Learner engagement is a topic often discussed in our industry. It makes training more effective and fun. It has a positive impact on workplace behavior. Engaged learners are more loyal because they believe their organizations care about their growth and development. The statements above may all be true, but perhaps the most important reason organizations today are focused on learner engagement has to do with the bottom line. Responsible organizations pay close attention to budget and resource allocation. A great deal of time, effort, and money is invested in creating and distributing content to employees. Companies that invest in learning want to see a return on that investment.

Organizations interested in improving learner engagement can take a number of different approaches. One is to leverage their learning management systems. The LMS can help make learning more engaging through:

  • The content consumption experience
  • Gamification
  • Discussion boards/social learning
  • Personalization
  • Recommendations

This paper, How to Improve Learner Engagement, by Susan Jacobs and co-authors, will examine each of these topics in greater detail.