How to Make an Endless Stream of Good Ideas

What is a good idea?

A good idea is at the sweet spot of what you feel excited writing about and what sparks your learner’s interest because it helps them change their lives.

The 4 categories of good eLearning ideas

Good eLearning ideas usually fall into one of 4 categories:

1. Goals and aims your ideal learner wants to achieve.
2. Problems your ideal learner wants to solve and fears that stop them from taking action to solve those problems.
3. Questions your ideal learner wants to get answered.
4. Resources your ideal learner is looking for: examples, case histories, checklists and any other collection that inspires your ideal learner and helps improve their life.

Our course, when an idea appeals to your ideal learner, it’ll appeal to anyone who’s struggling with the same problems and wants to achieve the same aims.

Let’s have a look at the project Vickie has been working on for Karl . . .

1. Goals and aims:

Vickie helps her ideal learner, Karl (and other business people like him) use visuals to communicate ideas so he can engage and inspire his audience.  You can break down this overall aim into smaller more specific goals such as:

• How to use drawings to explain your proposals to your boss
• How to use drawings to report financials with more clarity
• How to create PowerPoint slides that keep your audience’s attention.

To get started with your own brainstorming session for eLearning ideas, you may want to have a look at the aims and goals you’ve already written down in the previous post on Ideal Learner’s Profiles (Sneak into your Ideal Learner's Mind - Modlettes)

2. Problems and Fears

Vickie’s ideal learner, Karl, wants to solve his problem of giving boring presentations, and he worries he is not creative enough to engage his audience.  You can turn these into eLearning ideas, too:

• How to make simple illustrations, even if you don’t feel creative
• 7 reasons why PowerPoints are boring the boots off your audience
• How to present with confidence, even if you’re worrying you’re too boring.

To get started on your own brainstorming session, once again, think about your ideal learner and which problems you can solve and which fears you can take away.

We’ll cover points 3 and 4 in next week’s Modletter.

For earlier posts on Vickie’s journey and other writing for training posts go to  Resources - Modlettes