4 Strategies To Make Learning Exciting And Engaging

Make Learning An Exciting Adventure With Key Tactics

The belief that learning concludes after formal education is a myth. In today’s professional landscape, continuous learning is essential for both individual and organizational growth. Yet, many Learning and Development (L&D) programs struggle with engagement, leading to high dropout rates. A recent MIT study highlights that online courses have a mere 4% retention rate. This raises an important question: How can we make learning exciting, like our favorite games or social media?

Enter gamification—an innovative approach that has significantly enhanced engagement in eLearning. Take Duolingo, for instance, which boasts a 55% retention rate by skillfully applying principles from psychology and behavioral science. Let’s delve into these research-backed strategies to transform your learning programs and make them truly addictive.

Strategies To Transform Learning Into An Exciting Experience

Turn Failure Into A Learning Opportunity

Mark Rober’s 2017 game experiment revealed that participants who faced no penalties for failure were more likely to succeed. This phenomenon, called the Super Mario effect, demonstrates that a supportive environment encourages perseverance and success.

• How to apply the Super Mario effect in L&D
  • Promote resilience
    Encourage learners to persevere by using motivational messaging, quotes, or even positive reinforcement after mistakes. For example, instead of simply marking an answer as “incorrect” provide feedback that helps learners understand why their answer was wrong and encourage them to try again.
  • Provide helpful hints
    Instead of giving away the answers immediately, offer small hints to help learners figure out their mistakes. This method engages their problem-solving skills, which not only helps retention but also nurtures a growth mindset.
  • Celebrate small wins
    After overcoming challenges, reward learners with badges, points, or praise for their persistence. These small celebrations of progress can serve as powerful motivators.

Cultivate Learning As A Daily Habit

Habits are actions performed automatically, without much conscious thought. Behavioral scientists argue that once a behavior becomes habitual, it is consistently executed with little resistance.

• Here’s how to build learning habits
  • Establish triggers
    These could be daily notifications, emails, or calendar reminders nudging employees to engage with a learning module. When employees receive regular, timely prompts, they are more likely to incorporate learning into their daily workflow.
  • Develop routines
    Structure your learning programs with clear daily routines or learning paths. For instance, an online course could start with a daily commitment declaration, where learners pledge to complete a certain number of modules by the end of the week. This sense of accountability encourages them to stick with the routine.
  • Offer rewards for consistency
    Offer incentives, such as recognition, certificates, or small prizes, for learners who meet daily or weekly goals. These rewards don’t have to be extravagant—something as simple as a “Learner of the Week” badge can boost motivation and make learners eager to continue.
  • Build accountability
    Encourage learners to share their progress with peers or mentors. This adds a layer of social accountability, making it more likely that they’ll maintain the habit of learning regularly.

Introduce A Competitive Element

Remember the thrill of racing your friends to copy notes from the blackboard? That competitive edge can be harnessed in learning. Behavioral science shows that competition can be a strong motivator.

• Gamify your learning experience
  • Use quizzes and flashcards
    Introducing quizzes at the end of lessons can make learning feel like a fun challenge rather than a tedious task. By offering interactive elements like flashcards or timed quizzes, learners are incentivized to participate actively while testing their knowledge in an engaging way.
  • Establish leaderboards
    Highlight top performers by introducing leaderboards that show learners how they rank compared to their peers. Friendly competition can spark enthusiasm, encouraging others to participate more actively in hopes of seeing their name at the top.
  • Have mini competitions
    Incorporate small competitions during live workshops or group sessions. For example, group learners into teams and have them compete in solving case studies or answering questions within a time limit. Adding a sense of urgency and competition increases engagement levels significantly.
  • Set personal goals
    For those who may not enjoy competing against others, introduce the idea of self-competition. Learners can set personal benchmarks and strive to beat their own previous scores, offering a sense of achievement and improvement.

Leverage The Goal Gradient Effect

Have you ever noticed how your motivation spikes as you get closer to a goal? This is known as the goal gradient effect. The closer we get to achieving a goal, the more motivated we become.

• How to apply the goal gradient effect
  • Set clear milestones
    Break large goals into smaller, more manageable milestones. This makes the overall goal feel more achievable and provides learners with regular opportunities to celebrate progress.
  • Visualize progress
    People love to see tangible proof of their accomplishments. Use progress bars or charts to visually represent how far learners have come and how close they are to reaching the next milestone.
  • Create streaks
    Streaks are an incredibly effective way to keep learners engaged. Duolingo’s streak feature is a prime example of how learners feel motivated to log in every day simply to maintain their streak. Incorporating a similar system in your learning program can increase daily engagement.
  • Highlight achievements
    Recognize and celebrate learners’ progress at every milestone. Use leaderboards, badges, or certificates to publicly acknowledge learners who have reached certain milestones, which will motivate others to keep going.

Duolingo employs the concept of streaks to harness this effect. A streak represents the number of consecutive days a user engages with the app. By visualizing progress and showing stats on accomplishments, learners are motivated to keep up their streak and stay engaged.

In Conclusion: How To Make Learning Exciting

Implementing these four science-based strategies—creating daily habits, introducing competitive elements, utilizing the goal gradient effect, and embracing failure—can make your learning programs more engaging and enjoyable.

By understanding and applying these psychological and behavioral principles, you can turn traditional training and eLearning into an experience that learners look forward to. Transform your L&D initiatives with these insights and watch as learning becomes not just a necessity but a thrilling adventure!