Germany's Stuttgart University of Applied Sciences E-Learning Scientist and Intercultural Communication Professor Frank Thissen stated in an article, "First comes emotion, then comes cognition," which will be the theme of our article, dear reader.
Professor Thissen, who conducted extensive research on the role of emotions in e-learning, went further and said: Negative emotions tend to help us remember data clearly, including the smallest details, while positive emotions help us remember more complex things.
This is exactly what we have been trying to explain for a long time: Effective remote e-learning design should trigger positive emotions. If learners feel safe, happy, and satisfied, they will definitely enjoy learning. To corporate HR managers who say, "Our employees are not suitable for e-learning, we couldn't succeed, we couldn't make it work":
The problem is not with the technology; the problem is that e-learning environments engage in tasteless and boring communication and only address the cognitive aspect of learning. Positive emotions are essential for learning as they unlock the drives of curiosity and discovery that enable us to understand the world.
In many studies we have reviewed, we observed that happiness can affect academic success. These studies reveal that emotions significantly influence individuals' learning strategies, cognitive resources, motivation, and academic achievement. We all know that current education programs do not enhance happiness.
Therefore, we say; it is time to change traditional approaches. Today is the day to bring back emotions and combine them with cognitive ability. Since our job is e-learning, we try to transfer emotions into electronic environments. This is much more challenging than a trainer occasionally telling a meaningful joke in a traditional classroom setting, as you can appreciate.
What are the positive emotions that influence learning that we consider when designing our e-learning programs? Let's briefly discuss them.
Belief is seen as the foundation of all success because it is persuasive in helping individuals make progress during their education. Make your online learners feel they can succeed in your remote courses. They must believe they are capable of achieving their learning goals.
Here are a few strategies you can use to foster a sense of belief and perseverance in your learners:
Our users engage in e-learning and its exercises because they find it fun or enjoyable, continuing to do so even if not rewarded in the end.
This is also called intrinsic motivation, and it is always the single source of motivation that works. However, you cannot force intrinsic motivation; for example, you can design a general e-learning course for motivation. The key here is to teach your target audience to be e-learners who embrace the spirit of competition that suits their skill levels and learning rhythms.
Below are a few strategies you can use: