Motivational Design of an E-Learning Application for Managers in Healthcare

The working life of managers in healthcare is characterized by time pressure und diverse requirements from different stakeholders. E-learning applications may support managers in acquiring the required knowledge at any time. Since the motivation to use e-learning opportunities remains rather low if time resources are tight, this study investigates which didactical design aspects contribute to healthcare managers using a digital learning application. In a survey with 36 healthcare managers, recommendations for a motivational design based on the ARCS model are evaluated. This paper describes the findings and the resulting suggestions for the design of the e-learning application in healthcare. The results show that some recommendations are appropriate for the context. For example, the e-learning application should have an avatar with identification potential and a personalized language, as well as a feedback system that uses both icons and text.