How to Create Emotionally Engaging Learning Journeys

Are you wondering how to best immerse learners in a learning experience? What about making them feel surprised, shocked, or even a bit frustrated? While instructional designers often focus on behavioral and cognitive learning outcomes, little attention has been paid to the emotional responses of learners. Emotional marketing uses emotions to make target audiences notice, remember, share, and buy. Similarly, emotional experiences can foster engagement and spark deeper reflection, synthesis, and integration of learners.

In this session you’ll learn how to design emotionally engaging learning experiences. We will examine research-based strategies in both marketing and learning, and discuss a five-step framework to map out and trigger different emotions during a learning journey. We will also explore tools and activities aiming to surface certain categories of emotions in learners. You will take away best practices and strategies to design emotionally engaging learning journeys in your work.