Articulate Challenge #134 is: Personalize Your E-Learning Courses with Gamification Techniques  

3/18/18: Updated from Storyline 2 to Storyline360, to include the new text-to-speech feature. This module is personalized with the learner’s name, their choice of avatar, and the color scheme of their choice.

ARCS Model of Motivational Design & Gamification Techniques 

Originally, I submitted this challenge to ELHChallenge #93 Grabbing Attention and Motivating Learners in E-Learning. It was the first challenge I ever took part in! I decided to update the module for Challenge #134, to include a new option for learners: they can decide between a light or a dark color scheme.

When designing eLearning modules to be as engaging & motivating as possible, I keep in mind Gamification techniques such as using badges, and the ARCS Model of motivational design.

The ARCS Model was developed by John Keller. ARCS stands for Attention, Relevance, Confidence, and Satisfaction. In order to design effective learning experiences, an instructional designer, teacher, or trainer, needs to understand how to motivate and engage learners. Even relatively dry, boring topics, such as Compliance Auditor Training, can be made fun and interesting for learners. In this demo, I used ARCS Model principles to design an example eLearning module for a course on Compliance Auditor Training.

Features include:

• Attention – Grab the learner’s attention through personalization, role-play, scenarios, humor, challenging questions and problems to be solved. Some of the ways learners can personalize their experience in this demo are: choosing their avatar, deciding upon a color scheme for the module, and typing in their name on the options slide, so that the module will refer to them by name throughout the session.

• Relevance – Establish relevance in order to increase the learner’s motivation. Adults particularly want to know what the the subject matter will do for them. Allow the learner to make choices in how they approach the material. Scenario-based learning is a good way to allow learners to access information when they need it, as issues come up during the scenario, rather than force-feeding information.

• Confidence – Allow for small steps of growth during the learning process. Provide feedback and support for success; “chunk” material in small doses for better comprehension. Incorporating frequent knowledge checks helps learners gauge their own progress in synthesizing the material. Give the learner some degree of control over their learning experience, such as allowing open navigation through much of the course.

• Satisfaction – Learning must be a rewarding experience. To that end, the modules should be fun and entertaining. Learners should have their achievements recognized (badges, certificates, etc.) regularly. Providing learners with opportunities to use newly acquired knowledge in scenarios of increasing complexity promotes satisfaction, as does immediate feedback and reinforcement.

Authoring Tools: PowerPoint 2016, and Articulate Storyline 360.