On retrospect, my best, most well received courses did NOT contain next buttons. These were courses well designed for the self directed, adult learner. And I believe by not including those dastardly, rotten next buttons it ensured that I consciously designed a very engaging course that kept the learner wanting to participate. These stinking next buttons are just holding us back. So, I am not only publicly denouncing the next button...I FORMALLY DECLARE WAR ON THE NEXT BUTTON!
Hi - I agree that the Next button can be our enemy, but how do you compensate for unmotivated learners? Some folks (like me, at times) take e-learning courses as part of required job training and are not engaged in the content enough to be self-directed. In those cases is the Next button a worthy ally?
ReplyDeleteAlso, who do you believe bears most of the responsibility of motivating learners to self-direct? The stakeholders, SMEs, or developers?
Always enjoy your thoughts.
Thanks!
n.
I'm with you! The next button is anathema!
ReplyDeleteDon't forget the other six things that need to be banned from elearning design. Check out Top 7 things NOT to do when designing e-learning
Woohoo! Welcome aboard. We are dealing with adults, and we are not building funicular fairground rides. Tunnel of Love? How about Tunnel of Tedium?
ReplyDeleteIn response to Nikol's questions:
First, the learners you talk about have the option of working their way down the menu from top to bottom, if they like.
Second, I would say that motivating learners to self direct is partly the responsibility of the learning designer and the individual's line manager, but most of all, it's the responsibility of the person themselves.
Either they will or they won't. We have to stop trying to force, compel, mandate or otherwise coerce people back into childish behaviour patterns. Treat people like responsible, independent, thinking adults and they will step up to the plate. Treat them like 'sheeple' and they will demotivate faster than you can say "Baa-aa!"
[...] for time and need to create it “rapidly,” you don’t need no stinkin’ Next button. Exclude the Next button and I promise interactivity and engagement will be [...]
ReplyDelete[...] for time and need to create it “rapidly,” you don’t need no stinkin’ Next button. Exclude the Next button and I promise interactivity and engagement will be [...]
ReplyDelete