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Tag: visual

  • VARK Learning Styles Applied to Dynamics 365 Design and Build

    VARK Learning Styles Applied to Dynamics 365 Design and Build

    In a prior blog, we talked about how you can apply VARK learning styles to your Dynamics 365 training for end users. Let’s take it one step further today and talk about how you can apply VARK to the design and build phase of your CRM project or enhancement.

    Applying learning styles to CRM design

    How can understanding VARK learning styles help you with your design and build phase? Be aware of different components that can help different learning styles.

    Visual Learners
    Dynamics 365 is full of design components to aid in enhancing the user experience of visual learners. The graphic below spells them out in detail. Additionally, the Unified User Interface layout has a great balance of white space and boxes of information and visual controls you can use. Configuring a PowerApp (model-driven or canvas) is another great option for this learning style.
    Auditory Learners
    To be honest, I’m struggling with this learning style and how you can enhance user experience from a design and build perspective. Voice to Text is all I can come up with at this point, but if you have ideas, please leave a comment! I’d love to hear them!
    Reading and Writing Learners
    Users who best identify with the reading and writing learning style will benefit from lists and option sets over free text fields. Another great area for these users is the task and activity management areas of Dynamics 365.
    Kinesthetic Learners
    Apply drill down reporting and dashboard elements as you design your system to help your kinestheric users. Additionally, consider embedding or linking to videos where appropriate (for example, you can customize your help link to point to a video library).
    How to Enhance Your CRM System with VARK in Mind, by Heidi Neuhauser.
    More Information & Help

    Do you have questions about how to apply VARK to your CRM system? Feel free to reach out to reenhanced! Fill out our Contact Form with details about what you’re working on, or email me directly at heidi@reenhanced.com.

  • VARK Learning Styles Applied to Dynamics 365 Training

    VARK Learning Styles Applied to Dynamics 365 Training

    There are many schools of thought when it comes to learning styles. One I have found to resonate well with adult learners and the Microsoft Dynamics 365 platform are the VARK learning styles when planning your CRM training. VARK stands for the four main learning styles: Visual, Auditory, Reading & Writing and Kinesthetic.

    What is VARK and how can it apply to CRM training?

    The VARK theory says that you have a primary learning style. While you may be influenced by other learning styles, there is one primary area where learning comes easier.

    Understanding these four key ways adults learn can help us to plan and deliver useful, lasting CRM training to our end users.

    Visual learners learn best by observing, seeing and watching. They will give you undivided attention when you’re presenting PowerPoints and live demos.
    Auditory learners get a lot out of lectures, webinars and hearing.
    Reading and writing learners are likely taking notes as they read this.
    Kinesthetic learners (like me!) are hands-on. They’re the people who tell you that this CRM thing sounds great, but they need to get their hands on it to play around.
    Are you curious which modality is your preferred learning style? Take this free VARK questionnaire to find out.

    As a Dynamics 365 trainer, or as someone tasked with training your end users, your challenge is to balance the training to apply all learning styles. You will likely default to training in your most primary (and also most comfortable) learning style. Make sure to offer training across all learning styles!

    Applying learning styles to CRM training

    How can you use your understanding of the VARK learning styles to CRM training? Easy! Understand what sort of training approach reaches each style and pick and choose to combine into a beautiful training experience for your end users! We will look at each learning style and point out some training techniques and methods that work well for each.

    First of all, let’s discuss live training. As you will notice in the chart below, live training can reach all learning styles. This is by far the most effective method of training your end users. If at all possible, provide your end users with some sort of live, in-person training. In a perfect world, everyone will receive live training, supplemented with many of the materials listed below. For some organizations, especially those with an employee base that covers a large geographic area and multiple time zones, this can be difficult. But if should be the first option if possible!

    Check out the below graphic for many training tools and techniques. They are split into the VARK columns to make it simple to pick and choose those that will work best for your user base.

    How to Train Your Users with VARK in Mind, by Heidi Neuhauser.
    Need help?

    Have questions about training? Need our help deciding what’s best for your user group? Feel free to reach out to reenhanced! Fill out our Contact Form with details about what you’re working on, or email me directly at heidi@reenhanced.com. Happy training!