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When creating educational resources for employee training, methodologists, business coaches, and training and development specialists strive to ensure a high level of learner engagement. They want webinar participants to remain interested and not leave longreads on the very first lines, and to absorb and remember new information. The main goal is for acquired knowledge to find practical application in professional work. However, this goal is not always achieved.
In his article for the Learning Guild, Mike Taylor, an instructional designer and consultant in the field of online education, shared a "magic" formula that, in his opinion, contributes to achieving meaningful learning outcomes. The author argues that it can be used to develop educational content that not only attracts students' attention, but also promotes deep memorization of the material, and inspires them to apply the acquired knowledge in practice.
The SURE model encompasses four key characteristics of high-quality educational material:
- simple;
- useful;
- evokes an emotional response.
- one that can be quickly scanned.
At first glance, this may seem obvious, right? However, in his article, Mike Taylor outlined principles for designing materials based on the SURE formula that can provide a very useful guide for aspiring instructional designers. Let's briefly summarize the main ideas.
Keep it simple
Imagine that Anna, an operations manager, receives a 45-page document outlining new workplace safety regulations. Right at the top, on the first page, you might read: "The effective implementation of the cross-departmental operational safety principles requires the full involvement of all stakeholders." She's unlikely to continue reading: she'll likely sigh and put the document down, as she has neither the time nor the inclination to wade through this bureaucratic jargon.
Human working memory is a complex mechanism that continuously analyzes incoming external stimuli, deciding which information to ignore and which to focus on. When course material is overly complex or presented unclearly, students experience cognitive overload. Simply put, under such overload, working memory begins to filter information, following the principle: "It's too much effort, I can't handle it," and switches to something more accessible.
Reducing course material doesn't mean simplifying it to the point of triviality. This means:
- using short words when appropriate;
- writing short and concise sentences of no more than 15-20 words;
- breaking explanations of complex concepts and ideas into smaller, more manageable chunks;
- learning and using the active voice in sentences.
- avoiding excessive use of jargon and slang.
According to numerous studies, the vast majority of adults worldwide only achieve levels two or three out of five on the PIAAC reading literacy test. Therefore, in this situation, it would be more appropriate to create a one-page document that opens with the phrase, “Here’s how to keep your team safe.” This approach will significantly increase the chances of readers understanding and remembering the information presented.
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To make a course accessible and engaging, several key approaches must be applied. First of all, it's worth paying attention to the structure of the material: organize the information logically, breaking it down into small, easily digestible parts. This will help participants navigate the course more easily and not lose the thread of the narrative.
Furthermore, the use of visual examples and illustrations can significantly increase learning interest. It's important not to limit yourself to just theoretical explanations, but also to include practical tasks that will help consolidate the acquired knowledge.
Remember to keep the language simple and accessible. Avoid complex terms and scientific jargon unless necessary. Instead, use clear wording and a lively communication style to create an atmosphere of trust and engagement.
It's also worth actively interacting with course participants: ask questions, encourage discussions, and share personal stories to create a sense of participation and involvement. This will help listeners feel part of the process and will facilitate deeper assimilation of the material.
Finally, take feedback into account. Regularly ask participants what they like and dislike about the course, and make changes based on their feedback. This way, you can tailor the content and format to the needs of your audience, making the course even more engaging and useful.
Emphasize Value
Nothing inspires people during training more than information that is directly relevant to their interests and needs. Each material is perceived through the lens of the question: "How can this be useful for me?"
Sales manager Mikhail felt frustrated after completing a training session on a new CRM system. While the instructor delved into technical aspects, Mikhail lost the thread of the conversation, wondering: "How can this knowledge help me speed up the closing process?" Ultimately, he quickly lost interest and missed important points that could have increased his sales by 15%.
A quality training resource should primarily provide the learner with answers to the following questions:
- How can this help solve the difficulties I face on a daily basis?
- Why does this matter to me right now?
- What can I do right now?
General information that does not address specific personal difficulties and challenges usually does not interest a person and may be ignored. At the same time, materials that are relevant to current needs and problems are much easier to digest and motivate action. If the aforementioned instructor had immediately drawn attention to how the new customer relationship management system helps identify potential buyers and automates the process of follow-up contacts after the first communication, the results of the training could have been significantly more successful.
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To effectively convey the significance of the learning process through storytelling, you can use the SCQA methodology. This approach consists of four key elements: Situation, Complication, Question, and Answer. First, you need to describe the current situation your audience is in. Then, you need to identify the problem or challenge people face in this situation. After that, you formulate the main question that needs to be addressed, and finally, you provide an answer or solution that highlights how learning can help them overcome the challenges and achieve success. In this way, you can not only grab their attention but also convincingly demonstrate why learning is an important and necessary step.
Add Emotion
In his book, Descartes' Error: Emotion, Reason, and the Human Brain, Antonio Damasio, a neuroscientist, states, "We are not simply machines that can think and also experience emotion; on the contrary, we are beings who feel first and only then can think."
These facts help us understand the importance of emotions in the learning process. When information is accompanied by an emotional context, it's easier to remember, as human memory tends to remember what evokes an emotional response.
Elena, a customer support worker, listened to an audio recording of a customer's feedback in which he shared how the service helped him in a difficult situation, quickly resolving the problem. This story touched Elena, and she realized how meaningful her work is. Cold numbers and customer reviews would hardly have had the same impact on her.
There are several ways to make learning material more emotionally rich:
- share sincere relatos about real challenges and how to overcome them;
- use expressive and memorable examples;
- connect the educational content with the core values and ambitions of the target audience;
- try to create situations that promote insights (“aha moments”) that the student can experience during the learning process;
- include a section for personal reflection by the student.
When the learning process evokes a variety of emotions and feelings, such as curiosity, inspiration, or even constructive discomfort, it significantly increases the likelihood that students will behave differently.
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Five effective methods for engaging students and increasing the memorability of educational material.
Organizing information for easy perception
We must frankly admit that only a limited number of people read texts with due attention and understanding. Most readers are accustomed to skimming pages, jumping from one section to the next in search of key points. Resisting this reading style is pointless, so adapting educational materials to this approach is the optimal solution.
In 1997, renowned usability specialist Jakob Nielsen and his colleague John Morkes conducted a study that found that internet users prefer texts that can be quickly scanned, highlighting key points. If they are faced with long, continuous text, it makes it difficult to comprehend the information. Therefore, it is important to strive for maximum readability:
- Using subheadings for various sections and paragraphs involves creating clear, informative headings that accurately convey the essence of the corresponding fragment. This contributes to the formation of a hierarchical structure of the text.
- Of course, I can help with this task. Please provide the text you wish to revise.
- Highlight main ideas in bold;
- Use bullet points or numbers for any type of listing;
- Include graphic elements to add variety to the text and emphasize key points that are important to remember.
The rationale for the effectiveness of the SURE formula and methods for its improvement
The basic principles underlying the SURE formula do not require a choice between the depth of educational content and its accessibility. The author is convinced that these principles contribute to the creation of an environment in which learning occurs organically.
A parallel can be drawn with a well-organized kitchen in which all necessary things are easily accessible. Here, the items used most often are located nearby, and the cooking process itself takes place without any interference. In addition, such a kitchen creates an atmosphere of warmth and comfort.
When creating training materials, it is necessary to consider how people actually perceive information and make decisions.
By mastering the methods of developing training materials using the formula, you can significantly improve the effectiveness of your content:
- include visual elements such as images, diagrams, and charts that enrich the content without making it overwhelming;
- include calls to action at appropriate stages of the process;
- create resources that can be used repeatedly (for example, so that they can be easily accessed when needed in the workplace), rather than limiting yourself to preparing materials for individual training events;
- Test materials on a group of students and make changes based on the feedback received.
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- Checklist for evaluating course content before launching
- Seven factors contribute to successful completion of training and the implementation of new skills in the professional practice.
- Ways to increase employee engagement in collaborative learning: four recommendations from a specialist.
- How can you organize an environment that promotes the development of the desired behavior in employees?