Stan Shifferd ID+

We have all been in that training or coaching program when we have to pause because we are confused, start questioning the veracity of the presenter because the material seems inaccurate, or start nodding off because the material is not engaging.

These examples show the most important consideration for a training or coaching program: clarity, accuracy, and engagement. Without any of these vital pieces, you will lose the audience’s learning focus. Here are a few tips to help achieve clarity, accuracy, and engagement.

Clarity

A quote I keep on my desk is, “The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” The importance of clarity cannot be overstated. Whether it is the UI the material is presented with or the content itself, clarity is most important.

Having a style guide is the best way to set standards for clarity at the program level. A great place to start designing a clear UI is Mayer’s Principles for Multimedia Learning. Meanwhile, an extensive example language style guide can be found on plainlanguage.gov. Another thing to keep in mind is accessibility. This can be done by incorporating ADA Accessibility Standards and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

Accuracy

Accuracy can also be challenging, especially if you are not the SME for the material. Having a plan for content checks by diverse SMEs is important. I like to build this into my project plan, so SMEs can set aside the proper time to check and approve the content. Another tip: ensure the approvers of the material have signed off on the early content outlines. This can help save from major revisions before publishing that could impact the project deadline.

Engagement

Meanwhile, engagement is vital for the modern learner. An assortment of engagement strategies that can be employed to ensure learners are focused. For in-person training, I like to use pre-quizes, knowledge checks, buddy pairs or group activities, and case studies. For eLearning, I like to incorporate a video introduction and WIIFM early in the course, then spread other interactive elements throughout the rest of the course.

Having the learner apply the knowledge they learned to solve a problem greatly increases retention. Having a case study is nice, but can be time consuming to create. If you are short on time, then create scenario-based questions to engage the learner’s brains instead.

No matter what audience or modality you are using, clarity, accuracy, and engagement are essential in creating pleasant and effective training. Feel free to contact me for examples of these principles in action.