So if you’re an HR manager or a learning and development manager, I know what you’re thinking: Isn’t Microlearning just another buzz word? Well, no, actually! Microlearning is a tried and tested method to educate learners efficiently in corporate elearning.
But people out there seem to still confuse MicroLearning for inadequate or simplistic training. Some see it as a way to speed up development or take L&D shortcuts. It’s actually none of those things.
An HR manager, a trainer or an L&D manager is still going to need to commit to a long term training philosophy for their employees, but with software, you can make the process easier and much more effective.
Micro learning is effective because it’s brief. We learn more when something has our attention, but when it’s drawn out, and too long, we start daydreaming about something else and the learning stops.
Micro learning is effective because we leave learners to their own devices, they are independent to choose when and where they decide to take the next step into their subject and delve deeper.
It’s effective because it can be a lot more varied and interactive than a traditional long, boring course, especially if it’s done with video! You can think of ways to spice things up by changing the tone or the style of every module.
But above all, and this is my favourite benefit of Microlearning, it’s digestible. The bite-sized nature of microlearning makes it much easier for the brain to process or “digest”, as well as retain information. Humans have short attention spans, which are getting shorter at a fast rate. So we have to adapt to that. Small chunks of focused information has always been the optimal way for humans to learn, and microlearning does exactly that.
So the big question for HR managers can be – can microlearning lead to a behaviour change? This is afterall the purpose behind any sort of training, be it eLearning or traditional. The answer is yes it can, if it’s designed correctly. If you provide your learners with a clear learning pathway and a series of short, digestible modules that are building towards a bigger outcome, then it will be far more likely for your employees to learn, and evolve. Especially, if they are non-desk employees, and I’ll end with this. Microlearning is perfect for people who cannot afford to sit for hours on end, in front of a screen reading or watching training videos. People who work in hospitality, catering or retail need a better way to learn, a way that fits in with their day-to-day routine and lifestyle.
Did you find this post about MicroLearning helpful? If you think we left anything out tweet us @innformapp and let us know what other benefits you’ve found in MicroLearning and any other form of online training.