Have you ever experienced an unscheduled traffic route diversion during your daily commute to work that forces you to take the longer route? I suppose, the experience may not have been very pleasant. Gate screens are similar to the traffic diversions in the world of e-learning contents. It is one of the ways to control the flow of information in an online training module, forcing the learner to make very specific choices.
Use of gate screens in e-learning modules have been debated for a long time because excessive use of gate screens may end up destroying the learning experience of the learner. In my experience with several corporates, I have come across way too many training modules which are so constrained in information flow, that by the end of the module, a learner wants to get rid of the module by any means.
Types of Gate Screens
Gate screens can be set up at multiple levels to control the learner’s movement within the e-learning content –
No Gate Screens – This is the ideal situation, but often in real life, ideal situations are far too scarce.
Media Gate Screens – The instructional designer may choose to place a gate screen on the audio and video media, this restricting the learner from skipping the media and moving to the next part.
Interactivity Gate Screens – These are generally used by the instructional designer to make sure that the learners participate in all the interactive activities planned in the module.
Fluid Gate Screens – These gate screens are relatively flexible in the sense that though the learner has to complete entire module, he/she has the choice of deciding which portions he/she wants complete first.
Linear Gate Screens – In an e-learning content with linear gate screens, a learner has stick to the flow as planned by the instructional designer. However, he/she has the freedom to review the completed portions of the content at any time.
Rigid Gate Screening – Learning content with rigid gate screens force the learner to go through each and every content in the e-learning module in a predefined pattern with no possibility of even a minute deviation.
While forcing someone to go through the entire training content may not sound like the best idea, gate screens are not pure evil. If used in the right context, after deciding the nature of training and the target audience, gate screens can increase the overall efficiency of the learning programmes. For example, while a stricter gate screen might be suggested for a compliance training intended for a group of new hires, a refresher training may include far more flexible gate screens for seasoned employees. A training about recent changes in company policy may require a strict gate screening even for seasoned employees.