Applying The Goldilocks Principle To Create E-Courses – All About Delivering The Right Content

E-learning courses that are too difficult may frustrate learners, while easy ones may result in boredom. So, it is crucial to maintain a perfect balance in delivering the right kind of content for the new-age workforce. Like Goldilocks, the popular fairytale character, the learners will pick up an e-course that is ‘just right’ for them – neither too hot, nor too cold! Wondering what is the relevance of the story of Goldilocks in e-learning?

The Goldilocks Principle and E-Learning

The Goldilocks principle is defined as the cognitive effect that people, when given multiple options, seem to divert more towards moderate choices. Online learning courses that fail to create the desired impact result in decreased employee engagement, productivity, retention and return on investment. Let us see how the concept of ‘too hot’ and ‘too cold’ apply to e-learning:

• Too hot – When the courses are text-heavy and too complicated to understand. This leads to negative impact on the performance of learners, because they invest a lot of time to access courses and understand the framework of content.
• Too cold – When the content does not convey enough information, it neither engages the learners nor leaves a long-time impact on their memory.
• Just right – When the right kind of courses are delivered to learners at the right time, thereby boosting their knowledge competency and workplace efficiency.

Essential Tips to Apply Goldilocks Principle in E-Learning

It is crucial for organizations to create e-courses that cater to the customized needs of modern learners. Outlined below are the tips that help designing courses that are ‘just right’ for the intended audiences by applying the Goldilocks Principle:

1. Know the target audience

Before creating any course, it is important to understand the requirements of learners who will undergo training. You can initiate discussions, conduct surveys, interviews and assessments to analyze their interests, knowledge, expectations and related information. For instance, courses that are too difficult for one group of employees may be easier for another group. So, it is necessary to ensure that the content is digestible for the learners, that is, it includes ‘just right’ information for the right learners, keeping them engaged throughout.

2. Avoid choice overload

Providing the right content at the point of need plays a key role in delivering an interactive learning experience. Asking the right kind of questions is the potential need. Do employees apply what they learn at work? How much emphasis is given on individual topics?

3. Include a blend of interactivities

E-courses should integrate the right mix of interactive elements from simulations to scenarios. Consequently, it helps to align courses as per the customized learning styles and preferences. For instance, if a learner faces an issue while understanding the scenarios, then they can use another interactivity to understand content in an efficient way.

4. Impart additional online resources

Using supplemental resources enable proficient learners to explore detailed content on their own. So, if the learners find the existing content boring, then links to information sources, videos, e-books and other tutorials are included to seek more attention. Consequently, learners can choose the desired topics, click links whenever they want and perform better at workplace.

Following the above discussed tips of Goldilocks Principle, organizations can clearly fill the learning gaps and ensure delivery of just right e-learning experience. Understanding the tailored needs of different learners certainly help to create the ‘just right’ e-learning course.