Designing Web-Based Training: How to Teach Anyone Anything Anywhere Anytime

8.12. MOTIVATE PARTICIPATION

Collaboration benefits those who collaborate most actively. But not everybody jumps right in. Why not? And what can we do to get the conversation going?

8.12.1. Understand why people just lurk

Many people forever lurk in the dim shadows of bright discussions. Why do they lurk? Lurkers often say that they:

• Lack the technical skills needed to post messages or fear making technical mistakes and appearing stupid.

• Fear rejection of their ideas or confrontation with other learners. They worry about making comments that others will find silly, frivolous, or just dull.

• Are conditioned by a lifetime of television and lectures to just observe and remain silent. In physical classrooms, instructors tend to do 90% of the talking, but in lively WBT courses instructors post fewer than 10% of the messages [117].

8.12.2. Get learners started

So what can designers and instructors do to turn lurkers into active participants? Here's how to get everyone collaborating:

• Encourage purposeful lurking at first. Require it for a few assignments. Have learners report back on what they have observed.

• Start with a few very simple assignments to get learners comfortable with the process of posting messages.

• Continue with a technically simple role-playing activity in which learners can participate anonymously.

• Form teams and have teams post messages.

8.12.3. Give learners incentives to participate

Make clear the benefits of collaboration. Tell learners what they gain by participating ...