May 15, 2024
Written by UJJI Team
Around 2,500 years ago, a Greek philosopher called Heraclitus quipped, “There’s nothing permanent except change.” While that statement may not seem very profound on the surface, it remains one of the most undeniable truths.
As with all things, the way organizations approach training and upskilling their staff also undergoes changes with time. We’re now seeing a phase where people have immense workloads, much shorter attention spans and not enough time as they used to for training.
Enter microlearning: an innovative, technology driven, self-service training methodology that is gaining popularity across industries. For the uninitiated, we’ve curated this microlearning guide, introducing you to what microlearning is, its benefits, best practices and more.
Microlearning is an approach to learning new information in small, digestible chunks. It is based on the principle of the Hermann Ebbinghaus forgetting curve, which suggests that learners forget the majority of information they are exposed to over time.
By breaking down content into bite-sized pieces, microlearning aims to combat this phenomenon and improve knowledge retention.
Microlearning sessions are typically under ten minutes in length, with some pathways taking as little as one minute to complete. This makes them ideal for busy employees who may struggle to find time for traditional training methods.
Microlearning is quickly gaining popularity as a training methodology because it offers several undeniable benefits. Let’s take a look at what these benefits are.
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Microlearning allows employees to learn new skills or information in a fraction of the time required by traditional training methods. With short, focused sessions, learners can fit microlearning into their busy schedules without disrupting their workflow.
Shorter learning sessions are more likely to keep learners engaged and focused. By presenting information in small, easily digestible chunks, microlearning caters to the modern learner's preference for shorter, more interactive content.
The repetitive nature of microlearning helps reinforce learning and improve knowledge retention. By revisiting information over time, learners are better able to retain and recall important concepts.
Microlearning is compatible with mobile devices, allowing learners to access training materials anytime, anywhere. This flexibility enables on-the-go learning, making it convenient for employees to engage with content whenever it suits them.
Microlearning accommodates different learning styles and paces, allowing employees to learn at their own speed. Whether they need to review a certain concept multiple times or breeze through content quickly, microlearning caters to individual preferences.
Microlearning content can be tailored to meet the specific needs and interests of individual learners. By focusing on relevant topics and skills, organizations can deliver more personalized learning experiences that resonate with employees.
Let’s now take a look at examples of microlearning, which, when incorporated into training programs, can help organizations create engaging and effective learning experiences, designed to cater to specific learning needs.
Microcopy refers to concise and targeted messages strategically placed within an interface to guide users and aid their learning process. These messages are designed to provide instant assistance, clarification, or direction, enhancing the user experience and facilitating learning in the context of a specific task or interaction.
Examples of microcopy in action include:
By leveraging microcopy effectively, organizations can streamline user interactions, reduce confusion, and support learning in real-time, ultimately improving user engagement and satisfaction.
Microlearning videos are short, focused video clips that deliver specific learning outcomes in a brief and easily digestible format. These videos typically range from a few seconds to a few minutes in length and are designed to convey key information or concepts quickly and efficiently.
Examples of microlearning videos include:
By incorporating microlearning videos into their training programs, organizations can captivate learners' attention, simplify complex concepts, and enhance knowledge retention through visual and auditory stimuli.
Microlearning apps are mobile applications specifically designed to deliver bite-sized lessons and learning resources to users on-the-go. These apps offer convenient access to educational content anytime, anywhere, allowing learners to engage with short, focused lessons whenever they have a few minutes to spare.
Examples of microlearning apps include:
By leveraging microlearning apps, organizations can empower learners to take control of their own learning journey, providing them with convenient access to educational resources that fit seamlessly into their busy lives.
Micro-challenges and games are gamified learning experiences designed to engage and motivate learners through interactive quizzes, challenges, and rewards. These activities encourage active participation and provide learners with immediate feedback, making the learning process more enjoyable and effective.
Examples of micro-challenges and games include:
By incorporating micro-challenges and games into their training programs, organizations can enhance learner engagement, motivation, and retention, ultimately driving better learning outcomes.
Infographics are visual representations of information, data, or knowledge designed to communicate complex ideas quickly and clearly. These visual aids use a combination of text, graphics, and illustrations to present information in a visually appealing and easy-to-understand format.
Examples of infographics in microlearning include:
By incorporating infographics into their training materials, organizations can enhance visual literacy, improve information retention, and make learning more engaging and accessible for learners of all backgrounds and learning styles.
Social media platforms can serve as valuable channels for delivering microlearning content and fostering informal learning experiences. By sharing short, focused learning nuggets on platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, and Reddit, organizations can engage learners and encourage knowledge sharing and collaboration in a social setting.
Examples of microlearning on social media include:
By leveraging social media for microlearning, organizations can tap into the power of social networks to connect learners, facilitate knowledge exchange, and create a vibrant learning community that extends beyond the barriers of traditional training programs.
Finally, here are some microlearning best practices that ought to make implementing this revolutionary training methodology easier.
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Determining when microlearning is appropriate for your training needs involves considering several factors.
By carefully evaluating these factors, you can determine whether microlearning is the right approach for your training needs and goals.
Repurposing existing training materials is a cost-effective way to create microlearning content. By breaking down longer courses, presentations, or documents into smaller segments, you can leverage existing resources to create bite-sized learning experiences.
By repurposing existing content for microlearning, you can maximize the value of your training materials and provide learners with convenient and accessible learning experiences.
Gamification can enhance engagement and motivation in microlearning courses by adding game elements such as challenges, rewards, and competition.
By incorporating gamification into your microlearning courses, you can make learning more fun and engaging, ultimately improving knowledge retention and learning outcomes.
Interactive assets, such as videos, quizzes, and simulations, can enhance learning by providing learners with opportunities to actively engage with the content.
By incorporating interactive assets into your microlearning courses, you can create dynamic and engaging learning experiences that cater to diverse learning styles and preferences.
Ensuring that microlearning content is accessible on all devices is essential to accommodate learners' preferences and ensure that they can access the training materials anytime, anywhere.
By ensuring that microlearning content is accessible on all devices, you can provide learners with a seamless and convenient learning experience that fits their individual needs and preferences.
Fostering discussion and knowledge sharing among learners can enhance the effectiveness of microlearning courses by providing opportunities for peer learning and collaboration.
By encouraging social and collaborative learning, you can create a supportive and engaging learning community that enhances the learning experience and fosters continuous improvement and growth.
Irrespective of whether you’re a start-up or a large enterprise with thousands of employees, training and upskilling are always going to be essential functions in your organization. And microlearning is, without a doubt, among the most efficient and cost effective approaches to achieve your organizational training goals.
We at UJJI realize the potential of microlearning, and have been helping businesses embrace its power for more than 4 years now.
Our expertise lies in transforming training modules by using the power of AI to create gamified, easy to self-consume microlearning pathways. We could easily convert your existing training modules, or create brand new training pathways using the same approach.
The creation of microlearning pathways is not limited by subject matter, so rest assured that we can create these gamified, AI-powered training solutions for you irrespective of your industry.
Since our microlearning pathways are interactive and easy to self-consume, you will find that your staff can upskill themselves without active mentoring and without wasting precious time during your most productive hours.
The creation of these pathways is also not necessarily a recurring cost, making it cost effective as well.
Want to learn how you can join UJJI’s growing family of satisfied clients? Book a meeting with our team today!
