Essential Guide to Understanding Microlearning
Microlearning is a new way to learn that has been very successful in the workplace. It helps people retain information better and faster than traditional methods of learning.
In fact, ‘94% of teaching and development professionals say they like microlearning better compared to traditional online courses.’1
Microlearning also helps workers learn more efficiently, which means they can spend less time on training and education and more time on their jobs.
This method of teaching and learning is changing how we think about training employees at work, but what exactly does it mean? Read this guide to find out!
What Is Microlearning?
This is a term that is still being defined, and there are no hard definitions or coherent uses of the term yet.
This method of teaching and learning takes the best parts of traditional learning and distils them down into “smaller” pieces so people can learn more in less time. ‘Learning in small chunks makes the transfer of learning to office use 17% more efficient.’2
It has been used successfully in many workplaces for training employees on new skills or helping them advance their careers with additional training. Microlearning has been shown to be effective in all kinds of learning scenarios, including training for new hires and teaching people with no previous experience how to do a specific task.
This type of learning breaks down the traditional methods of learning into bite-sized pieces that are easy to learn quickly; this is why it’s gaining traction as an alternative approach to education. Microlearning is convenient, personalized, and easy to apply in the workplace.
Microlearning is an effective way for employees to learn anything they need on the job; it’s not just limited to new training situations. This method of teaching and learning can be adapted for any kind of learning situation, so you’ll never have a problem finding ways that it can benefit your company or employees.
It is convenient, personalized, and easy to apply in the workplace, which makes it a great method of education for employees at all levels. It can help anyone learn something new quickly and easily!
How Can It Be Used?
This method of teaching and learning is great for all kinds of learning situations, but it’s often used in the workplace. Microlearning can be applied to any kind of training scenario, whether you’re teaching something new or helping your employees advance their careers with extra training.
Microeducation works well because it breaks down information into small pieces that are easy to learn quickly and easily. It can be used in all kinds of learning situations, including:
- Training for new hires
- Teaching people with no previous experience how to do a specific task
- Continuous professional development
- To aid long-term knowledge retention
Microlearning is easy to apply; you’ll never have a problem finding ways that it benefits your company or employees!
Benefits of Microlearning
The biggest advantage of this method of teaching and learning is that it’s convenient, personalized, and easy to apply in the workplace. Microeducation works because it breaks down information into small pieces so people can learn more in less time.
It is ‘estimated that up to 50% of all information someone is exposed to is forgotten within a day, and up to 90% is forgotten within a month.’3 But with Microlearning, learners can also remember more for longer.’ According to RPS research, Microlearning improves focus and supports long-term retention by up to 80%.’4
It has also been shown to be effective with all kinds of learners, whether they’re new employees or experienced workers looking for additional training.
It is also personalized and easy to apply in the workplace and to every learner’s needs; this makes it a great way for employees at all levels to learn anything they need on the job!
This method of teaching and learning is an engaging and less time-consuming training method that’s cheaper to produce. ‘Microlearning content can be developed 300% faster than traditional eLearning courses.’5
Microlearning is also easier to track, so you can see how well your learners are learning.
Disadvantages of Microlearning
However, this method of teaching and learning has one big disadvantage: there are some learning situations where MicroEducation doesn’t work well.
Microlearning better suits short-term or “one-shot” workplaces, but it isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. For example, for a large-scale training event, MicroEducation may not be the best option.
Why Microlearning Is Not E learning
Microlearning is very different from E learning. E learning focuses on getting information across in an educational environment without breaking it down into smaller chunks of knowledge.
MicroEducation breaks up content into small pieces, making it easier to absorb than long, large chunks of information. This method of teaching and learning is more effective at teaching concepts, whereas E learning is better at teaching facts.
Microlearning may not be the best solution for every training need, but it can be an effective one for corporate and commercial training.
Best Tools to Use for Microlearning
Creating your own professional learning course content can be time-consuming and difficult for a beginner. So here are the best tools to use to streamline your microlearning course content:
Teachable
Teachable enables you to create microlearning courses easily.
Microsoft Teams
This is a great tool for microlearning because it has chat and voice features, can be used on any device, and is easy to use.
Wondershare
This is the best video editing software for making YouTube videos to support your delivery of microlearning.
Thinkific
This is the best e learning software for rapidly creating professional learning course content. Easily create content with a single click.
Wistia
Learn about this video hosting platform, which works great with Microlearning!
HotMart
Create professional learning course presentations on the iPad or Mac easily using HotMart.
Evernote
Evernote is a great tool to use in your professional learning course content strategy.
Dropbox
This is a great tool for Microlearning because it allows you to create files that are easily accessible by all users. It also provides real-time feedback capabilities.
How to Use Microlearning
Best practices
1. Make the training short and sweet.
This method of teaching and learning is meant for information recall, not long-term retention. So keep it to a few minutes at most, and keep it interesting! ‘Learner disengagement and boredom kill the chances of success in an eLearning program.’6
2. Keep your content concise and easy to understand, with images or video components where possible.
Microlearners want clear visuals that enhance their understanding of key concepts like numbers, statistics, processes, systems, etc.
A professional learning course should only be a few minutes long, with clear goals at the end that allow learners to put their new skills into practice right away!
3. Keep it interactive!
This method of teaching and learning is more fun when learners are given opportunities to engage with their learning content (and each other). For example, they could be asked questions throughout the course that allows them to reflect on what they’ve learned or answer in small groups for peer feedback.
4. Make sure there’s a clear call to action at the end of your learning modules.
This is an opportunity for learners to put their new skills into practice and have fun doing it!
This method of teaching and learning works best when you give people a choice in how they’d like to learn, so let them choose from a variety of delivery methods that suit them (Blended Learning). It is also usually best for visual learners.
5. Use infographics
With infographics or short videos and images, divide the learning into short bursts of content that are more interactive and visually appealing.
6. Employ gamification techniques
Performance Support Tools (PSTs) such as checklists and mini-goal setting points along the course and like leader boards, badges, and rewards to make Microlearning subject matter more fun for your learners
Interactive parallax-based scrolling is a method that allows learners to ‘scroll through an online scenario, interactive quizzes, questions, and information appear to test their comprehension.’7
7. Use smartphones or other devices to enable Microlearning to be more accessible and convenient for busy employees and learners on the go.
Different Types of Learning Styles
There are 7 traditional learning styles that can be served by microlearning. For example; Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic, Verbal, Logical, Social and Experiential Learning.
For example, it can be used by teachers to prepare students for tests. This method of teaching and learning is also great in the workplace; it’s short, snappy, and effective!
How To Design A Microlearning Strategy
This strategy can be implemented in many different ways, but there are a few simple tips that you should keep in mind to make a professional learning course as effective and impactful as possible for your workforce.
For example, if you’re writing an article on how to fix a lightbulb, consider including animated videos that show step-by-step instructions with text alternatives for each video in case they are needed offline or when learners do not have access to technology.
Use a range of different media types; Microlearning is not limited to text and videos. Micro-animations, audio clips, and images can all be used as part of a Microlearning strategy for maximum engagement and impact on learners!
Another important aspect to consider when designing your microlearning content is the length of time that each piece should take in relation to the others. Microlearning should not take up more than a few minutes of the learner’s time.
If your chosen Microlearning pieces are too long, split them into separate sections or create shorter alternatives to distribute to employees who may need less detail at that moment in time.
You could also consider using Micro-quizzes within your professional learning strategy; these can be used to test learners on the Microlearning content they have just completed or give them a recap of what they have learned so far.
One final point about Microlearning is that it should be easy for employees to access. This can come in many forms, including emails, mobile apps, social media, and online portals that are easily accessible on any device, from tablets to mobile devices, ensuring Microlearning is a success in the workplace.
Why is Microlearning Effective?
This new method of learning is very effective in the workplace.
Microlearning allows employees to absorb information quickly and easily without feeling overwhelmed or exhausted, allowing them to apply their knowledge effectively on the job.
It has been shown to be more effective than long lectures or training sessions thanks to its short, concise, and highly memorable nature.
It is often completed by people who are working and is therefore more efficient than performing in-person or virtual training, which helps to make it more effective in the workplace because employees will enjoy learning while they do their jobs!
Different Types of Microlearning
According to the F. Learning Studio, microlearning can take 9 different forms8
FAQs
Why This Is Increasing In Popularity?
Microlearning can be consumed very quickly without exhausting the learner, which makes it perfect for busy people who are trying to balance a career and family life. Micro learning allows learners to absorb knowledge quickly without wasting time on irrelevant information. This is also beneficial because it provides a wide range of knowledge to learners with little effort.
How To Make Microlearning Work In Your Organization
Here are some important things you need to know about microlearning before you start using this method in your workplace.
It involves delivering quick lessons, infographics, videos, and other forms of information at specific times throughout the day or week so employees are always aware of what’s going on with their business.
There are also many add-ons to your courses that you can employ to engage your learners. For example;
Microlearning takes the best parts of traditional learning and makes them more accessible. In fact, microeducation can be adapted to suit almost any kind of learner; it’s great for visual, auditory, and kinaesthetic styles.
Microlectures are short lessons that include information about new products, company updates, and upcoming changes in the workplace.
Microquizzes are quick quizzes used at different times during the day or week to keep employees aware of any ongoing training programs within your business.
Microassessments are quick assessments that can be taken at any time during the day or week, so employees know how they’re doing with their learning goals for different courses within your business.
Microcertifications are short tests to make sure employees have learned what you wanted them to learn from a course or certification program.
It is also a great way to make sure that employees are always on the same page and that new processes can be easily integrated into their daily activities.
In Conclusion
Microlearning often offers the option of short, on-demand content. Lessons address only one or two learning goals, while full courses on average cover four to five topics and areas.
A professional learning course doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive; you can use social media and podcasts to create a microlearning strategy that is easily accessible and convenient for busy employees.
In fact, by using platforms such as YouTube, TED Talks, Instagram, or Twitter, users will be more engaged and will not even know that they are learning!
References
- Pandurov, M. (2021, October 12). 10 Incredible Microlearning Trends Shaping 2023. Markinstyle. https://markinstyle.co.uk/microlearning-trends/
- Pandurov, M. (2021, October 12). 10 Incredible Microlearning Trends Shaping 2023. Markinstyle. https://markinstyle.co.uk/microlearning-trends/
- 5 microlearning facts you need to know. (2020, October 22). Thrivelearning.Com. https://www.thrivelearning.com/blog/5-microlearning-facts-you-need-to-know/
- Cohen, D. (n.d.). Why Microlearning Is A Game-changer for Corporate Training. Shiftelearning.Com. https://www.shiftelearning.com/blog/numbers-dont-lie-why-bite-sized-learning-is-better-for-your-learners-and-you-too
- Pangea, A. 5 Statistics To Prove Why The Corporate Workplace Loves Microlearning. E-Learning Infographics. https://elearninginfographics.com/corporate-workplace-loves-microlearning-prove-statistics-infographic/
- Cohen, D. (n.d.). Why Microlearning Is A Game-changer for Corporate Training. Shiftelearning.Com. Retrieved 31 July 2023, from https://www.shiftelearning.com/blog/numbers-dont-lie-why-bite-sized-learning-is-better-for-your-learners-and-you-too
- Anh, M. 9 Types of Microlearning that Leverage your Employees’ Learning. F. Learning Studio. https://flearningstudio.com/types-of-microlearning/
- Anh, M.. 9 Types of Microlearning that Leverage your Employees’ Learning. F. Learning Studio. https://flearningstudio.com/types-of-microlearning/
