We no longer think of education without putting the learners first. In this regard, do you know what motivates them? Do you recognize the conditions that are optimal for them? What factors can inspire confidence in online training? And did you know that we think about them when we choose the colours of such training? Test your knowledge by answering the following five questions:
1. True or false? The cognitive component plays a more critical role than the emotional component in the impetus to action, which can be described as “motivated action” and crucial for learning.
CORRECT ANSWER
FALSE
While it was long believed that these systems were either completely separate or that one (cognition) regulated the other (emotion), the latest neuroscience research indicates instead that their functioning is intimately linked (see The importance of emotions in learning). “The process of integrating emotions and cognition is progressive in several brain structures. Integration allows these two sub-functions, initially separate, to emerge to build a more complex and general function,” summarizes University of Sherbrooke professor and researcher Restrepo (2014). And as he points out, both components would be of equal importance in the impetus to action: “Emotion and cognition unite to form the motivated action. Emotion must never again be conceived as a subordinate system of cognition.”
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2. Motivation is a prerequisite for learning. It emanates from a cascade of processes and is influenced by both intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Select the correct term to complete each step of this process.
Terms: the orientation, retrieved, coded, this value, the cost-benefit calculation
- The information considered in ________ for each specific reason is processed in several ways.
- The value of each relevant cost and benefit is calculated, which determines ________ and the strength of the action to be initiated.
- When a goal is achieved, ________ is coded.
- Once the value is ________ effectively, it can be stored.
- The stored value will be ___________ when the subject wants to reach the same goal again.
CORRECT ANSWER
The complete, correct statements are:
- The information considered in the cost-benefit calculation for each specific reason is processed in several ways.
- The value of each relevant cost and benefit is calculated, which determines the orientation and strength of the action to be initiated.
- When an objective is achieved, this value is coded.
- Once the value is coded effectively, it can be stored.
- The stored value will be retrieved when the subject wants to reach the same goal again.
Note that since we have not yet penetrated all the mysteries of this complex phenomenon that is motivation, this explanation is bound to be refined.
For more information: Behind the Scenes of Motivation
3. When choosing colours for an online course, it is essential to think about the learner. Which of the following tips should not be applied to the choice of colour schemes?
A) Go for trendy colour combinations.
B) Beware of colour combinations with strong symbolic connotations (e.g., black and orange evoke Halloween).
D) Avoid colour combinations at opposite ends of the spectrum (e.g., red and blue) that accelerate visual fatigue.
E) Avoid colour combinations that are most problematic for those with “dyschromatopsia,” commonly referred to as colour blindness — primarily shades of red and green or blue and yellow.
CORRECT ANSWER
A.
Although colour trends should not be ignored entirely, they should not be given priority since many other factors precede them in importance. It is essential to keep in mind that design is secondary to learning or that it is at its service to be more accurate. It is therefore imperative to avoid colour choices that could be detrimental to this mission. Colour is essential not only to give a particular image of the training but also to dress its functional elements and support the perception and processing of information.
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4. Which of the following statements is/are true regarding optimal conditions for learners?
A) Incorporating rest periods or breaks that are of sufficient length between study sessions and that allow for a good recovery is crucial for the well-being of learners and learning.
B) The regular presence of the teacher in online learning has a considerable influence on the motivation and commitment of the learners.
C) For optimal communication in elearning, it is preferable not to present to learners at the beginning of the course all the assignments required during the course but to stagger these presentations over time.
CORRECT ANSWER
A and B
For optimal communication in online training, all the required work should be integrated into the submission section designed for this purpose as soon as the training course is launched. It is also good to outline the instructions, remind the participants of the submission dates, and provide the evaluation grid (elements evaluated, weighting and scoring).
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5. Certain elements contribute to the learner’s confidence in online training. Select the correct term to complete each of the following statements.
Terms: resources, assessments, questions or feedback, modules
A) Make the ________ and tools incorporated in the course easy to locate and use.
B) Provide brief but clear explanations of upcoming exercises, instructions, and how the ________ works.
C) Let the learner choose some aspects of their training: the order in which to complete the ________, the possibility of accessing enhanced training capsules or additional exercises to prepare for an exam, etc.
D) Add fun elements where the learner does not expect it: give a humorous tone to some ________, add an emoticon to indicate if the answers are correct or not, create fun performance indicators, etc.
CORRECT ANSWER
The complete, correct statements are:
A) Make the resources and tools incorporated into the training easy to locate and use.
B) Provide brief but clear explanations of upcoming exercises, instructions, and how the assessments
C) Let the learner choose some aspects of their training: the order in which to complete the modules, the possibility of accessing enhanced training capsules or additional exercises to prepare for an exam, etc.
D) Add fun elements where the learner doesn’t expect it: give a humorous tone to some questions or feedback, add an emoticon to indicate whether the answers are correct or not, create fun performance indicators, etc.
For more information: Online Training: Inspiring Self Confidence in Learners
Author:
Catherine Meilleur
Creative Content Writer @KnowledgeOne. Questioner of questions. Hyperflexible stubborn. Contemplative yogi.
Catherine Meilleur has over 15 years of experience in research and writing. Having worked as a journalist and educational designer, she is interested in everything related to learning: from educational psychology to neuroscience, and the latest innovations that can serve learners, such as virtual and augmented reality. She is also passionate about issues related to the future of education at a time when a real revolution is taking place, propelled by digital technology and artificial intelligence.
