Businesses are increasingly striving to make the learner experience innovative and fun. Video, interactive quiz, Gamification... Learners are now used to different formats to learn differently. Audio learning or learning by listening in French is one of them.
Focus on this pedagogical modality.
Definition of audio learning
The term audio learning may mean something to you. It's normal: podcasts or audiobooks are part of this educational modality. In fact, it aims to rely on audio formats to transmit training elements to learners.
Audio learning is one of the 4 learning styles recognized by Fleming's VAK learning model, including:
- visual learning
- physical learning
- social learning
- Audio learning
How does it work?
In practice, this modality is often linked to modules in microlearning And Learning Nuggets. But why? It is rare to find audio learning without other training modalities on the side simply because audio learning is compact. The modules last between 5 and 15 minutes maximum.
Audio learning makes it possible to approach specific topics in an ATAWAD way. As a reminder, ATAWAD means anytime, anywhere, from any device.
Why the rise of this pedagogical modality?
Before becoming an educational modality, digital audio was a real social phenomenon. Voice notes, podcasts and smart speakers have been booming since the first lockdown in 2020.
According to a study published on the occasion of the Paris Podcast Festival 2020, “The French & the native podcast”, 61% of pre-lockdown listeners increased their listening frequency during this period. The podcast has become a new alternative to screens.
The same study from 2021 shows that 42% of listeners listen to between 1 and 2 podcasts every week. Audio learning is a reference format for learners and an opportunity for the teaching team to maximize learner engagement..
Audio learning best practices
Audio quality is not the only prerequisite for successful audio learning. We summarize the tips and best practices for creating good audio learning.
- Have a calm and calm voice. Don't speak too fast, the ideal speech rate should be between 140 and 160 words per minute.
- Talk loud enough and articulate To be audible by all
- No very technical courses in audio learning. The subject should be fairly simple to understand. Opt for more informal content.
- Picture what you're saying. The only thing your learners are going to be able to hear is your voice. Unlike a video, audio should allow it to easily visualize your ideas.
- Choose audio chapters of 7 to 10 minutes rather than one-hour formats.
The benefits of learning through audio learning
Audio learning lists several advantages:
- Offer a new experience with educational podcasts: the diversification of pedagogical modalities makes it possible to satisfy the greatest number of learners.
- Strengthen your employer brand: According to the Havas/Paris and CSA 2021 study, 26% of podcast listeners talk about the content they listen to with their colleagues. Word of mouth can only strengthen your employer brand.
- Encouraging learner engagement: the more fun the content is, the more the learner will not see it as an obligation but more as a game or a distraction. Learning while having fun is still better.
Audio learning has every chance of continuing its development and becoming increasingly part of the vocational training landscape.
