In eLearning and virtual training environments, there are times when a sense of disconnect occurs between the trainer and learner, and vice versa. Inserting polls or rating scales into your instructional design can reestablish the connection, helping trainers and trainees interact and correspond more personally. Questionnaires and surveys are also used to assess attitudes and responses to the instruction.
IDs commonly use the following:
1) Polls will quickly check audience participation and engagement, or test their knowledge of course content at intervals. These are typically questions with “yes or no” answers.
Example: Is emotional intelligence as important as exceptional intellect? Yes/No
2) Surveys usually fall into two categories: questionnaire and interview. Questionnaires involve participants completing their responses. Interviews are completed by the interviewer based on what the respondent says.
3) Open-ended questions allow learners to convey their feelings, and elaborate on their responses. Open-ended questions require time to analyze participants’ responses, but can be more useful and valuable because the responses are more in depth.
Example: Why do you think emotional IQ is as valuable as intellectual IQ?
4) Closed-ended questions have a fixed number of responses. These assessments are faster and more objectively reliable, but lack depth or detailed expression. These are questionnaires.
Example: Choose from the following: Emotional intelligence is important because people with this trait are a) more likely to succeed in life, b) have better quality relationships, c) achieve more happiness overall, or d) all of the above.
Which types of questions you use may depend on the time available to tabulate and/or respond to participants’ replies.
This quick video gives helpful suggestions for how to create engaging polls and surveys, as well as when to insert them into your instructional design.