Learning something is one thing internalizing it so that it changes behavior is another. Make sure that all included media and data is hyper-relevant to the topic at hand. Therefore, to give learners an “aha!” moment, you need to stay on task. If a learners’ brain subconsciously deems something irrelevant, it’s likely to dismiss the information and continue searching for data that is relevant. They constantly search for shortcuts to either retaining or discarding information, and they make snap decisions fairly quickly. You might say that brains are highly efficient (or just slightly lazy). When learners apply new information on a personal level, it proves they understand concepts on a deeper plane than just memorization. This tells learners’ brains that the information is important and should be remembered, further engineering that “aha!” moment. We don’t mean sharing your feelings and passing around the Kleenex emotional connection in learning is more about proving the benefits on a personal level. How does this new information relate to what learners already know? What insights can you share based on past experience? Connect new concepts to past associations, and your learners will get that moment of clarity and understanding. Instead, good instructional design should center on creating connections between existing knowledge and concepts. Presenting information as standalone concepts means they’re likely to get lost in the shuffle.

Get learners smiling first and then they’ll be more apt to engage throughout the training.

Using copy that is bright, pithy, and even funny (as appropriate to the topic at hand) can help boost learners’ moods so they’re in the right mind frame for their “aha!” moment. Mood has a major impact on learner understanding and retention. Hoping to create your own learning “aha!” moment? Here’s how. By taking certain steps, it’s possible to engineer that lightbulb moment for learners to suddenly grasp new concepts and allow them to change their behavior. The “aha” moment is a much-sought after, often-misunderstood facet of training, but it doesn’t have to be a slippery, illusive concept. It’s the Holy Grail for L&D professionals: that moment when learners go from passive participants to involved champions because they had an “aha” moment.

Aha moment meme