You're probably familiar with this: You turn on Netflix and find yourself trapped in a series for hours. Keyword: Binge Watching! Wouldn't it be great to achieve this effect in your training? In this article, you'll learn which Netflix elements are particularly captivating and how to structure your e-learning based on this principle.
You're probably familiar with the streaming provider Netflix and may have gotten stuck in one or another series yourself. You probably watched these faster than you’d like. Netflix is known for this, and last year, it generated a revenue of 29 billion US dollars (Source: Statista). But what’s the secret behind it?
Binge Watching and the Secret of Netflix Series
According to Wikipedia, binge watching describes the process of a series marathon where individuals watch multiple episodes of a TV show in one go. So, binge watching is all about particularly captivating content: as a viewer, you want to know what happens next. It often feels impossible to break free from the series spiral and finally hit pause. However, looking at the clock quickly brings on the feeling of guilt.
And that is exactly what Netflix has apparently perfected by producing their series accordingly, leaving us no choice but to stay engaged. You can utilize this structure for your e-learning, but with a crucial difference: the feeling of guilt is absent!
But what makes Netflix series so addictive? When producing a series, it is clear from the start that it must be divided into individual episodes. After all, no one would want to watch a 20-hour movie. To keep us viewers engaged, every episode or season ultimately needs a kind of cliffhanger that creates a desire for more. Only in this way do we slip into the spiral of hours of "binging".
A Netflix Series ...
is released at the beginning of the season with a trailer.
consists of many, often as short as possible episodes.
provides a preview of what happens next at the end of each episode.
gives you the option to skip recaps and intros.
is often released as a complete season (when produced by Netflix).
Netflix Netflix Logo GIFfrom Netflix GIFs
Similar to this, the essential elements can be transferred to your training:
How to Design Your Own E-Learning in Netflix Style
The differences between a relaxing Netflix evening and training are obvious. Accordingly, it is clear that your e-learning will never be as captivating as another season of Breaking Bad or a series marathon with ten seasons of Friends. Nevertheless, you can utilize the principle behind it:
1. Episodes: Break down learning content into individual episodes!
Many training managers try to cram all important information into ONE e-learning course. They often forget that extensive course content, while great, can also become overwhelming. After all, you wouldn’t watch a series that aims to cater to action, thriller, and science fiction fans all at once. Why? Because it simply becomes too much.
Netflix offers a variety of series in all possible genres. E-learning can be just as diverse!
Therefore, you should divide your learning content into different genres and series, just like Netflix, and also publish the story (or your learning content) in small episodes. For the topic of leadership training, for example, you could divide your courses into “How to: Conduct Employee Conversations,” “Basic Course on Data Evaluation,” and “What to Consider When Creating Reports.”
This way, participants have the chance to listen attentively and learn something. Moreover, they can pause your e-learning like their favorite series without losing track.
2. Conciseness: Reduce your content to the essentials!
Just like the individual episodes of a Netflix series, our learning content is also getting shorter. And for good reason: Our attention span is continually decreasing, which is why our input is becoming shorter as well. Learning content needs to be concise. Only then can you ensure that participants really stay engaged until the end.
Because: Learners often have no time. If learners interrupt the learning process once, they will not quickly revisit the content. Try to make your learning content as brief as possible to prevent participants from becoming tempted to abandon the learning unit. Pay attention to the following elements:
Learning content must be relevant to the participants.
Learning content must be easily accessible.
Learning content must motivate learners to want to learn more on their own (Keyword: Binge Watching).
And this brings us to the second point you should consider when designing your course:
3. Cliffhangers: Ignite curiosity and create a desire for more!
For your e-learning to be a complete success, your learning content needs to be so good that your learners naturally crave more! Here, Netflix is also a good example: An episode is almost over and a button saying “watch next episode” appears at the bottom right, indicating the next episode. Almost instinctively, you end up watching another episode of your current series.
Binge watching is pre-programmed! Netflix automatically plays the next episode after the bar runs out.
You should ideally transfer this dynamic to your e-learning as well: It’s not about learners needing further learning content. It’s about them wanting to learn more on their own! Specifically, this means: Learners want to complete your training course directly and in one go.
4. Addictiveness: Give learners what they want (or need)!
You likely recognize the annoying term mandatory training. For many, alarms are ringing, and some might think, “I’ve never learned anything meaningful from that.” And that doesn’t have to be the case! Of course, you won’t convince everyone how meaningful your e-learning is for them. But you can pique their curiosity!
And what does this have to do with Netflix? We’ve already talked about the ending credits of each episode, but Netflix goes further: Almost every new series is released with a 2-minute teaser. This way, you can convince yourself whether the series or movie is something for you. Netflix does not appeal to everyone, of course. But one thing is certain: those who are already curious will definitely tune in after a teaser.
And you can utilize this phenomenon in e-learning as well. You should keep the following points in mind:
Clearly communicate the goal of your training.
Provide insights into what your learners can expect in your course.
Show concrete examples of your e-learning course.
5. Spoilers: Provide a preview of what's coming next!
Finally, let’s discuss the biggest and most decisive difference between a Netflix series and your e-learning: spoilers. Particularly with current series, people discuss the latest episode in their friend circles or at work. It often happens that events are talked about, and the person you're speaking with hasn’t seen the episode yet. If you already know how the episode ends before it's over, the suspense quickly disappears.
In e-learning, it’s different: You naturally want to know what to expect and why you are doing this at all. Therefore, it seems reasonable to spoil your participants in certain aspects. Keep in mind: You can still build suspense even with spoilers! Techniques like storytelling will help you with that.
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