"Zoom Fatigue" is THE buzzword for corporate work in 2020. We are all tired and yearn for a balance away from the screen. Further education must now take place entirely digitally. As a developer or trainer, you face the great challenge of protecting your participants from digital fatigue. Read now how this can succeed both preventively and actively.
Digital fatigue is more than just "Zoom Fatigue"
You have probably stumbled upon this term: "Zoom Fatigue" describes the symptom of fatigue that thousands of people are currently experiencing during online conferences. Meetings feel even more exhausting since they have been held at home in front of the webcam due to "social distancing".
But honestly, this phenomenon goes far beyond video conferences (Zoom, Teams, Google Meet, etc.). Due to working from home, we fundamentally spend much more time in front of screens than usual. Social balancing is lost or extremely reduced. That’s tiring! Instead of "Zoom Fatigue," we should therefore speak of digital fatigue.
Especially, developers and trainers feel this digital fatigue in their participants: Suddenly, further education has to be completely digital! Not only does the transition to online courses cost time and effort, but you also need to consider how to protect your participants from digital fatigue.
3 reasons for digital fatigue in webinars and video conferences
Before I discuss preventive and active measures against digital fatigue, I want to briefly address the background: Why exactly are video conferences, webinars, and generally working on the screen so exhausting in the long run?
On wissensdialoge.de, diploma psychologist Prof. Dr. Johannes Moskaliuk presents three exciting psychological explanations for "Zoom Fatigue":
In a typical video conference, I constantly see myself. This makes it hard for me to concentrate on my environment (the other conference participants).
Non-verbal stimuli in video conferences or webinars are distracting: Especially the lack of eye contact makes communication tiring for us.
The virtual and real situations do not match. My body is sitting at the desk, my mind is in a virtual space.
Especially the last point is decisive in digital further education: Whether in a webinar or an online course, I have to simultaneously be present in both a real and a virtual place. This sounds quite banal but can be very tiring in the long run. Certainly, there are people who are still highly motivated in online courses even after weeks at home in front of the screen. Others, probably older individuals, are already exhausted after a short time and thus demotivated.
Whatever the reasons may be: Digital fatigue in online courses is definitely a topic and will accompany educators for quite some time. Burying your head in the sand is not an option! I will now present options for both preventive and active combat against digital fatigue in corporate education in 2021.
Preventive: Prevent digital fatigue in online courses
The best way to prevent digital fatigue in online courses is preventively: Your participants should not even enter a state of fatigue. EVEN THOUGH the classic presence format is eliminated. With the right methods, this can be quite simple:
Diversity of media and formats
Virtual blended learning
Microlearning
Gamification
Diversity of media and formats
The be-all and end-all against digital fatigue is variety: Offer as many different media and formats as possible. For example, a welcome video in the online course, then a short survey, a presentation, another video, and then a text. Vary wherever you can! More tips can be found here: 5 ideas for successful learning videos in companies.
Also, continuously put yourself in your participants' shoes at home in front of the screen: What exercises can you use to "wake them up" against digital fatigue? This can simply be notes with paper and pen to briefly step away from the screen. Or an active exercise where they change something in their daily lives. This works particularly well in soft-skill training.
Virtual blended learning
Okay, classic presence is at least challenging or health-threatening during a pandemic. Nevertheless, you can also implement blended learning completely digitally! Because webinars are a form of presence that you can alternate with online courses. In webinars, both the trainer and the participants are present, thus at the same time in the same place. Therefore, design webinars as interactive as possible and educate yourself about the method of virtual blended learning!
Follow the fundamental rule: As much as possible in presence (webinars), as much as necessary in online courses.
Microlearning
Another proven method against digital fatigue is microlearning. The key here is "keep it short!" Do not overwhelm your participants with long and complicated content. Even with a complex topic, you can break it down into meaningful small chunks. These are more digestible for your participants and ensure long-lasting motivation.
Illustrative examples for microlearning can be found in this article.
Example course for microlearning
Join our free example course for microlearning and experience for yourself how short impulses work against digital fatigue.
Gamification
Awaken the playful side in your (adult) participants! The method of gamification aims exactly at this: Keeping motivation high with playful elements in the online course.
This already works with relatively simple settings:
Reward your participants for their progress.
Praise your participants in the form of automated positive feedback.
Set your course so that some content becomes visible only later as the participant progresses.
Include quiz questions regularly.
Active: Mitigate digital fatigue in online courses
If you already notice that your participants are digitally fatigued, only active measures can help! The prerequisite for this, of course, is that you continuously keep an eye on the mood of your participants – for example, through automated feedback inquiries in your online course. And then step in as soon as you notice signs of digital fatigue.
Allow flexible breaks
We are all currently in an exceptional situation and each individual must find their way to cope with it. As a developer and trainer, you are therefore required to be highly flexible: Can you spontaneously adjust your plan in the face of signs of digital fatigue and stretch it out over time?
Particularly participants who are currently personally under a lot of pressure benefit greatly from high flexibility. Allow breaks wherever necessary and do not hesitate to adjust your online course even during the training period.
Provide a good example
Examples and role models help us greatly in everyday life to stay oriented and motivated. For example, ask a superior to shoot a short motivational video. You can then integrate this video into your online course – even on short notice.
You, as a trainer or developer, can also fight against digital fatigue in your participants with your own video impulses. For instance, showcase yourself in your home and explain how you personally create balance after a long day in front of the screen. This not only helps your participants content-wise but also increases their trust in you or the company in general through the personal touch.
Conclusion
Start the year 2021 with a positive fighting spirit and actively and preventively combat digital fatigue! In addition to a fundamental diversity of media and formats, methods such as gamification, virtual blended learning, and not least microlearning will support you in this.
To a successful new year! 🍾👩💻👨💻
Free guide
The ultimate microlearning guide for online courses
Start your fight against digital fatigue now! With microlearning, you can create varied learning impulses. Our free guide shows you how!
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