With apologies to the recently unretired (and bearded) David Letterman, welcome to the first edition of the PharmaCertify Compliance Training Top Ten List. We’ve witnessed a range of missteps and mishaps in individual eLearning modules and curricula over the years and here is a list of the more common ones:
- Not refreshing the content regularly. Even if most of the content hasn’t changed, the way in which it is presented, as well as the delivery method, should be updated.
- Topic overload. Focus on the most important content for training and use other tools to supplement the training.
- Reliance on one type of training. Blended is best.
- Training is overloaded with legalese. Use plain English as much as possible to avoid confusion.
- Too much content in one course. People retain information better when it is presented in smaller chunks. Break down those 45-60 minute courses into more digestible bites of 25 – 30 minutes.
- Too many words on the screen. A screen packed with text leads to cognitive overload. Only use your main points on screen with engaging graphics, and leave the rest to the narrator.
- All substance, no style. Content is important, but so are engaging graphics and interactivity. Learners want to be active participants in their training.
- All sizzle, no steak. An overabundance of graphics, videos, and music also leads to cognitive overload. If the bells and whistles don’t help the learning, your message is lost.
- Not considering the goals for the training. “Checking a box” isn’t a goal. Determine and define the learning objectives before you begin to write the content.
- One size does not fit all. Include examples, scenarios, and case studies that are relevant and applicable to the targeted audience.
Thanks for reading!
