Microlearning is a learning delivery methodology and strategy that divides online training material into brief informational snippets. Most people find it challenging and overwhelming to absorb a lot of knowledge within a single eLearning session. It strains both their schedules and their ability to pay attention. This is why using microlearning to distribute your learning programs and instructional content is a good idea. You can deliver and distribute these eLearning modules and activities to your customers, employees, and partners with your learning management system.Â
Now that we understand what is microlearning and its importance, let’s look at some best practices of micro-learning that will help you create an effective and interesting online training program.Â
1. Adopt A Mobile-First Approach
Your learners can learn more effectively and with better engagement rates when microlearning training materials are delivered via mobile platforms. Since most people now use their smartphones to access information, when you provide microlearning on a mobile device, your learners can study anytime inspiration strikes or while on the go, for example, during their work commute.
2. Make Use Of Relevant Images And Media
Even if it’s only for a few minutes, grabbing and holding a reader’s attention is a big challenge. Long blocks of text are difficult to memorize and take a long time to read. Therefore, you must construct the content with other components like videos, images, animations, etc. These components can aid in better and quicker information processing and retention for learners.
3. Set A Content Schedule
Employees are often ready to read new content, and new hires are keen to learn about their new position and the organization when they start. But when all the knowledge is consumed in one go, there is a chance it won’t be remembered for long. In contrast, it’s critical to maintain momentum and maximize information transfer from microlearning materials using time-released content that’s made accessible to learners regularly.
4. Emphasize One Concept Per Module
You have roughly three to five minutes in microlearning courses to have an effect on your learner that results in a noticeable behavior change. So, decide on your content carefully. Select just one concept per module and explain that concept in enough detail to make a significant difference. Avoid attempting to fit all of the available content into a single module.Â
5. Employ Gamification To Create Engaging Content
Microlearning content can be made more interesting with gamification. Your learners will be encouraged to acquire more prizes, complete more game challenges, and remain engaged in the training material through game components like scores, levels, badges, and leaderboards. It will increase learner engagement with the material and the course completion rates.
Thanks to this microlearning and gamification mix, your learners will become more inclined to learn a new skill when they have the time or want to take a moment away from their hectic schedules.
6. Make It Entertaining
When individuals are having fun at work, they generally perform better. If the microlearning content is interesting, it can boost engagement, participation, and information retention. Dry subjects can be made more interesting by using humor and lightheartedness. It makes learning more fun overall and encourages repetition. Instructors should also foster a friendly, cooperative learning environment to make the subjects more enjoyable.
7. Create Individualize Learning Paths
When it concerns eLearning, a one-size-fits-all strategy should be avoided. Instead, your microlearning modules should support the unique requirements of your learners. Your learners should receive information and acquire skills in accordance with their job role or particular learning requirements. To achieve this, you can set up learning paths in your LMS to automatically enroll learners in the most appropriate courses.
8. Adopt A Storytelling Format
Nothing attracts attention like a compelling, well-written story. Stories are enticing because they emotionally engage the audience, take them on a journey, and highlight significant turning points along the route.
In training, stories can take the shape of real-world examples illustrating the advantages of a specific good or service or the practical applications of a topic. Additionally, you can increase the story’s impact by including relevant photos and visuals, audio narration, and background music in your modules.
9. Use Multiple Learning Mediums
There are four different learning styles, according to psychology: visual, auditory, textual, and kinesthetic learning. Create content utilizing a variety of formats and components, including text, audio, video, and graphics, to maximize the benefits of your microlearning content. It makes the learning experience more engaging for a bigger audience by providing learners access to content suited to their attention spans.
10. Check For Multi-Device Compatibility
Your microlearning modules must work across a range of platforms. Use responsive design to ensure your course works on any device, no matter its size, operating system, or software. Responsive design is a valuable tactic that helps create mobile-friendly online training materials and provides your learners with unparalleled flexibility.
11. Include Links To Resources
Microlearning videos can be used independently without requiring a detailed explanation, or you can wrap them in a series of related videos. However, you must include helpful links at some point in the video’s conclusion to allow for self-paced learning. For instance, one of your learners might want to learn more about the procedure discussed in the microlearning video. They can click on the simulation or demo links for real-life examples.
Additionally, adding links to resources raises awareness of less well-known resources or support materials that employees might be unaware of. You can encourage them to explore more information on a topic by recommending the resources they haven’t yet looked into.
Conclusion
It is widely believed that microlearning will dominate eLearning in the future. Learners today struggle to find the time to learn, and their attention spans are short. Thus, microlearning is a fantastic approach to give them quick, bite-sized content that they can access and absorb anywhere, at any time.
Consider incorporating the best practice of microlearning mentioned above as part of your L&D plan to get the most out of workplace training and significantly improve employee performance.
