Self-directed learning is an independent learning experience driven by the learner. They choose how they’ll learn the content. They choose how fast they want to learn. And, ultimately, they take responsibility for their learning.

Since COVID-19 shut down in-person training, organizations have two options: They can take a band-aid approach by cobbling together free technology to get them through the next few months, or they can see this situation as an opportunity to invest in long-term technology and build new business assets.

Practice makes perfect, right? But who wants to practice something that’s boring and dull? 

Our data shows that learners average 98% fewer sessions in a learning platform after they complete their study plan. Couple that with the forgetting curve, which shows that without repetition, people immediately begin to forget what they’ve learned, and businesses and eLearning enthusiasts alike have a real problem on their hands.

The modern learner has changed drastically over time. They are often distracted, overwhelmed, and impatient. In a digital environment, there is a lot of noise happening. So much so, that people unlock their smartphones up to 9 times every hour. So, what does this mean in terms of how we design our learning programs?

We’ve all been there—the conference presentation that should have been labeled “information dump” or “you could have just read the book.” We know it takes time to learn anything proficiently, but we live in a world promising us “quick tips,” “top secrets,” or “life hacks.” Unsurprisingly, one-day training sessions or short courses often yield lackluster results.