2. Introduce a jolt
The common assumption is that during any face-to-face sessions, attention is at its highest in the first 10 to 12 minutes and then drops as the attendee gets tired of concentrating or gets distracted. In online sessions, the attention span can be as short as 3 to 4 minutes.
However, studies show that the attention is greater when the speaker introduces something new or different, such as humour or visual aid, thus breaking predictive behaviour. This element of change, ideally involving some sort of interactive feature, is essential in a virtual environment.
3. Enhance the relevance of learning
The relevancy of a session should become obvious within the first five minutes by showing learners that it will address their concern. This is because relevance plays a crucial role in cognition. When information is perceived as relevant, cognitive efforts significantly increase, leading to much higher cognitive effects.
4. The spacing effect
In 1885, psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus found out that people forget a whopping 80% of material learned within 24 hours. This discovery led to the so-called “Forgetting Curve”. In contrast to crammed, intense learning, learning that takes place over an extended period gives to the brain enough ‘space’ to take in new facts.
Attendees will experience greater success by spreading out their content review and recall over time, instead of engaging in one-time, overloaded top-down sessions.
5. Create a multisensory experience
People learn best when all their senses are engaged and when their imagination is most active. Experts confirm that sessions that use two or more senses are more effective than those using only one sense.
Help online attendees create strong and lasting memories by making them imagine colours, hear sounds and experience emotions. Using creative virtual event design, consider activities that require movement, engage taste buds or even the sense of smell.
6. Trigger the right emotions
Learning isn’t merely cerebral – it's emotional, too. Researchers have confirmed how emotions affect mental processes.
Put simply – adults will learn and engage if they care. They’ll pay attention if they feel encouraged. They’ll connect to others if they feel welcomed. Therefore, emotions are too entrenched in the learning process to ignore them as an important learning factor. Triggering the right emotions can help attendees learn better and increase overall engagement during a session.
At MCI, we recognise the challenges that shifting from a physical setting to an online experience entail for organisations. Through our expertise in both online and offline experiences, we guide organisations to successfully transform their conferences, meetings and events to ensure the highest value for all stakeholders. Contact us to learn how to apply neuroscience to a virtual experience that achieves your objectives.
For better engagement, retention and ROI, speak to us.
Avinash Chandarana - Group Learning and Development Director
