It’s been the age of ‘big-data’ for quite a while now, and more L&D teams are embracing data and the insights it can provide to improve learning outcomes. And is it any surprise? From business management to HR practices, from marketing to customer engagement there are numerous examples of how data is not only informing business decisions but actually taking centre stage in the experiences big brands create.
Take Spotify as an example, every year they release Spotify ‘Wrapped’ to their users – a unique summary of your listening habits over the last year. In recent years the release of Wrapped has been eagerly anticipated, with family and friendship groups sharing their praise or cringe-worthy (depending on your comparable music tastes) ‘stats’ across WhatsApp groups and social media. Spotify clearly understand the potential for data to create meaning – and they use it to brilliant effect by explaining just how much you love that particular artist on your repeat playlist.
Data can tell meaningful and surprising stories
As anyone who’s ever been surprised by a featured artist in their Spotify Wrapped will tell you (did you really listen to Ed Sheeran that much?) data can often show us new perspectives and highlight new angles that we didn’t expect. Data can even challenge our assumptions around trends and our engrained ways of thinking. The insights exposed by data can keep us ‘ready’ and on our toes and prepared to be proven wrong, or they can add credibility to our ways of thinking. But, to bring data to life, you need to make it into something people can relate to – this is where data storytelling comes in!
We know that data can sometimes feel overwhelming and daunting. We are here to guide you. With the right approach, you can navigate data with confidence and use it to tell powerful and profound stories.
5 ways to use data storytelling to great effect
1. Simplify complex data
Use data visualisations such as charts, graphs, and infographics to simplify complex information. Visual representations help learners absorb information more easily and make it accessible to a wider audience.
2. Make it relatable
Stories help bring the learner back to the here and now. Relating the data to real people and like-minded learners adds personality and relatability to the data and the wider narrative. So, instead of simply sharing statistics around a particular point, showcase the human impact of data. This not only enhances engagement but also promotes empathy and a deeper understanding of complex topics.
3. Drive behaviour change
By presenting data that highlights the gap between current and desired behaviours, you can create narratives that motivate learners to take action. Whether it’s through success stories, testimonials, or simulations, data-driven storytelling can inspire learners to adopt new behaviours and practices that lead to improved performance and outcomes.
4. Use peer questions
This is the practice of allowing learners to view and explore how other learners have answered specific questions within a course. By leaning into the natural curiosity of learners we subsequently provide an opportunity for learners to gain valuable insights and understand different approaches to problem-solving. This real-life data brings the learning to life and gives context and credibility to the whole learning experience.
5. Enhance decision-making
This one is less about the learning experience and about how as an L&D team you can use data storytelling to continuously improve. By presenting data in a storytelling format, L&D teams can facilitate better decision-making. Getting familiar with your learner data and the bigger picture enables you to make informed choices based on the insights provided. It also makes it easier to share these insights with your stakeholders, whether you’re reporting back on an initiative’s success or pitching for further investment!
How can we support you to tell stories with your data?
Kineo Analytics works effortlessly to track data across your full learning experience, providing the insights you need to prove the success of your online learning content and make smarter decisions. It creates stories that provide meaning, insight and confidence.
Kineo Analytics goes beyond simple data collection to give you insights into how your learners engage with the content and how effectively it builds skills and confidence.
- All your data in one place and in a ‘visual storyboard’
- Easy to understand and see the ‘bigger picture’
- Helps you engage stakeholders with outcomes
- Enables you to share success stories and outcomes in a straightforward way
Find out more about how Kineo Analytics can help you prove your impact through data storytelling.