If It Works for Indiana Jones,
Why Not e-Learning?

Remember when Indiana Jones walked, slid, and crawled his way through the dense Peruvian jungle—dodging snakes and elaborate traps along the way to retrieve a valuable relic from an ancient temple? How about the time when Indy, exhausted from battling bad guys, watched a thug twirl razor-sharp swords in a threatening manner before the action archeologist coolly discharged his pistol to end the confrontation. It’s been nearly 30 years since the first Indiana Jones movie took theaters by storm, but you probably instantly recall these scenes in all their colorful glory with little effort.

Now, think back ten, five, even two years ago to a newspaper or magazine article you read. Do you remember the headline? What was the theme? Was the article accompanied by any photographs? If you’re like most of us, your mind probably worked overtime to answer any of those questions.

The point is that it’s often easier to retain information when it’s wrapped neatly in a storyline and delivered in an engaging format. That’s not to say that any newspaper or magazine article you were able to finally bring to mind failed to convey a memorable story; however, it’s probably safe to say that your recollection of the printed piece did not have the same imagery impact as the Indiana Jones references.

If using an interesting storyline helps moviegoers connect to bits of history (granted, Raiders of the Lost Ark was a little thin on historical facts, but it did present kernels of truths that many people may otherwise had never known), why not use the same approach to teach employees corporate needs, such as negotiation and communication skills, ethical decision making, emotional intelligence, or regulation compliance processes?

Years ago at Northwestern University, Roger Schank promoted the benefits of a story-centered curriculum. Today, we have the instructional design know-how and access to advanced simulation development tools to bring storylines to life so learners can experience realistic scenarios and immediately apply their newly acquired knowledge.

Story-driven simulations provide users interactive opportunities to actually participate in the learning process. By creating e-Learning programs that replicate on-the-job environments, processes, and—most importantly—decision-making options in a familiar and relevant context, the engagement of your learners will increase and their retention rates will skyrocket.

When incorporating story-driven learning programs into your training regimen, you encourage active participation from users. If you ask teachers and trainers around the world, they’ll all agree that capturing student interest and gaining their buy-in or involvement is half the battle toward helping students achieve their learning goals. Now, don’t think that you need a Hollywood budget with Harrison Ford and a bullwhip to crack the users’ attention. Just remember that when developing immersive learning simulations, the story is the star.