One of the persistent challenges in our work is finding the line between just enough and too much. Every designer knows the difficulty in staying focused on the tight bits of training that will enable or support performance in ordinary circumstances. But how do you help the learner focus when the learner is in a state of sheer panic?

This month, Jane looks at the importance of concept in eLearning design: the use of themes, and how they can support or sometimes harm learning. Themes can make or break an eLearning course (for the learner). For the designer, a theme can help move the work of layout and visual design along. Here’s how to come up with a theme to reinforce learning, and avoid themes that do just the opposite!

In the classroom, a good trainer can adjust instruction on the fly if it isn’t working for the employees, but this is a luxury not available to the eLearning designer. Here are some common issues in converting classroom training to online, and ideas that will help you make the online version realistic and relevant to the needs of workers.

Among trainers, a common approach to deficient outcomes is to focus on finding and fixing the causes of the deficiencies. Yet in most communities, even where most members fail, there will be individuals or groups that succeed. An effective alternative approach is to find out what those who succeed are doing and to help others do the same. Here is an introduction to techniques that work!