Microlearning – Increasing Learning Engagement And Retention

Microlearning is being touted as the game-changer in the eLearning industry, and with the information provided above, it is not surprising at all. Microlearning is not only here to stay but is the way forward as well.

Microlearning refers to a teaching technique that involves delivering content to the learners in small and specific bursts. The ideal duration of microlearning resources can vary from a few seconds to up to seven minutes, as this technique is designed to achieve a specific learning outcome. In order to capture the complete attention of the learner, Microlearning resources are delivered in rich media formats that can be accessed on any device. This facilitates just-in-time training across multiple devices, as the need arises.

Some of the most popular forms of micro-learning resources include videos, infographics, gamified challenges, audio snippets, and quick quizzes. The use of these resources enables the learners to actively access the resources, complete the training, and learn to apply the knowledge in practical situations.

The Need For Microlearning

The need for Microlearning has achieved significant importance in present times. This is due to the fact that many training programs are found to be boring and useless by more than 40% of the learners, as revealed during a study by Capgemini. The same study reveals that more than 55% of organizations feel that the digital talent gap is widening, probably due to the inefficiencies of traditional training programs.

Due to the short duration of the content, Microlearning is the best-suited form of learning for online learners, most of them millennials, who actually do not have much time to spare for training and learning. A report from Deloitte states that learners only have time to dedicate 1% of their working week for professional development. In such a situation, Microlearning is the only way forward for organizations to augment skill enhancement.

Different Formats Of Microlearning

The availability of multiple learning resources makes Microlearning an interesting option for training and upskilling employees. These resources include:

• Videos: – are useful for all types of learning outcomes but should ideally be under five minutes of duration for the maximum impact.
• Gamification: – Simplesingle-screen games to help understand key concepts in a simple and fun way.
• Quizzes: – Ideal for revision of lessons as well as a knowledge assessment of the learners.
• Audio: – Exceptionally beneficial to learn a new language or improve communication skills.
• Infographics: – They are extremely useful in presenting data and research in a reader-friendly manner.
• Text: – Suitable for presenting summaries of key concepts or act as a cheat-sheet.

Benefits of Microlearning

Microlearning delivers noteworthy benefits, both for the individuals as well as for the organization as a whole. Here are some of the key advantages that are available with Microlearning: –

Higher retention rates: – As per the forgetting curve described by Hermann Ebbinghaus, learners forget up to 80% of the content in 30 days. This renders traditional forms of learning as a resource-draining and time-intensive exercise with minimal benefits in the long run. Microlearning, with its unique methodology, supplements formal training and extends the lifespan of the information learned by the learner. Microlearning helps to move the newly learned information from working memory to long-term memory.

Engaging learning content: – The objective of each microlearning resource is to achieve a specific outcome. It is achieved by stimulating the cognitive abilities of the learner with the help of engaging learning content. Engaging learning resources such as videos, infographics or simple games delivered through Microlearning facilitates self-paced learning. Instead of struggling to keep up with the pace of the entire group, the learner can engage with the content and learn at his/her own pace.

Active participation of learners: – Companies spend a considerable amount of resources on the development of online learning resources. But traditional online resources suffer from low completion rates. But this does not apply to Microlearning. A report from Axonify establishes that 74% of learners engage in microlearning sessions voluntarily. Moreover, when Microlearning resources are made available on mobile devices, the training frequency increases by a whopping 42%.

Microlearning is being touted as the game-changer in the eLearning industry, and with the information provided above, it is not surprising at all. Microlearning is not only here to stay but is the way forward as well.