The things that make an experience engaging are also those that make for effective learning! ! So, what are these things or ELEMENTS that go to make the learning experience ENGAGING?

Context : learning should be, in a setting where the learners actions make sense, e.g. a story of daily-life. Learners learn best when it’s in a meaningful context .Do you know of these learning games where the learner(or shall we call him/her the player) is, for example, released into a city, and has to find means to survive.

Clear Aim : the learners should have an end state that they are motivated to achieve. (Note that the goal doesn’t have to be obvious at the beginning, in fact some research suggests the contrary.) Learners are better able to take action when they have an outcome they know they’re trying to achieve.

Challenge : the level of difficulty has to be beyond the learner’s capability, but not so far that the learner can’t accomplish the task; learning happens best in the space just beyond the learner’s capability where, with some effort and support, they can accomplish the task. Learners learn fastest when the challenge is significant but not impossible.

Meaning: the actions that the learner takes have to have a meaningful effect on the outcome. There can’t be meaningless actions by the learner but instead there have to be real consequences of the actions they take.

Relevance: in addition to the actions taken being meaningful to the story, the topic or task and the activities or actions have to be meaningful to the learner and appeal to their interests and motivations. Learners learn best when the setting is one they viscerally care about.

Open-endedness : the environment has to have a wide variety of possible choices (or at least a perception of same), and the ability to try different things and explore the internal relationships. Learners learn best when they have to make choices and face the consequences of those choices

Active participation: having learners active in exploring relationships, and operating on the world in ways that are similar to the way you operate in the real world . Learners learn best when there is minimum difference between their personal objectives and the teaching-learning process provided to achieve these objectives, in simpler terms, meaning that schooling and daily – life must be closely connected.

Feedback : learners need to know the final outcomes of their action. Learners learn best when they get feedback about how they’re doing.

Attention-getting: learners learn best when their attention and curiosity is maintained.

Freedom : no teaching which is forced or is obligatory leads to growth and development of the learner! Hence all learning must be freely undertaken.

If all the above make-sense, as I think they do, then the next step , for all those engaged in education and training, is to apply them and let the learners participate and reap the benefits. Learning can be fun !

Dr. Michael ATCHIA

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