Tips for Teaching Anti-Fraud Lessons to Modern Learners

Monologues are out. Active learning is in. Long gone are the days where people are receptive to listening for extended periods of time without interaction. A common suggestion is to have no more than 15-20 minutes of speaking, followed by some other exercise (Bligh, 2000). To fight the temptation to monologue, incorporate active learning activities. Have your learners do some low-stakes research or brainstorming on a given topic and share it with the group. Sprinkle questions into your discussions; asking people why they think something might be happening before telling them helps stimulate critical thinking. You can also create an activity similar to a think-pair-share to encourage both independent and collaborative thought. The think-pair-share format involves a learner completing independent thinking on a specific topic, pairing with a partner to compare thoughts and then sharing each pair’s conclusions with the larger group (Lyman, 1981). Consider creating short interactive exercises to accompany discussion, like fill-in-the-blank descriptions or crosswords for learners to complete while participating. Studies have found that incorporating active learning techniques increases performance and retention, especially in STEM fields (Freeman et al., 2014)

Beware of TL;DR (too long; didn’t read). The KISS rule (Keep it Simple, Stupid) has been replaced with the concept of TL;DR (A similar concept is too long; didn’t listen). The longer the message, the more likely your reader is to skim it, lose focus or ignore it entirely. TikTok is a clear example of the current trends: lengthy messages aren’t necessary when short messages get the job done (and are entertaining, as a bonus). Try to master the art of identifying your most important points and getting them across quickly and clearly. Limit the words in the workbook, on the PowerPoint slides or in the manual. Consider using memes or other visuals in place of words. 

Visuals are king. Especially for modern learners, visuals are far more impactful and memorable. While there is some heated debate about the legitimacy of the idea that people learn differently using different methods (Cuevas, 2015), recent research in a variety of fields has noted that visual explanations generally increase understanding and appeal to learners (see for example Bobek & Tversky, 2016; Whitley, 2013). Consider including visuals like images, video clips, infographics or pamphlets to summarize your main points (these also have the benefit of typically including fewer words and appealing to TL;DR). If possible, you can also guide participants to create their own visuals summarizing topics using a free, user-friendly digital platform like Canva or paid products like Microsoft and Adobe.

Regularly check for retention. Check in with your audience, especially when discussing complicated or new materials. A simple request for a show of thumbs up, down or sideways (when uncertain) can help you gauge if your points are coming across. An activity similar to the Muddiest Point exercise, in which learners write a question about a topic they find unclear, gives learners the opportunity to ask questions about items they don’t understand. You can create summary activities to help learners check their own retention. I created an activity for a class where they had to summarize and critique an article in a 90-second recording. I set it up like a real-world work situation: when your boss asks you for an update on a project, you should be able to quickly and clearly summarize the status. Some hated the exercise – one told me that he needed at least four minutes to make an accurate summary. Others recognized the practical application and that people often don’t have time to sift through large amounts of material to get to the most important information. I used to say that if you can’t summarize it in 90 seconds, you don’t know it well enough.

You can’t beat them, so join them. Distractions are everywhere, probably even in your own pocket or sitting next to you on your desk. Use these distractions to your advantage. To increase interaction, consider using PollEverywhere, a free tool that allows individuals to contribute answers to discussion questions using a device. PollEverywhere has many options for interaction, including multiple choice questions, word cloud generators, short answer questions, etc. People can easily use a device of any kind to respond. Similarly, take advantage of popular trends. Podcasting is a huge phenomenon. It is also user-friendly, portable and cheap/free. You can find existing podcasts on a variety of topics, some of which could include insights you’d like to share. You can also make your own podcasts relatively easily using a device that has a microphone. If you have audio already available, or available as part of a video, consider extracting those audio tracks so they can be available via digital streaming or download. Making your messages portable helps increase the relevancy and availability of your messages, as well as allowing listeners to rewind, speed up and relisten as it suits their needs.

Learn to read the (new population in the) room. I once had a colleague who was responsible for delivering very technical and complex lessons. During one particularly tedious training, he asked if what he had just said made logical sense. Of course, we all agreed. He then asked us to repeat what he had just said. Most of us were stuck (me included) because we had zoned out. He caught us mid-daydream and brought us back to the discussion. Another time, in a Psychology course, the professor noticed we were having difficulty concentrating. He encouraged us all to stand up and take 30 seconds to stretch. Moving our muscles helped us re-engage and focus. Both of these gentlemen were very skilled trainers and speakers as a result of their experiences in front of audiences. They learned to read cues from the audience and respond to their needs. Being able to identify and react when your audience needs clarification, a refresher or a break will help your messages get across more effectively.

Have a plan, share the plan and stick to the plan. Agendas, checklists and schedules are helpful in any situation (even the ones where they may not seem relevant). People like to have a list they can check off to gauge progress. Consider opening presentations and meetings with a brief agenda of topics to discuss, especially if there is a lot of information to cover. For extended meetings/courses/events, include an overall breakdown of topics to cover throughout the whole training as well as individually. Life does happen, of course, and plans need to change. When that happens, make adjustments and communicate those adjustments. People appreciate being able to chart their progress (and, yes, count down the remaining steps).