What is Microlearning?

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.

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.

Benefits of Microlearning

There are also several benefits of microlearning that are most definitely worth it, including in your company’s e-learning strategy.

Here are the seven main advantages of micro-learning:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.