Avoid Passive Learning Moments by Creating Social Friction

When we create a training reinforcement program, we want learners to engage with the material. If the learner is actively engaging in the material, then a passive information delivery system can still be an effective tool.

Every reinforcement course should create opportunities for interaction with the material to make a lesson more engaging and motivating for learners. Consider creating a little friction for the learner, something that requires them to chew on the material. The most effective reinforcement courses feature a balance between flow and friction to keep it interesting.

Here are some ideas for ways to create friction in your reinforcement course:

Help Your Learner Make Connections

The brain needs to actively work to increase the impact of a reinforcement program. 

Don’t tell the learner—show them. This allows the learner to come to their own conclusions and stay actively involved in their journey. 

Provide scenarios. Let the learner make connections on their own. Instead of writing a script, let the learner make connections that make sense to them via scenario-based learning. 

Encourage Social Friction

Add another friction point to the learning journey by encouraging interactions. Each learner is going to bring their own perspectives to a discussion. This will lead to a greater overall understanding of the training material.

Interested in learning more about creating social friction and the perfect reinforcement flow? Download our eBook: The 7 Principles of Reinforcement.

This post was originally published on April 7, 2017.

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