Who isn’t easily distracted nowadays? People often refer to a goldfish as the quintessential example of a short attention span. Science says the average human attention span is about 8 seconds… even less than the goldfish!
Wow. How misleading. And yet you’re still here.
The truth is that the time it takes for people to decide if something is important enough to hold their attention is very short. If you haven’t hooked them within 8 seconds, you’ve lost their interest.
How does this impact training? You have a very short opportunity to make a first impression. No matter how long your learning course is, the information needs to begin strong, and it should provide engaging ways to keep it there.
Does this mean that long-form learning has lost relevance? Not necessarily. Lean into quality over quantity. Learners will sit through a longer training session if there is high interest or a great user experience. Aside from incentivized or mandatory participation (like annual compliance training), adding interesting visuals or videos, interactive elements, or ‘gamifying’ the learning experience will help keep them engaged. A best-in-class experience requires tight learning objectives and creativity to keep things moving. Long-form learning can be successful if you break the content into smaller pieces and keep the interesting learning hits coming. Each section (or key point) should feel like an achievement.
Your module doesn’t need to teach them everything in one session. Leaving a few knowledge gaps promotes self-discovery (common for curious learners.) An important part of teaching is to inspire them to want to learn. Information provided in stages or parts builds the flexibility for more individual exploration. The knowledge found through learner discovery is often more memorable than just listening to non-stop narration. Providing “gaps” with prompts or links to more in-depth content gives learners a natural break, and when they return to your module, they are more ready to build on what they’ve already learned and discovered.
You’ve heard of a “gap” year, right?
Allowing time between sessions for knowledge to settle in helps it become a part of a learner’s mindset moving forward. So, with longer content, break it up into manageable sections or microlearning (also called “nano learning,) with natural points for a pause or break. Building flexibility leads to better retention and more likelihood that they’ll return to complete the course. (For example, three 10-minute sessions might suit their schedule better than one 30-minute session.) It’s like taking the Netflix approach to learning… a long movie is viewed as an evening commitment. Binging episodes non-stop (taking even more time!) is a common behavior that illustrates this idea.
How long should an eLearning module be? There is no single answer to this question. Shorter is generally better, but there are lots of processes and complicated content that require more time and attention. Start by stating clear objectives, organizing your content, and then create an engaging experience that keeps the focus on your subject matter.
Summary (just for you goldfish who skipped ahead):
+ You have a short amount of time to make an impact. Hook your learners early to keep them interested and engaged.
+ If you must go long-form, make sure that you create an excellent user experience with gaps for breaks to keep their attention.
+ Provide additional resources (quick reference guides, downloadable PDFs, or other touch points to foster retention of key learning ideas.)
+ Keep it in smaller bits, like feeding the goldfish. Smaller bites are easier to digest, allowing learners to complete the task quickly.
Ensure that your objectives, content, and delivery suit your audience’s learning style, anticipating their time commitment.
Much like viewing a crash course on YouTube, most learners prefer short bursts of information. Good luck keeping their attention, eLearning content creators! Remember the 8-second rule: If you can’t keep their attention for a short time span, you’ve likely lost them to their next daily distraction.
