Over the years, animations have grown from a mere mode of entertainment to an effective and excellent tool for learning. Modern learners are demanding more engaging ways to learn and one cannot deny the importance of using animations in e-learning to make the learning experience an engaging one.
Hence in this blog, let’s explore the various ways, how animations in e-learning are effective.
1. Induce curiosity
Curiosity is a potent motivator for learners to start the learning process. While the existing learning strategies of classroom training or even the traditional form of e-learning fails to create the element of curiosity among the learners, the e-learning animations are still an exception. I have always felt that animation has got the inherent feature or ability to tickle the curiosity within us. Research and studies show that curiosity aids learning in the following ways –
• Prepares the brain for learning.
• Makes subsequent learning more rewarding.
By implementing animations in e-learning, it pokes the curiosity in the mind of the learner by hijacking his attention and subsequently puts the cognitive thought of “What is it?” and to know more.
2.Increasing learner engagement
By using animations in e-learning, you can help keep your learners engaged and interested in the learning process. The organization can choose to include various strategies that can effectively blend with the animation to raise the bars of engagement.
Here are some popular ways to build up the engagement in your e-learning animations
2.1 Using an engaging storyline
In my previous blog, we have already discussed the power of an engaging storyline to keep the learners hooked. Stories are an important way to tap into the heart of the audience, or the learners to convey the message deeper (based on emotions).
By including the stories in your e-learning animations or animated video, it helps the organisation to establish an emotional connect with the learners and at the same time, the use of visual graphics and content aids in the visualization of the story.
Findings indicate that 90% of all information transmitted to the brain is visual and we process visual information 60,000 times faster than text. Hence I feel that an engaging storyline in the animated video is the best way to engage the learner
2.2 Choose appropriate animation style
Choosing the appropriate and right animation style in e-learning animation is very important. For example, including a whiteboard animation in e-learning animation can help the organisation to explain the complex learning topic in an easy and simplified way.
A character based animation style can be used to build the learners trust in the training content and create a form of interactivity as such characters can display emotions through various expressions. To read more on the different e-learning animation styles, you can refer to my blog.
3. Simplifying complex learning topics.
E-learning animations are a real savior in explaining complex learning. For example, to demonstrate the working of a newly installed electric motor in the manufacturing industry, we developed a short animated explainer video under 7 minutes. The complex working process of the electronic motor couldn’t be easily explained by the supervisor or instructors in a classroom training environment The animated explainer video could successfully show the working of the motor.
3.1 Micro nuggets
By implementing animations in e-learning, the organisation can effectively cut short the lengthy learning topics to smaller learning units. Technically called microlearning, it helps to avoid information overload among the learners and making it easier to explain the complex learning topics.
4. Using animations in simulations
Simulation-based e-learning is a mode of training, which is being extensively utilized in the corporate training environment. It provides an amazing experience of experiential learning. E-learning simulations allow recreating the experience that is closer to reality. Animations make the simulation more effective and engaging. For example, a simple software simulation can be easily developed by choosing the style of a screencast animation.
5. Animations appeal to all learner styles
Learning styles are the different or various ways in which individuals interpret, organize, process, absorb and retain information. The 3 popular learning styles as we know are Visual, Auditory and Kinesthetic.
•The visual learner relies more on pictures, diagrams, graphs, and infographic etc.to learn the concepts and new things. And by using animations in e-learning, its a perfect strategy to grab the attention of the visual learner. The use of pictures, graphics, characters etc helps the visual learners to easily connect with the learning topic.
•The auditory learner needs to hear something so that it can be processed by their brain for better understanding and learning. The e-learning animation allows to insert voice-over narration, character dialogues and even include the relevant sound effects to appeal for the auditory learners.
•The Kinesthetic learners are able to learn with some actions involved as you learn by doing. The animated video can even include interactivity to motivate and appeal for the kinesthetic learner
6.Enhanced retention and recall
A learning strategy is successful only when it can help the learners to retain the learning content for long and helps in the easy recall. Animations in e-learning are powerful visual ways to ensure that the learner stays engaged and hooked to the content. Studies show that animation can hold the attention of the learners and increase the recall of content. By using animations in e-learning, an organization can use certain tips and tweaks to ensure better retention and recall of the learning topics. Animations in e-learning help to:
1. Connect the learners with emotions (emotions are found to activate the learning neurons of adult learners). The organization can use storylines, powerful multimedia graphics, include characters that are easily relatable by the target audience etc.
2. Make available smaller animated videos to the learners
After the completion of the learning topic, the learner might forget what is learned, if there is no reinforcement of learning happening. Hence one of the ideal ways to create quick reinforcement is to develop a short animated video on the learning topic and share it with the learners. Like, after completing a product related e-learning, the organization can share the small animated video that summarizes about the product, its features, benefits etc. The small size of the learning video is ideal for the learners as they can easily watch them at their convenience and even revisit them when required.
7.Blend with other learning strategies
I love the flexibility of animations in e-learning as they can be used as a standalone strategy or blended with a new one or the existing learning strategies. If the organization has a classroom training, e-learning animations can be easily used to explain the difficult concepts or as reinforcement tools.
So these are some popular ways how animations in e-learning are effective. To view samples of animations in e-learning please visit our link on YouTube.
