How To Apply The 8 Principles Of Learning In Online Training (2024)

Summary: The laws of learning have been around for a while, and they work well in real-time scenarios. Can they be repurposed for online training? In this article, I share 8 tips to apply the 8 principles of learning in corporate eLearning environments.

The 8 Principles Of Learning And How To Apply Them In Online Training

As kids, we went to school because we were told to. As adults, we might be in training because the boss said so. Still, our physical (or virtual) presence in the class isn’t a guarantee that we’ll learn anything. Eyes might be intently focused on the screen, but employees must be ready and willing to engage with the online training content. Likewise, organizations need to reinforce knowledge, empower employees, and put the information into practice. To ensure the successful transfer of knowledge, online training courses should effectively apply the 8 principles of learning. Here are some suggestions to get started.

1. Readiness

You can’t force anyone to study, not even kids. You can lock them in a room with books, but you can’t make them read. Adults can be enrolled and tested, but there’s no way to bully them into learning. Design your online training course to inspire interest. Make it clear, relevant, interactive, engaging, and entertaining. Create a "trailer" to draw them in, with online training course goals that show them exactly how they’ll benefit. You should also give them sneak peeks of what’s to come so that they’re fully prepared for the task ahead, for the first of the 8 principles of learning to be applied.

2. Exercise

Practice makes perfect, and this is one of the 8 principles of learning that applies to online training as well. Adults are unlikely to respond to rote learning, but there are other ways to introduce repetition in online training techniques. You could structure each unit in the same way, so corporate learners have a sense of familiarity. They know what’s coming next. Use multiple simulations that engage the same skill, but in varied contexts. For example, simulate negotiating for a raise, time off, or more responsibilities. They can also negotiate with angry clients or chronic bargainers.

3. Effect

Children do better in subjects they enjoy. They’re more likely to flunk "boring" classes. Adults are a bit more purposeful in their online training. They know they have to do it, even if it’s dull and inert. But they’ll remember more of their lesson if it engages them. Make sessions fun and aim to connect with corporate learners at an emotional level. Humor is a good way to do this. Program elements into simulations that will make corporate learners laugh. In-jokes and industry puns go further than high-pressure exams. They’re easier to remember, applying an effectin online training.

4. Primacy

Glance at your phone right now, pulling up any random phone number. Look through the numbers two or three times. Now close your eyes and try to recite them. You probably remember the first two numbers, and maybe the last two. Primacy means we recall the first thing we encounter. It’s why first impressions are so hard to dispel. Start each unit with the most important points. Ideally, offer a concise chapter summary. It could be bullet points, an infographic, or even the "main question" whose answer defines the chapter. You should also try to build on pre-existing knowledge so that they can connect the mental schema dots.

5. Recency

From the example above, you’ll recall the last two digits as well, because they’re the last thing you saw. So just like the beginning of the chapter, close with a summary or review, to apply recency, according to the 8 principles of learning. It can be a visual chart or a conclusive video. Keep it brief and simple. Reiterate the message you started with, but don’t do it in the exact same way. If you started with an infographic, finish with an "open-book" pop quiz. They can refer to online training course content as needed. Another essential element to include is reinforcement. Don’t just impart the information and hope it sticks. Follow up with relevant online training activities, self-assessments, and other memory joggers to improve retention.

6. Intensity

When a literature-based blockbuster is released, people argue whether the book or the movie was better. #TeamBook lauds their own imagination, and their innate ability to build worlds in their own head. For your online training course, you can up the intensity easily. Introduce multimedia tools that can engage all their senses. This makes online training content more immersive and immediate, which helps recall. You can also add personal anecdotes that create a personal connection and drive the point home. So stay faithful to the 8 principles of learning and apply intensity in your online training.

7. Freedom

This principle resolves itself in most adult learning situations. How? Corporate learners are free to pick their own study times and prepare their own schedule. You can enhance this quality by offering varied learning options. Offer the same online training content in the form of a video, audio, or text-based lesson. Let the corporate learners pick which version suits them best. Divide the online training course into smaller chunks of 5 to 10 minutes. This gives corporate learners more wiggle room in their lesson planning. Thereby, boosting employee engagement and empowering them to take charge of their own development.

8. Requirement

It’s interesting this is placed last in the 8 principles of learning list because it relates to why the corporate learner is studying in the first place. The "requirement" is what makes them sign up. It could be a compliance issue or something mandatory for their job. For example, all new hires must undertake onboarding training. You can feed the requirement principle by clearly stating the learning objectives. Set goals and targets, allowing corporate learners to summarize why they’re doing the online training course. It also helps measure ROI. Another way to enforce this rule is to facilitate real-world application, such as demos and serious games that show employees why they need the information/skills to improve on-the-job performance.

The principles of learning are effective and versatile, both online and offline. Use a teaser campaign to build readiness and pique interest. Online training simulations and branching scenarios are effective online training activities. Use humor for emotional engagement, and chapter summaries for primacy and recency. Multimedia tools enhance course intensity, while flexible timing offers freedom. Concise learning objectives and transparent targets fulfill the required quota.

Do you know what your adult learners need to achieve their goals and tackle everyday challenges? Download our eBook Designing eLearning Courses For Adult Learners: The Complete Guide to discover all about the adult learner characteristics, the obstacles they need to overcome, ways to engage and motivate busy adult learners, and some amazing adult learning facts and stats you need to know as an eLearning pro.

How To Apply The 8 Principles Of Learning In Online Training (2024)

FAQs

How can the principles of learning be applied? ›

Learning is self-active this principle embodies the idea that a learner learns through their own activities. Learning is a personal process. Self-active learning includes listening, visualising, recalling, memorising, reasoning, using your judgment and thinking.

How will you apply principles of adult learning while conducting in service education? ›

Adults learn quickly and remember what they learn when they can turn around and apply that knowledge in their role. Learning materials should be constructed with practical examples, using real-world scenarios and problem-solving that requires learners to access their experience and knowledge.

What are the 8 principles of effective learning? ›

These principles can be used by any program engaging in experiential education to maximise student learning opportunities. The eight principles are: intention, authenticity, planning, clarity, monitoring and assessment, reflection, evaluation, and acknowledgment.

How to use research based knowledge and principles of teaching and learning? ›

To apply this principle, consider the following teaching techniques:
  1. Check students' understanding of the task.
  2. Have students do guided self-assessments.
  3. Require students to reflect on and annotate their own work.
  4. Prompt students to analyze the effectiveness of their study skills.
  5. Have students engage in peer feedback.

What principles of learning were most applied most applied? ›

The most applied principle of learning is that “learning is a cooperative and. possible answers for all the questions raised by the teacher. meaning of ideas.

How developmentally appropriate learning principles can be applied in teaching? ›

DAP focuses on five key areas of early learning practices:
  • Creating a caring community of learners. ...
  • Teaching to enhance development and learning. ...
  • Planning curriculum to achieve important goals. ...
  • Assessing children's development and learning. ...
  • Establishing reciprocal relationships with families.

Which principle is most applicable to adult learning? ›

Top Five Most Important Adult Learning Principles
  • Adults are practical. ...
  • Adults are goal oriented. ...
  • Adults are self-paced. ...
  • Adults have life experience and prior knowledge. ...
  • Adults learn by doing.
Dec 30, 2021

What are the adult learning practices and principles we use today? ›

Adult learning principles

Adults are internally motivated and self-directed. Adults bring life experience and knowledge to learning experiences. Adults are goal orientated.

What are the 8 C's of education? ›

8Cs: Communication, Collaboration, Creativity, Critical Thinking, Citizenship, Curiosity, Composure, Compassion.

What are the principles of effective training and learning? ›

10 Basic Employee Training Principles
  • #1 – Train Every Day. ...
  • #2 – Create Learning Objectives. ...
  • #3 – Address Skills Gaps. ...
  • #4 – Deliver a Consistent Message. ...
  • #5 – Blended Learning Methodologies. ...
  • #6 – Create Custom Learning Paths. ...
  • #7 – Evaluate Comprehension. ...
  • #8 – Streamline Administration.

What are the powerful learning principles? ›

Learn more about the principles of Powerful Learning:
  • Personal and Accessible. Every learner is different, and the ways in which we learn are complex and variable. ...
  • Authentic and Challenging. ...
  • Collaborative and Connected. ...
  • Inquisitive and Reflective.

What is the importance of the principles of teaching in the delivery of knowledge? ›

Teaching Principles

Effective teaching involves acquiring relevant knowledge about students and using that knowledge to inform our course design and classroom teaching. Effective teaching involves aligning the three major components of instruction: learning objectives, assessments, and instructional activities.

How do you think principles and kind of methods of teaching develop our students? ›

As a teacher, it is important to have the following strategies and methods at your disposal:
  1. Get to know your students.
  2. Explain material clearly.
  3. Promote student independence.
  4. Get students engaged.
  5. Provide immediate feedback.
  6. Monitor progress and get feedback.
Nov 21, 2023

Why is it important for teachers to use research-based teaching? ›

Significance of Classroom-Based Research for Teachers

Classroom-based research benefits teachers and other school personnel in increasing their effectiveness in achieving desired student outcomes, whether academic, behavioral, or social (McMillan, 2022).

What is the importance of principles of learning? ›

Importance of Principles of Teaching Principles are the chief guides to make teaching and learning effective and productive. Principles are the fundamentals through which we proceed from one situation to another.

What are the principles of learning applied to nursing? ›

The eight principles of learning are relevance, motivation, readiness, maturation, reinforcement, participation, organization, and repetition. Learn about the eight principles of learning applied to nursing and patient education.

Why is it important to apply the principles of teaching? ›

Because when a teacher combines the effective principles of teaching with some strategies, the students will be able to learn more effectively. These strategies will provide students with more opportunities and will also improve their performance.

How do principles of learning affect current educational practices? ›

These principles provide different frameworks that teachers can use to adapt to students' diverse learning styles and academic needs. In addition to helping students absorb the information being taught, learning theories can also help teachers manage students' behavior.

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