6 Neuroscience Based Tips to Design Engaging Virtual Experiences

How can a virtual learning experience maintain sufficient levels of attention? How can engagement be driven in the online space? Applying neuroscience principles to virtual experience design can lead to higher levels of engagement, content retention and ROI. 

People attend events because they want to see, learn, share, and network with peers. While formats differ and need to adapt for the online space, it is key to ensure that the virtual edition is an experience that delivers the intended expectations. To achieve that, the brain becomes the central focus of online experience design.

Why the brain? The brain is our primary tool for learning. It’s the core of human thought, memory, consciousness and emotion. So, it only makes sense to align online session design with how the attendees brain functions and invariably connects with an online experience.

Applying basic principles and research in neuroscience, adult learning and today’s consumer learner behaviour can have a great impact on the design of effective online experiences. Weaving these principles into an overall design strategy leads to higher levels of engagement, content retention and ROI.

Here are 6 neuroscience-based tips to help you design relevant and engaging virtual experiences for your attendees.

1. Break content into bite-sized chunks 

Chunking is the concept to remember. According to a renowned psychology paper, the number of information a person can consciously process is seven, plus or minus two. Just as trying to carry too many things at once might cause you to drop something, requiring learners to grasp too many concepts at once can cause them to ‘drop’ that information.

The chunking technique enables the brain to digest and assimilate content more effectively, making it far easier to integrate into long-term memory.

2. Introduce a jolt 

The common assumption is that during any face-to-face sessions, attention is at its highest in the first 10 to 12 minutes and then drops as the attendee gets tired of concentrating or gets distracted. In online sessions, the attention span can be as short as 3 to 4 minutes.

However, studies show that the attention is greater when the speaker introduces something new or different, such as humour or visual aid, thus breaking predictive behaviour. This element of change, ideally involving some sort of interactive feature, is essential in a virtual environment.

3. Enhance the relevancy of learning 

The relevancy of a session should become obvious within the first five minutes by showing learners that it will address their concern. This is because relevance plays a crucial role in cognition. When information is perceived as relevant, cognitive efforts significantly increase, leading to much higher cognitive effects.

4. The spacing effect 

In 1885, psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus found out that people forget a whopping 80% of material learned within 24 hours. This discovery led to the so-called “Forgetting Curve”. In contrast to crammed, intense learning, learning that takes place over an extended period gives to the brain enough ‘space’ to take in new facts.

Attendees will experience greater success by spreading out their content review and recall over time, instead of engaging in one-time, overloaded top-down sessions.

5. Create a multisensory experience 

People learn best when all their senses are engaged and when their imagination is most active. Experts confirm that sessions that use two or more senses are more effective than those using only one sense.

Help online attendees create strong and lasting memories by making them imagine colours, hear sounds and experience emotions. Using creative virtual event design, consider activities that require movement, engage taste buds or even the sense of smell.

6. Trigger the right emotions 

Learning isn’t merely cerebral – it’s emotional, too. Researchers have confirmed how emotions affect mental processes.

Put simply – adults will learn and engage if they care. They’ll pay attention if they feel encouraged. They’ll connect to others if they feel welcomed. Therefore, emotions are too entrenched in the learning process to ignore them as an important learning factor. Triggering the right emotions can help attendees learn better and increase overall engagement during a session.

About the author – Avinash Chandarana – Global Learning & Development Director @ MCI Group:

As a global business professional and recognised ‘Fellow’ of the Learning & Performance Institute (LPI) for contributions to the advancement of the learning profession, Avinash brings know-how, expertise and forward thinking in designing and deploying global learning and development strategy to deliver business results. Breadth of experience includes establishing and leading an internal corporate L&D Institute offering a broad portfolio of learning programmes, online and offline for 2,500 employees in 60 offices, 30 countries across 5 continents.

Within the learning space, his goal is to innovate and push the boundaries to create high-quality learning trajectories using a range of delivery and interactivity methods, online and offline. Recent accomplishments include the digital transformation of learning strategy by integrating Artificial Intelligence and pioneering digital solutions to create a personalised Learner Experience (LX) centred ecosystem.

With a global business background, mindset and multi-cultural profile (Ugandan born of Indian decent, raised/educated in the United Kingdom, lived in United States, Norway, Belgium and Hong Kong) Avinash has led business assignments and projects covering 30+ countries.

Beyond leading L&D for a world-renowned global agency in the live communication sector, he enjoy’s the opportunity to moderate, facilitate and speak about the transformation of L&D, future of work/workforce, global trends, cultural communications and the importance of developing top-flight performance organisations and environments powered by highly engaged teams.

Connect with Avinash via LinkedIn