Long hours of training and lectures can get very heavy on your brain. After a point, you stop comprehending anything and it can feel like random words are being thrown at your face. But if you presented the same material in smaller chunks, do you think you will retain that information better? Yes! That is what microlearning does.
Microlearning is a learning approach that presents bite-sized bits of course content that can be finished in a matter of minutes. Microlearning modules should be created on reliable eLearning software like Cloud Academy. It can be built from any sort of internet content, including video courses, audio podcasts, presentations, scenarios, and tests. It proves to be a training paradigm that is almost ideal for today’s fast-paced world, where people have short attention spans and busy schedules. In addition to that, it can be put to a variety of different training uses, like onboarding new employees, training for compliance, and skill development.
Here are a few more benefits that microlearning brings with it:
- Improves retention of learning
Learning involves absorption and reflection of processed material for it to build into new knowledge or skill. Employees are likely to remember new information if they get immediate time to reflect on the information received. Microlearning is a great way to fight the Forgetting Curve because it lets you quickly make training activities and tests that are focused, easy to remember, and help to reinforce knowledge. Your brain is less likely to get tired with this approach because it makes you focus on learning one thing quickly and then take a break. A pattern of learning activities spaced out over time helps us store new information in our short-term and long-term memories. This is how we learn new things.
- Reduces cognitive overload
Employees can get small bits of information instead of having to take in a lot of it all at once. This keeps them from having too much to think about so they can learn and remember the most important things. They can learn the skills and information they need to solve the problem at hand and then move on to the next one. Microlearning doesn’t put too much information in the working memory, which can only hold a certain amount. So, the brain can process the information and link it to what it already knows.
- Increased engagement
Microlearning involves only relevant and important information so that no time is wasted on non-essential activities. It works in alignment with how our brain absorbs information. So, employees are able to get the information they are looking for, quickly and effectively. Because of this, learners are able to solve problems, get around problems, and learn more. This means that they are more interested and motivated because the online microlearning training is useful in the real world. It also takes into account that people have short attention spans. This keeps employees from getting bored because it uses catchy methods of learning and keeps distractions to a minimum.
- Promotes a culture of learning
A learning culture can be seen as a set of values and practices in an organization that makes it easy for people to keep learning and getting better at their jobs while continuing to work. Organizations that have a strong culture of learning encourage their employees to keep learning and share what they know with their peers. It also, eventually, shows in their performance.
A strong learning culture is reflected by how often employees learn new things with the intention to better their skills and knowledge. Microlearning promotes it by being an easy and on-the-go approach to learning. It only takes a few minutes, which means, one does not have to take hours off from work to learn. Additionally, repetitive patterns help people retain their new knowledge. As more employees will learn through microlearning, they will keep motivating others to join them too.
- It is globally efficient
Some of the most creative ways we’ve seen people use microlearning are in places where people have a lot of mobile phones but not a lot of other traditional educational resources. Microlearning through mobile phones is often the only way for workers on the field to train quickly and cheaply.
Because micro-courses are short and take up only one topic at a time, workers can quickly learn and get back to work, ready to use what they’ve learned on the task at hand.
While there might also be downsides to microlearning, it has been constantly effective for many training programs. Its approach is unique and makes the lives of working learners easier. If you are keen on getting your employees to learn more and in lesser time, you can give microlearning a try.
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