How to know what is the e-learning strategy that suits for us?

e-Learning is advancing rapidly around the world thanks to new technologies have evolved. It is changing and meeting user needs, adapting to market demand. Online training has reported extensive growth through various forms and expressions by taking advantage in new technologies emergence, a more direct relationship between the producer of knowledge and the student have been achieved. There are an open wide range of platforms to learn online following the most important learning strategies like micro-learning, gamification, video based learning, and so on. In this article, we are going to take a look more closely to them to know what is the learning strategy that suits better for our needs.

Existing e-Learning strategies

There will always be better and worse experiences, good and bad courses, regardless of whether they are e-learning or face-to-face. A positive or negative result mostly depend on which strategy we have choose to learn, because each person is more likely to learn in one way or another. e-Learning has undergone great changes in the last two decades. During this time, new more advanced methodologies have been developed. Now, we are going to mention most trending e-learning strategies in order we can find what is the best that suits for us whatever our relationship with knowledge might be.

Micro-learning

Micro-learning is a content dissemination strategy based on micro-content that ensures continuous and immediate learning, also allowing its effectiveness to be measured instantly. This training strategy offers an agile consumption of information, adapting it better to our attention capacity rhythm and bringing it closer to the moment when it is really necessary, or when one is most receptive to receiving it. We consume this type of content every day practically unconsciously, without stopping to assess its potential or the impact it can have on our learning. It is very suitable for continuous learning in organizations that seek a high effectiveness degree in their training actions since a few minutes a day are enough to acquire certain knowledge and reinforce concepts.

Some forms of micro-learning that we can find in our day to day are:

• Schematics, graphs or diagrams.
• Micro-videos.
• Elevator Freedom Tower.

Game-Based Learning

Game-Based Learning (also known as Gamification)is a learning strategy based on application of techniques, elements and dynamics that make games attractive in naturally non-recreational contexts or activities for knowledge acquisition or reinforcement. Its main objective is to make learning a meaningful and motivating experience, enhancing abilities and skills to solve problems and conflicts, as well as reinforcing behavior prone to learning, improving productivity, promoting tendency to achieve objectives related to academic training, creativity, social cohesion, among others. In gamification a special bond with the student is achieved and a change in the paradigm and learning behavior is encouraged.

A successful gamification has some considerations such as there is a progression towards mastery through small achievements; it is fun; user has to solve problems to get recognition; has surprises and promotes imagination; it has to be social, users have to compete, win or loose, collaborate, share, watch, work as a team; creates excitement, habits, loyalty; among others.

Video-based learning

Video-based learning is a strategy based on videos and interactive videos. It remains as the key format of digital training by adopting a role as main complement to e-Learning training thanks to its versatility and ability to focus the attention of a dispersed audience is essential. Some educational content ideal for video based learning are advice from specialists, testimonials, best practices, technical demonstrations, just to name a few.

Today challenge is to reduce videos loading time and weight in order to optimize audiovisual experience of students. It is clear that it is the excellence multimedia format and this is demonstrated by the enormous success of social networks such as YouTube or TikTok.

Immersive learning

Immersive Learning is a learning model based on the use of interactive emerging technologies such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) or 360º video, which seeks to involve all the senses and lead individual to experience learning as if they were immersed and being a participant in it. Thus achieving consolidation of increasingly complex knowledge and skills, awakening their curiosity, motivation, involvement and creativity, favoring the understanding and assimilation of content in a natural way. By making users participate in their learning process, traditional paradigm of teaching model is changed by creating a real possibility to interact with contents that are intended to be transmitted. Technologies involved in immersive learning are:

• Virtual reality: environment simulated by digital elements generating an immersive experience alien to reality.
• Augmented reality: digital content superimposed on the real world, the user is present in their reality and through the use of a mobile device will integrate some digital elements.
• Video 360°: videos that generate an immersive panoramic experience.
• Video i360°:360°video type that is live and also allows interaction between teacher and student.

Mobile application learning

Mobile application for learning promotes the introduction of educational experiences designed and produced for priority use on mobiles, thus providing flexibility to learn anytime and anywhere. These types of applications are based on an LMS, making use of short content, push notifications, quick updates, and short loading times.

Curation and user-generated content

Curation and user-generated content is a discipline to deal with the amount of diffuse information that can be found on internet. It is an effective tool where the most relevant information related to a topic is selected and educational community begins to apply content curation as a method to share relevant content, provide experience and at the same time learn by promoting the contribution of individuals to maintain updated base knowledge.

How to know what is the learning strategy that suits for us?

Now we know some trending learning strategies is time to know which of them is the better one that suits for us? In order to do this, we have to answer some questions. How many hours we can take to learn? What TIC tools do we actually have? We are more visual or kinesthetic or auditory persons?

Whatever the answers might be will give us the north of our suitable learning path. At same time, we have to set things for effective online learning and get the most value out of it:

• Getting organized.
• Setting up our workspace.
• Making a schedule.
• Being an active participant.
• Staying connected.
• Spacing out our studying over time.
• Practicing to bring information without supporting materials.
• Explaining ourselves ideas with many details.
• Asking questions.
• Switching between ideas while study.
• Using specific examples to understand abstract ideas.
• Combining words and visuals.

By following those tips and knowing which are the better suitable learning strategies for us, we can go to how to learn from home for free: trending platforms to begin!

Good learn!