Transform a list of tips into decisions they will act on

This packed list of helpful tips appeared at the end of a self-paced online course on how to fight the “winter blues”:

Here are some ways to adapt your nutrition for the winter months:

• Drink lots of water

• See a doctor about vitamin levels. Some people don't get enough vitamin D in the winter

• Limit your alcohol consumption

• "Winterize" your diet to include fresh produce, like cabbage, sweet potatoes and beets

• Include lean protein, legumes (lentils, chickpeas), and fibre

Unfortunately, by the time the learner gets to bullet three, let alone logs off the course, they will have forgotten this valuable information.

In instructional design, we call the "list" approach a “data dump." While it feels efficient to the person writing the training, it is one of the most ineffective ways for a human brain to actually learn.

Why doesn’t this work?

Lists create retrieval competition. When we ask the brain to store five isolated facts at once, they compete for space in our working memory, usually resulting in the learner forgetting all of them.

How to improve memory retention

To help your learners remember this important information when it counts, create a scenario that allows them to feel and to make decisions. Together, these immersive tactics create a more fertile ground that will not only encourage remembering but will lead to action outside the course.

Here’s the bullet list transformed. Allow the learner to choose all three so they can see the feedback.

It’s been dark since 4:30 PM. Marie is standing in the grocery store aisle. She’s tired, irritable, and hungry!  She remembers reading that she should 'winterize her diet,' but she can’t remember how. Which grocery menu combination from the list below would help Marie “winterize” her diet?

A. Pre-cooked rotisserie chicken, pre-made Caesar salad mix, bottle of ginger ale

B. Salmon fillet (frozen or canned), carrots, bottle sparkling water

C. Box of white cheddar mac & cheese, can of peas, bottle of red wine

If they choose A: This is a decent choice, but the heavy Caesar dressing and soda sugar will cause an energy dip within the hour. This combination has no specific "winter" nutrients to help the mood.

If they choose B: This is the best choice since it provides hydration and sustained energy from lean protein and healthy fats. It will give her some of the biological sun-replacement (Vitamin D and Folate) she needs to stay "bright" tomorrow.

If they choose C: The alcohol and white flour combo will likely disrupt her sleep and leave her feeling "grey" and irritable in the morning.

This little scenario with feedback did not take very long to produce (Yes, AI can help). A bullet list is a "data dump" that the brain quickly forgets because it lacks context, but a scenario is a mental rehearsal that forces the learner to solve a real-world problem. By showing the consequences of a choice rather than just stating a fact, you move the learner from passive knowing to active behaviour change.

Now try it yourself!

Scan one of your current eLearning courses for a bullet list. See if you can transform it into a story with choices to get your learners feeling the stakes and practicing making decisions they will face in the real world.