If the learners of your training program find it difficult to understand then allowing them to learn in small parts can be a good approach.
This bite-sized learning method is known as Microlearning. In this write-up, you will know this new learning concept and its pros and cons more closely.
What Is Microlearning And Why You Need It?
Microlearning is a sibling of regular learning that can keep the learners more engaged and can be produced inexpensively in a shorter time.
It is wonderfully effective for commercial and corporate training but not for any kind of training program.
The information provided here under will help you to know microlearning more precisely.
Basics Of Microlearning
Though no official definition of microlearning is available still Brevity is the main feature used by almost all the training programs based on microlearning.
The meaning of brevity can either be short-term learning programs or learning in small units. In other words, the learners get the learning content in small parts in microlearning to make it easier for the learners.
This content can be in the form of text or interactive content on multimedia but it has to be short. For instance, text content can be in short paragraphs and phrases, images can be in the form of illustrations and photos, audios may include short pieces of music or speeches, and videos can be of shorter lengths. It can also include games, tests, and quizzes to make things more interesting for the learners.
However, you should also keep in mind that all these options of the content may not be supported by all the microlearning applications. So, while opting for a microlearning program you must check whether it fulfills your requirements or not.
Microlearning is not a new concept even if it has gained popularity during the last few years. This unique learning program existed even before the evolution of computers. But it gained popularity after the introduction of Smartphones to the masses. It has introduced the platform of microlearning as the educational counterpart of social media platforms like Instagram and Twitter etc.
In this way, microlearning is an almost perfect model of training in today’s era of short time to understand and busy work schedules. Skills training as well as compliance training for employees are some of the examples of microlearning.
Benefits Of Microlearning
MORE AFFORDABLE LEARNING: It is very inexpensive to produce a microlearning program. A few instructors can produce the content of microlearning by using a few resources and without using specific tools
FAST TO DELIVER: The time of delivering short courses can also be short as they have to focus on fewer things. Tens of the units of a course can be created within an hour. It allows them to change the training program as per the changing conditions in a business.
MORE ENGAGING: The methods of training provided in the microlearning program are more engaging for the learners. As compared to serious training in regular training program checking on Smartphones can be more interesting for them.
FLEXIBILITY: One can easily cover up the regular courses of eLearning through small-sized learning programs of microlearning. These courses can be created with a broader outlook either for complex topics or for one subject only.
MORE FREEDOM FOR LEARNERS: For studying short training programs courses with heavy texts are not ideal like in regular training programs. Casual learning in the microlearning program can be more joyful for the learners as can spare some time for other important works also. Moreover, they can learn offline later on by downloading the program.
IMPROVE THE ABILITY TO RETAIN KNOWLEDGE: Various studies have proved that you can retain knowledge in a better way when you can revise it repeatedly. The Microlearning program makes it easier to study repeatedly due to the small size of courses.
Drawbacks Of Microlearning
NOT SUITABLE FOR IN-DEPTH TRAINING: Microlearning cannot be the best option to teach a subject that needs to study deeply. Suppose you use microlearning for learning German for conversation then it will be right but for learning literature in the German language it is not suitable. However, it can be suitable for short term courses for business training programs.
NOT SUITABLE FOR STUDYING COMPLICATED CONCEPTS: Though microlearning makes it easy to understand any concept, if the concept is complicated then a short learning program may not be suitable for it. Though you can use it for understanding complex things also, it may take more time to complete a concept as you will have to divide it into smaller parts.
Best Practices To Use Microlearning
A course in microlearning can be created as well as delivered faster than traditional courses but to make it possible you will have to follow the best practice discussed here under.
CREATE FOCUSED CONTENT: Instead of copy-pasting the content of regular eLearning program, you will have to write a focused but short content so that it can have the soul of the concept you want to teach the learners.
CHOOSE THE RIGHT CONTENT FOR YOUR LEARNERS: You should not use microlearning for teaching a complicated content that needs in-person training or in-depth study. However, you can use it as a method of supplementary training in such cases.
IMPROVE ENGAGEMENT BY USING ELEMENTS OF GAMES: You should add a few elements of games to make your microlearning program more engaging if it supports this aspect. Sometimes, the elements of games are also used in regular eLearning programs to make them more interesting for the learners.
SPICE UP THE THING BY USING MULTIMEDIA: You can include the elements of multimedia including photos, illustrations, animations, and videos while teaching text in microlearning to make it more interesting for the learners otherwise it can bore them very quickly. The multimedia elements you choose should be related to their subject.
ASSESS PROGRESS THROUGH MICRO-ASSESSMENTS: The micro-assessments with the help of short quizzes and mini-tests can help the instructors to assess the progress of their learners. It will make it easy to achieve the goals of microlearning.
So, when you know basic things about Microlearning and want to use it for your learners then it will be better for you to understand it completely before using it. It will help you to use it more fruitfully.
