasize enough that there is a lot to know about instructional design and that although good e-learning design may look simple, it isn't. A great idea will often look obvious after it's been implemented, but uncovering the simple, “obvious” ideas can be a very challenging task. The keys to enhancing learning motivation put forth in this chapter are magical because they are such reliable and widely applicable techniques. Their presence or absence correlates well with the likely effectiveness of an e-learning application—at least to the extent that it provides motivating and engaging experiences. Thankfully, these features are not often more difficult to implement than many less effective interactions. These are realistic, practical approaches to highly effective e-learning.

Let's begin with Table 10.1, which lists seven ways to enhance motivation—the Seven Magic Keys—and then discuss them in more detail with examples.

Table 10.1 Ways to Enhance Learning Motivation—the Seven Magic Keys

Key		Comments
1.	Build on anticipated outcomes.	Help learners see how their ...