Avatars - A magical wand to hold learners attention

E-learning is constantly on its way to expand, attract more and more learners into its enclave and thus choses ever innovative trends to make the courses highly learner centric, engaging and informative. One of the trends that e learning professionals adopt is the strategic deployment of Avatars that efficiently take hold of learners attention.

Avatars…...They really have a magic wand that retains learners attention beyond the normal level. Have you ever brought forth a little, smart, talky avatar ?

Avatar, an icon or a figure or a character in computer games; in the context of e-learning is a virtual coach, and a very valuable asset for the learners. Being the simplest method to motivate and grab learners’ attention, these are brought forth in various forms, aligning to the various needs of the course content. In other words they vary according to the course goals.

One of the challenges e-learning professionals face is retaining the attention of learners. Learners are easily given to deviation and distraction when the course is dry and contentdriven without engaging elements. They become unresponsive and thus the objectives of the learning are not attained making the course invalid. But let it not happen as we can integrate this to trap the learners’ attention.

When these are skillfully deployed with a deep research knowledge, keeping in mind the goals of a course and when they exactly fit into the course’s content and flow, then there follows many advantages. Some of them are -

• Being the central element of interaction and fun, they initiate the learners interest to take up the course.
• They assist from the onset to the end by providing a lively learning ambience all through the course, keeping the learners away from distractions.
• With emotions and expressions that enhance the effectiveness of the course , they train, guide, and become catalysts that speed up the process of knowledge gaining .
• They bring into learning the social element which arouses motivation among learners to easily grasp and retain knowledge, and ensure quality learning experience.
• Integration of avatars into a course quickens the completion of learners tasks, course, knowledge absorption and also prepares them to address the challenges.
• They ensure great course satisfaction among the learners besides creating enthusiasm to take up more courses, as learners begin to befriend the avatars.
• With high interaction, they enhance the value of the course, as interactive elearning goes a long way in reaching the course goals, equipping the learners to make a real impact.

Avatars, as virtual coaches truly meet the need of engaging the learners, pushing off boredom, by their enlightening presence, interactive guidance, and a lasting learning experience.