Many practicing learning designers find their way to the field by accident. They didn't plan on being a corporate trainer or instructional designer when they grew up, but here they are. Perhaps they stumbled upon their role because they demonstrated an aptitude for explaining things to others or could write well.

Those who know a bit of theory can look at the content and apply the best strategy. They can start blending a bit of the science of ID with the art that they already practice. They can effectively explain to a client why it's really not a good idea to start a program off with the detailed flow chart, or why locking out navigation leads to learner frustration.

So Kineo has decided to offer -œlittle shots of theory- to its top-tips collection. The aim is to take a look at a specific theory or model and break it down into terms and examples that are easily put to practice. The first two -œshots- concern John Keller's ARCS Model of Motivational Design and Charles Reigeluth's Elaboration Theory.

Keller's ARCS Model

Keller's ARCS Model of Motivational Design provides strategies to make instruction more appealing. What makes a learner eager and willing to sit through that eLearning? How do you keep the learner interested? The ARCS Model defines four categories of motivational variables: attention, relevance, confidence, and satisfaction.

A is for Attention

First, you've got to get the learner's attention. That's right. Make -˜em sit up, lean in, and listen.

R is for Relevance

How is this content relevant to these learners and their goals? What's in it for them, and why does it matter that they sit through the next twenty minutes, let alone the next hour? When content is relevant to the learners' needs, they'll be motivated to complete the program.

C is for Confidence

Help your learners stand tall and proud. Confidence isn't just about doing a great job, but rather being sure they know what's going on.

S is for Satisfaction

Make sure the learner walks away from the eLearning with a sense of accomplishment, knowing that this was time well spent. Interactive case studies that conclude with a successful sale or a happy customer leave the learner with the warm glow of success.

John Keller's ARCS Model of Motivational Design provides a model for selecting instructional strategies that connect to instructional goals, while generating interest and motivation on the part of the learner. By attending to the four variables that influence motivation - attention, relevance, confidence, and satisfaction - you can create a program that's aligned to learners' needs and keeps them focused and engaged.

Elaboration Theory

When teaching someone a new fact or task, it's best to start simple and then drill down into the more complicated content. But far too often, trainers dive right into the deep end, overwhelming learners from the get go with nitty-gritty details and complicated rules.

So how can you combat this tendency? How can you structure content so that learners can access and make sense of it from the start? Elaboration theory essentially says that to create effective instructional designs, we should sequence content from simple to more complex.

When you sequence content from simple to more complex, you create a more effective instructional experience. Why? The learner can approach the content as building blocks - each stage of the content a stepping stone to the next level of complexity. Some people think of this as building a spiral: as you move to each step you review the previous one, moving upward in widening circles.