Onboarding

Onboarding is a way of bringing a user into a system. The first minute a user engages with a system is the most important.

Considerations

 * [[image:learningu-esl/Fotolia_30408012_Subscription_XL.png align="right"]]The first minute is not the time to explain anything; instead, provide an experience
 * Train and engage, but don't overwhelm
 * During the first minute, the user should experience the core behavior of the site
 * Fundamental mistake: Asking users to register before allowing them to experience the site (no compelling reason to give personal info for services that are not yet understood)
 * Only ask for registration info after providing a compelling offer
 * Avoid long explanations and instructions
 * Users should not fail on their first interaction (getting lost in details or explanations)
 * Basic pattern:
 * Action (no risk)
 * Reward
 * Action (training players how to achieve)
 * Action
 * Reward
 * Join (register)
 * Invite friends
 * Reveal the complexity of the system (game) slowly
 * Reinforce the user positively
 * Remove opportunities to fail
 * Learn something about the user

Examples

 * Urtak
 * Hot or Not
 * [|Bartle Test of Gamer Psychology]
 * Auction site questions:
 * I like to get stuff.
 * Reward: Congrats! Me, too!
 * Additional questions:
 * I like exploring things.
 * I like being shown things.
 * I like to get rid of stuff.
 * Reward: Congrats! Me, too!
 * Additional questions:
 * I'm happy to drop stuff off at a drop point.
 * I really need things to be picked up.

LU onboarding ideas

 * 1) On initial site visit, present students with a question (action), reward, action, action loop before requiring registration
 * 2) Initial questions about themselves: "I love English."... "I only learn English because I have to."
 * 3) Reward statement ("Congrats!" Me, too!".... "Why do we all have to speak so many different languages?")
 * 4) Additional related questions: "I think it's important to understand the grammar of a language." "I don't think grammar is important."; "I am planning to take the TOEFL soon." "I don't plan to ever take the TOEFL." ...
 * 5) Add the Urtak widget to our site: Allow students to ask and answer questions in English and see how their answers compare with others. This is a free tool that we can implement on our site.
 * 6) Add a free pronunciation practice tool using Vocaroo : Allow students to listen to and practice their own pronunciation. Perhaps put up some tongue twisters or challenging things to say.
 * 7) Guess the sound of the day: Add a sound file and allow students to describe or guess what it is. Best answer wins a badge...
 * 8) Allow students to create quizzes (using the free Quizlet widget) about their own country, city, favorite subject, novel, etc.; other visitors can take the quizzes to see how well they can do

Other gamification pages
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