Understanding Microlearning: Diving into the Short, Digestible Methods of Education

Understanding Microlearning: Diving into the Short, Digestible Methods of Education

Discover the ultimate learning style for our modern world – microlearning! This agile approach is the magic trick L&D pros are using to conquer the relentless forgetting curve and keep learner attention span in check. No more frustration from dwindling attention spans, cognitive overload, and unrealistic schedules. Say hello to microlearning, an educational strategy that thrives on today's realities.

In this guide, we'll explain exactly what microlearning is, highlight its key benefits, and acknowledge its limitations. Plus, we'll give you actionable tips to develop your own powerful microlearning strategy. So buckle up and let's dive in!

What is microlearning?

Our learners are insanely busy – juggling multiple tasks, putting out fires, and rushing from one meeting to the next. Research by Josh Bersin indicates that employees have just 24 minutes a week for formal learning[1]. Yikes! But don't worry: enter microlearning – a smart and agile vehicle for learning designed to accommodate the chaos of everyday life.

Microlearning distinguishes itself from traditional learning with bite-sized pieces of content, each aiming to satisfy a clear learning objective. Instead of overloading learners with hours of information, microlearning offers short, energizing knowledge nuggets. But what's the optimal duration for a microlearning experience? Survey data suggests that:

• 5% prefer <3 minutes
• 19% prefer 3-5 minutes
• 40% prefer 5-7 minutes
• 25% prefer 7-10 minutes
• 11% prefer >10 minutes

However, remember the golden rule: your microlearning should be exactly as long as it needs to be – no longer and no shorter[2].

The key characteristics of microlearning

Microlearning isn't just about being short – it's built around specific principles to maximize learner engagement and knowledge retention. Here are the key characteristics:

1. Bite-Sized: Microlearning experiences are concise to fit neatly into a busy day and respect learners' time.
2. Laser-Focused: Each microlearning experience aims for a single, clear learning objective and shuns fluff and tangents.
3. Format Agnostic: Microlearning adapts to any format that delivers knowledge efficiently, from videos and quizzes to infographics and articles[3].
4. Super-Convenient: Because of their brevity, microlearning experiences can be consumed whenever suits the learner, making them handy for just-in-time support.

Microlearning examples and formats

Microlearning isn't a one-size-fits-all approach. Its versatility allows it to fit a variety of learning objectives and audience requirements. Need inspiration? Here are some microlearning examples and formats:

1. Short Videos
2. eLearning Modules
3. Interactive Quizzes
4. Infographics & Diagrams
5. Short Articles
6. Podcasts & Snippets
7. Simulations & Scenarios
8. Job Aids & Checklists

A quick history of microlearning

The concept of dispensing information in digestible chunks dates back to ancient times. From hunters sharing survival secrets to apprentices mastering crafts one technique at a time, human beings have always learned best in smaller, focused chunks[4]. However, the formal term "microlearning" appeared in Hector Correa's book "The Economics of Human Resources" in 1963, while Research Studios Austria claimed credit for coining the term in 2003[5].

Microlearning's popularity skyrocketed in the 1990s with the internet and eLearning boom. Nowadays, it's almost impossible to imagine learning any other way, thanks to smartphones putting immediate access to knowledge in our pockets[6]. By 2025, the global microlearning market is expected to reach $2.96 billion, growing at an annual rate of 13%, reaching $5.49 billion by 2030[7].

The benefits of microlearning

Microlearning offers numerous advantages over traditional learning methods. Here are its main benefits:

1. Increased Engagement: Microlearning's shorter duration makes it less daunting and more engaging, leading to engagement rates that can be 4X higher[2].
2. Better Retention: Microlearning is designed to work with cognitive science principles, enhancing knowledge retention by 20%[8].
3. Satisfied learners: Completing short microlearning modules offers a sense of achievement that boosts overall learners' satisfaction[8].
4. Smarter fitting: With one-third of employees having no more than 10 minutes to spend on a single task, microlearning is the perfect solution to accommodate our busy lifestyles[1].
5. Improved ROI: Microlearning reduces content development time by 300%, leading to significant cost savings[9].

The limitations of microlearning

While microlearning offers numerous benefits, it's not a one-size-fits-all solution. For complex topics requiring in-depth exploration, nuanced understanding, refined theoretical frameworks, or extensive skill-building, microlearning may be less effective. In these cases, it might be more appropriate to consider using eLearning modules, workshops, or on-the-job training[2].

How to implement microlearning

1. Define Your Objectives: Identify the specific learning objectives you want to address with your overall approach and each individual module, and tie them to broader organizational goals[2].
2. Know Your Audience: Research and understand your learners’ roles, responsibilities, skill gaps, and learning preferences to better tailor your microlearning strategy[2].
3. Select Use Cases: Identify situations where microlearning could most effectively address learning needs, such as onboarding, sales enablement, and product training[2].
4. Find Your Format: Choose a format that best serves your learning objectives and audience, such as videos, quizzes, infographics, articles, or podcasts[3].
5. Build Your Content: Draft concise, focused modules that aim for a duration of 3-10 minutes, focusing on getting straight to the point and avoiding jargon[2].
6. Test & Optimize: Before deploying your microlearning strategy, test it with a small user group and gather feedback to refine your content and approach[2].

Turbocharging Your Microlearning Approach

While well-designed microlearning is effective on its own, technology and modern learning trends can take its impact to the next level. Here are our top tips for turbocharging your microlearning approach:

1. Learning Technology: Modern learning platforms, like learning management systems (LMSs), provide a home for your microlearning content and offer access controls, robust tracking mechanisms, and seamless integration into your existing learning ecosystem[2].
2. Mobile Learning: Mobile learning is a natural fit for microlearning given the ubiquity of smartphones. By designing for mobile-first, you can deliver learning that fits effortlessly into micro-moments throughout the day[10].
3. Game Mechanics: Incorporating game elements like points, badges, and leaderboards can boost learner engagement[4][11].
4. Social Learning: Integrating social learning elements like forums, messaging, and collaborative challenges can foster a sense of community and shared knowledge[12][13].
5. Flow of Work: Make microlearning a seamless part of the workflow by providing access to relevant learning resources within the tools and platforms your learners already use and offering content at the precise moment they need it[14].

Final Thoughts

In today's busy world, microlearning offers a silver lining. By delivering focused, bite-sized learning experiences, you empower learners to consume, retain, and apply knowledge more effectively. With microlearning, great things really do come in small packages!

So, are you ready to leverage the power of microlearning? Let's do this!

References

[1] Bersin, J. (2019, March). The future of corporate learning. Brandon Hall Group. https://www.brandonhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Innovations-Executive-Summary_-Web.pdf[2] Jeffrey, R. (2021, November 15). Everything you need to know about microlearning. Mind watches. https://www.mindwiresmedia.com/microlearning/[3] Kummrow, A. (n.d.). Microlearning examples to enhance your training. ATD. https://www.td.org/Publications/Articles/The-Power-of-Boosting-Retention-Through-Microlearning[4] Bersin, J. (2019, March). The future of corporate learning. Brandon Hall Group. https://www.brandonhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Innovations-Executive-Summary-_Web.pdf[5] Young, J. (2020, August 3). What is microlearning – definition and examples. TechTarget. https://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/microlearning[6] Anderson, K. (2021, April 15). What is mobile learning (mLearning)? Everything you need to know. Mindwires Media. https://www.mindwiresmedia.com/mobile-learning-definition/[7] Mohammad, S., & Bersin, J. (2019, September 16). $2.96 billion microlearning market: Marketsandmarkets [Press release]. PR Newswire. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/microlearning-market-worth-3-09-billion-by-2024-growing-at-a-cagr-of-13-7-from-2019-to-2024-marketsandmarkets-300920335.html[8] Dewan, S. (2019, September 18). Learning styles – the myth that hinders learning. Medium. https://medium.com/being-human/learning-styles-the-myth-that-hinders-learning-adbf9191d161[9] Jeffrey, R. (2021, November 15). Everything you need to know about microlearning. Mind watches. https://www.mindwiresmedia.com/microlearning/[10] Anderson, K. (2021, April 15). What is mobile learning (mLearning)? Everything you need to know. Mindwires Media. https://www.mindwiresmedia.com/mobile-learning-definition/[11] Banister, T. (n.d.). Gamification in learning. Trainingzone. https://www.trainingzone.co.uk/author/twin/133363/gamification-in-learning[12] Siverson, B. (n.d.). Benefits of social learning in the workplace. L&D Daily. https://www.lddaily.com/2017/05/benefits-of-social-learning-in-the-workplace/[13] Alter, J. (2013, February). The Future of Learning – Preparing a Generation for the Next Evolution of Work. IBM Institute for Business Value. https://www.ibm.com/ibm Think/First/mind/the-future-of-learning-preparing-a-generation-for-the-next-evolution-of-work-/[14] Jantic, J. (2017, May 8). The power of just-in-time training: Why it matters in a hyperconnected world. Mindwires Media. https://www.mindwiresmedia.com/the-power-of-just-in-time-training-why-it-matters-in-a-hyperconnected-world/

In the modern world, microlearning serves as an agile educational strategy that caters to the realities of today's learners – a hectic schedule, numerous tasks, and fleeting attention spans. This method of learning encompasses short, bite-sized pieces of content that target specific learning objectives.

Research shows that the optimal duration for a microlearning experience can range from less than 3 minutes to over 10 minutes, with a preference toward shorter durations (5%, 19%, 40%, 25%, and 11% for <3 minutes, 3-5 minutes, 5-7 minutes, 7-10 minutes, and >10 minutes respectively). However, it's essential to recognize that the microlearning experience should be as long as it needs to be, adhering to the golden rule.

In essence, microlearning is concise, laser-focused, format-agnostic, convenient, and built around principles that maximize learner engagement and knowledge retention. Examples of microlearning formats span diverse mediums such as videos, interactive quizzes, articles, infographics, podcasts, and simulations.

Tracing its roots to ancient times, microlearning's formal term was first introduced in Hector Correa's book "The Economics of Human Resources" in 1963, and the term was popularized in the 1990s with the internet and eLearning boom. The global microlearning market is forecasted to reach $2.96 billion by 2025 and $5.49 billion by 2030, growing at an annual rate of 13%.

While microlearning offers numerous advantages such as increased engagement, better retention, satisfied learners, smarter fitting, and improved ROI, it may not be ideal for complex topics that require in-depth exploration or extensive skill-building.

Implementing microlearning requires defining learning objectives, understanding the target audience, identifying suitable use cases, selecting an appropriate format, building concise content, and testing and optimizing the content before implementation.

To boost the impact of microlearning, technology and modern learning trends can be leveraged. This includes utilizing learning management systems, mobile learning, incorporating game mechanics, fostering social learning, and integrating microlearning within the flow of work.

In conclusion, microlearning empowers learners to consume, retain, and apply knowledge more effectively, delivering focused, bite-sized learning experiences. Embracing the power of microlearning is an excellent way to adapt to today's fast-paced lifestyle and ensure that learning is both engaging and accessible.

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