Starting a new job can feel overwhelming, especially when faced with a wealth of information to remember. New employee inductions often cover organizational structure, HR procedures, health and safety, equipment overviews, job requirements, training programs, and meetings with colleagues. It’s unrealistic to expect perfect retention of all this data at once. Our brains are not designed to absorb vast amounts of information instantly or recall specific details easily.
Despite this cognitive limitation, induction processes are slow to change. Companies frequently bombard new hires with information, hoping some will stick and filling in gaps later. While this may not be the most effective approach, integrating microlearning and Spaced Repetition techniques can significantly enhance the onboarding experience.
Microlearning breaks down topics into bite-sized pieces, aligning with the brain’s preference for consuming information in manageable segments. For onboarding, microlearning can be delivered to new employees at their workstations or via mobile apps for convenient access.
Building on this, Spaced Repetition involves testing learners on a topic, reinforcing information they struggle to retain and prompting them with content they’ve mastered less frequently. This method is particularly beneficial for onboarding due to the volume and complexity of information involved.
By leveraging microlearning and Spaced Repetition, organizations can enhance their employee onboarding strategies, ensuring comprehensive knowledge retention. These modern approaches can complement traditional classroom-based methods, delivering a well-rounded onboarding experience.
Learn more about how Wranx utilizes spaced repetition learning here.