You’ve heard of Occam’s Razor, where, simply put, you should always go with the simpler one if you have two competing ideas to explain the same phenomenon. The word ‘razor’ refers to the ‘shaving away’ of unnecessary assumptions when distinguishing between two theories. In the e-learning design world, (good) course designers apply this principle to make intuitive and efficient user interfaces, eliminating unnecessary complexity and focusing only on the essential elements.
Keeping that in mind, we want to introduce you to a parallel concept: the Creativity Razor. This instructional design method encourages learners to explore ideas from multiple perspectives, using all their senses. It is based on the proven principle that knowledge retention is enhanced when you transform content into a kaleidoscope of multimedia experiences.
Here, ‘razor’ refers to getting learners to discard preconceived ideas and assumptions about how to solve problems. This novel and creative approach involves getting a thorough 360-degree view of a problem or topic, approaching it from all angles, and even turning it on its head.
For example, if a learner is struggling to think creatively about a subject, they can transform it through various mediums, e.g.:
- Turn a thought into a written idea
- A written idea into a drawing
- A drawing into an equation
- An equation into a conversation
Here, the creative process involves more than simply expressing your imagination; it involves the art of critical thinking, problem-solving, and innovation.
The benefits of this transformative approach
Developed by New Leaf Technologies’ Managing Director and e-learning veteran Michael Hanly, the Creativity Razor solves the problems of motivating learners and capturing and retaining their attention, especially in an online environment.
Numerous studies have proven the benefits of using multimedia in e-learning, with a recent study showing that it improves the ability to turn abstract concepts into concrete content and allows course creators to present large volumes of information with less effort and within a shorter period. This stimulates students’ interest in learning and allows the tutor or teacher to better track how their students are faring.
Adopting the Creativity Razor way helps learners in the following ways:
- Learners must actively manipulate and reshape information, which directly promotes active learning and engagement.
- When learners are ‘forced’ to view concepts from different angles, it encourages creative thinking and problem-solving skills.
- Knowledge retention is enhanced by creating multi-sensory experiences that appeal to various kinds of learning styles.
- By uncovering new connections and insights during the transformation process, learners develop a deeper understanding of the coursework.
- Using different mediums makes the learning process more dynamic, interactive, and enjoyable.
How to incorporate the Creativity Razor into e-learning course design
There are four main types of learning: visual, auditory, kinaesthetic (doing), and reading/writing. Factors such as memory, attention span, and processing speed also shape how students learn, which is why presenting a single topic or concept via different mediums ensures the best results for any cohort.
Get your learners engaged by presenting content in any (or all) of these teaching formats.
- Use multimedia elements to represent the same concept in different forms. These include text, images, videos, audio, and interactive and 3-D simulations. Each of the different types of media supports learning by enabling learners to visualise the concepts using their different senses.
- Encourage learners to create their own multimedia representations of key ideas or concepts. This is especially helpful for kinesthetic learners, but all learners benefit from learning from their mistakes and approaching the ‘problem’ from a different angle.
- Gamify the learning experience by introducing challenges or quests that require learners to transform content through various mediums. Gamification has been shown to create an emotional connection between content and students, strongly influencing their attention which, in turn, makes them more receptive to learning.
- Provide opportunities for reflection and discussion. This allows learners to share their unique perspectives and insights gained through the transformation process, adding another layer to their learning journey.
Roadblocks to consider
The time, cost, and skills required for e-learning content development, especially multimedia content, can be high. Consider roping in an e-learning solutions provider to create the content for you, keeping your audience and their access to technology in mind.
Don’t overwhelm learners with too many complex multimedia elements. Instead, focus on integrating media that adds value without detracting from the learning experience. Be sure to test your content on multiple platforms and devices before launching it.
To return to Occam’s Razor, remember that it’s easy to get distracted by shiny objects and forget that technology is supposed to be a tool that makes the learning experience design process easier and more accessible, not more complicated. If a course is confusing or tough to follow, it’s time to shave off the shiny objects and ensure each piece of multimedia has a purpose and an outcome. Only then will the learner engage their Creativity Razor and truly get to grips with the subject.
