I was in Girl Scouts when I was younger. And I have clear memories of the merit badge book. Each badge required me to do something different to earn it. Looking back, that book offered a lot of choices. I could pick which badge I wanted to work on and choose the activities that sounded best to me. Then I remembered that many organizations don’t offer their learners that choice. And those learners are adults. So, scouts have more say in their badges than working professionals have about their skills training. That doesn’t seem right.
Why Choice MattersGiving people a choice helps motivate them. If they get to pick between different options it gives them a feeling of control. People don’t do a good job when lacking motivation. They might not want to do anything at all. When they feel powerless they’re more likely to feel used or trapped. So, letting them have a say in what they’re doing lets them own their training.
Tags: choices • choices in learning • elearning • Employee engagement and reterntion • learning objective • Learning objectives • learning theory • multi-modal learning • Project management • Skills Training • Training and Development