Microlearning involves short, easily digestible content that allows learners to learn on their own terms. It focuses on delivering quick answers to specific questions or issues through granular, up-to-date content. Microlearning can complement other learning methods through preparation, follow-up, short standalone lessons, or job performance support. It offers benefits like low production costs, enhanced learner effectiveness and retention, accessibility anywhere through mobile devices, and immediate application of knowledge on the job. Microlearning is well-suited for millennials and provides a sustainable impact through its focused learning objectives.
2. Micro-learning is a resource-based approach that offers short, fast, simple to create,
and easy to assimilate content while supporting on-the-go learning. Moreover, it is
extremely beneficial for employees as it allows them to learn on their terms in their own
time. This article will explore what is microlearning, discuss its benefits, and review
some examples.
What is microlearning?
Microlearning is one of the most innovative and unique trends in online learning. But
what is micro-learning, and why be interested in it? In short, microlearning is an
approach that focuses on resources to garner quick and easily accessible content that
supports on-the-go learning. It gives employees the liberty to learn at their own pace
and according to their priorities. Connie Malamed, a famous visual communication
speaker, defines micro-learning as the ideal way to quickly find the right answers to any
particular issue or question, implying that content must mainly be granular and
up-to-date.
3. Why be interested in it?
Micro-learning is a flexible approach that can significantly complement consumer
learning interventions. According to famous and renowned author and L&D expert
Carla Torgerson, micro-learning can be used as follows:
Preparation/pre-work: everything that precedes long-term education.
Follow-up/Boost Learning: everything that follows long-term teaching.
Short shape: everything that is autonomous.
Performance support: everything that can support professional performance.
4. Benefits of Microlearning
1. Microlearning is quick and easy to implement
You can quickly deploy your micro-learning program. Since the key is to reduce content length as much as
possible, it takes less time to produce it. This tactic is especially true if your company has already set up an
e-learning platform and you are already ready to start publishing highly effective micro-learning. In addition, this
speed gives you more flexibility to meet the company’s changing needs.
To facilitate content maintenance, you can allow experienced employees to create and share their content. This
is called employee-generated learning. Micro-learning is an excellent format for employees to contribute to
e-learning content in a shared knowledge pool.
5. 2. Reduces costs
Since it is built to supply small pieces of fast knowledge, microlearning occurs with very few resources, which is very profitable. Therefore, you will need fewer
trainers, and you will not need to invest in too complex design and tools. This is even more accurate if you prefer employee-generated learning and already
possess an LMS or a creative tool. This is a great benefit as reducing costs can lead to more productivity and room for other factors.
3. Enhances the effectiveness of online learning
Many people might ask themselves, “Is microlearning effective?” when they are first introduced to the topic, and the answer is always yes. E-learning must be
interactive and relevant to be effective. Learners do better when having fun while learning and see it as an enjoyable experience. Micro-learning also allows
children to absorb information quickly and easily, eliminating the time spent finding the information otherwise.
This “quick response” aspect provides learners with a better sense of accomplishment, which makes the learning process more rewarding. They will instinctively
want to learn more because they will feel rewarded for learning in this format.
6. 4. Learn anytime, from anywhere
By putting these little pieces of knowledge your employees need on a mobile learning platform, they can access
them when they need it, no matter where they are and at any time. For example, a seller can quickly review his
product knowledge by meeting a customer, or an overwhelmed developer can support his software skills at
home in the evening.
5. Sustainable impact
Think of all the books you read at school. How many facts or figures can you recall from that time? However, the
chances are that this is only a small percentage. This is because the scope of a manual or long course is so
wide that it is difficult to remember what matters. By focusing on very specific learning objectives, micro-learning
content clearly defines what the learner will learn from the learning experience. For example, the learner will
welcome information much more easily in his memory if it remains concise and keeps it longer.
7. 6. Ideal for millennials
Micro-learning will be assimilated as second nature for young employees who grew up relying on the Internet to quickly
search for knowledge. The fast-paced and data-driven society of the future has an unlimited need for information but a
short duration of attention. No one has time to sit for training hours or flip through entire manuals just to get one or two
useful pieces of information.
We are much more likely to have easy access to concise information that we can use whenever we need it without sifting
through pages of less relevant information. The other advantage is that micro-learning can be adapted to mobile. You will
be able to access information such as quick video tutorials and forums directly through your smart devices or mobile
phones, whenever or wherever you need it.
8. 7. Apply knowledge more easily
The real test to know if you have learned something is when you can apply it on your own. Micro-learning
encourages learning by doing, which is the most effective way to acquire new skills and knowledge. In
addition, micro-learning content focuses on teaching a specific part of knowledge, so it is ideal for
on-the-job visualization while you perform a task.
Imagine that you are a technical support representative who helps a customer fix a software bug by
phone. If you barely know the process or simply need to refresh your memory, you can quickly recover the
information you need to confidently help your customer go through the steps of this process in real-time.
So there you have it. Micro-learning is a great tool, and everyone can benefit from it in many ways. From
reducing costs to saving time to improving learner outcomes, micro-learning ticks all boxes to provide a
better online learning experience