How Can an LMS in e Learning Boost Learner Engagement?

Learner engagement is the heart of successful e-learning.

In the L&D domain, 'learner engagement' refers to learners' attention, curiosity, enthusiasm, confidence, and passion when learning or being trained. It also addresses the learners' drive to learn and advance in their training. You risk massive drop-out rates and poor retention levels when you overlook engagement.

According to a Gallup survey, 54% of employees are "not engaged" or mentally detached from their jobs and organizations. These workers give their work time, but without much enthusiasm or intensity. (Source1)

What exactly is learner engagement?

Learner engagement is a measure of whether or not someone has been sufficiently motivated in learning to be completely engaged. Sincere "engagement" gets demonstrated by a learner's participation and integration with co-learners and trainers.

If you want individuals to participate in your programs, you must ensure that the content fulfills their requirements and preferences. It is hence critical to design, communicate, structure, and deliver your learning program such that it appeals to learners in roles and across multiple generations. And it all starts with understanding your learners.

These emphasize the importance of learner involvement for organizations, especially when implementing technology-enabled training. After all, engaged learners result in improved learning outcomes, which result in success. Investing in a Learning Management System (LMS) with capabilities that can make the learning experience engaging, interactive, and readily available to the learners is the simplest method to ensure learner engagement. However, in addition to an LMS in e learning, it is beneficial to redesign the overall learning and training approach to include means to make the learning environment itself engaging.

Here are points to keep in mind while developing a learning plan that prioritizes learner engagement:

Social learning - Incorporating social activities is one of the trendiest LMS trends in corporate eLearning. When social activities like chat forums, collaborative learning experiences, and portals where learners can share their knowledge and harness their natural tendencies get included, formal learning is only the beginning of the learning process, not the end. Social learning can be effective in remote situations, allowing employees to build meaningful ties with one another despite physical distance.

Blended learning - Blended learning, like social learning, can offer a unique means of personalizing and individualizing training. It is a 'fusion' that mixes many learning types, such as formal and informal learning, in-class and autonomous, in-person and digital learning, and so on.

Blended learning empowers learners to drive their development and can play a role in improving the learning experience. L&D can make it rightly available to trainees where and when they need it by utilizing blended solutions. In summary, engaged learners are more likely to acquire and share information than their less-involved peers. Increasing learner engagement is not a difficult task. Instead, it is better viewed as an opportunity because improving learner engagement can result in a massive return on investment.

Gamification - Gamification can help L&D deliver more value to their employees by making learning more enjoyable while also assisting them in retaining and applying the knowledge obtained. A smart gamification strategy with high levels of engagement aids in increasing learner memory and retention.

Content Authoring - Content authoring tools ensure that the intended eLearning experiences get produced regularly and promptly. This convenience of use, in turn, allows learners to interact with the product more rapidly and gain the most value. This highly goal-oriented tool aids learners in rapidly engaging with your course and organization, resulting in improved information retention and enhanced learner engagement.

Learn Anytime & Anywhere - In today's dynamic L&D market, imparting appropriate training while employing the right technologies is critical to an organization's success. When every one of us handles two or more mobile devices at once, it is only natural that the learning strategy incorporates mobile learning to increase learner engagement. L&D must develop a learning strategy for learners to access training programs on their preferred mobile device anytime and anywhere. This type of learning, which employees can access whenever they want, including on the go, is an excellent way to keep them engaged. It implies they are not required to attend training programs at a set time (which can interfere with their job schedules), but they can do so while traveling (thus utilizing their downtime) or having some free time. Once the riders on time, location, and timetables are erased or relaxed, it is simpler to accept training.

Adaptive/ AI-based learning - The whole hype around Artificial Intelligence (AI) is legitimate because these systems can identify each learner's needs and models that focus on technique and reason. Learners can explore topics in-depth with AI, and their understanding can get tested in complicated scenarios rather than simple right-or-wrong answers.

Adaptive learning, a type of AI-based learning, emphasizes tailoring learning design and implementation to each learner's unique learning needs and success in real-time. These platforms recognize and embrace the diversity in any learning ecosystem by providing customized learning.

Badges - Virtual badges and rewarding game-like learning experiences are one sure-fire way to increase learner engagement when utilizing LMS in e learning. Your learner's levels of engagement will correlate to greater attention through training and high information retention after completing.

Badges serve as completion and recognition prizes, and they can also be displayed outside, such as in email signatures or social media profiles.

Whether learners love the quest of badge collecting, exhibiting them, or both, badges frequently appeal to extrinsic and intrinsic stimulation.

LMS in e learning trends is ever-changing, which benefits both learners and businesses. Modern solutions captivate and engage learners, making on-the-job training relevant and effective. Today's LMSs offer so much more than just automation of instruction and the monotonous record keeping of the past by building experiences that allow learners to be active participants in the process and access learning that meets their particular requirements. Engagement is an essential component of the learning experience and is not a fad.

When selecting an LMS in e learning, it is imperative to assess its features to offer the freedom and customizations required for successfully engaging learners.