As modern workplaces become busier and increasingly reliant on technology, our attention spans are growing shorter. In fact, the average human attention span is now shorter than a goldfish’s! As a result, many of us are seeking out content that is brief and easily digestible in both our professional and personal lives.
For businesses, this creates the dilemma of how to keep employees engaged while delivering the necessary training for them to develop and thrive. For this reason, organisations are increasingly opting for microlearning solutions to meet their training needs.
Microlearning offers an efficient, engaging and cost-effective alternative to traditional training methods which can improve employee focus and long-term retention by up to 80%!
What is microlearning?
Microlearning is a scientifically proven training method that breaks learning content down into manageable chunks and delivers learning in short bursts that learners can engage with at their own convenience. Often, microlearning is associated with the development of e-learning technology, which has made accessing microlearning tools more convenient for learners, and offers businesses a functional method of delivering microtraining.
Microlearning content can be presented in many different formats such as text, video, audio, quizzes and games – but the key is keeping content delivery short and memorable!
What are the benefits of microlearning?
1. Fast delivery
Microlearning is an ideal training solution for modern, fast-paced working environments. Bite-sized learning means shorter delivery times, allowing employees to undertake self-directed learning that doesn’t disrupt their work schedule.
2. Cost effective
Microlearning courses have much lower production costs. The focused structure of microlearning requires fewer resources to implement and, combined with an e-learning model, can also offer the cost-saving benefits of electronic delivery.
3. Quick results
Microlearning can improve on-the-job training by offering training just when employees need it. It allows learners to identify and address knowledge gaps more quickly, offering immediate performance results and employee development.
4. Engagement
Research has shown that microlearning engages learners more than other learning formats by making content more memorable and easy to digest. By removing non-essential information and simply focusing on what learners need to know at that time, microlearning helps keep employees focused and engaged. According to some studies, microlearning can increase employee engagement by up to 80%.
5. Knowledge retention
Microlearning naturally links up with the ways in which our brains retain information, using cognitive techniques such as Spaced Repetition to boost retention by exposing learners to smaller chunks of information at repeated intervals. Microlearning ensures that employees are remembering important information, and constantly developing and retaining knowledge.
How to effectively implement microlearning
To get the most out of microlearning, it is important that it is implemented correctly and in a way that works for your business. Here are some easy steps to help you get moving with microlearning!
1. Identify your organisation’s training needs
As with introducing any effective training programme, before you implement a microlearning strategy it is key to analyse your business needs and identify areas where there are skills gaps, as well as why microlearning is the right solution to address them.
2. Review your existing content
Start by taking a look at your existing training materials. For microlearning to be effective, the information you use must be up to date, relevant and focused. Ask yourself if your current learning materials are suitable for converting to a bite-sized microlearning format. If not, there are many external training providers who can either adapt your training materials to suit your microlearning needs or provide you with an off-the-shelf solution!
Remember, if you’re thinking of creating your own microlearning content, always keep the fundamental principles in mind: brevity, focus and variety.
3. Choose a suitable delivery method
Microlearning is typically associated with e-learning, which offers advantages such as self-directed learning, accessibility anytime and gamification features. However, it’s important to do your research and make sure the delivery option you select is the right fit for your business.
4. Monitor & review performance
Microlearning is a model naturally well suited to performance analytics. Use this to your advantage to track employee performance and development, identify and address any knowledge gaps as they arise, and identify methods for improved delivery and performance.
Microlearning can be incorporated within your organisation’s long-term learning goals and existing review processes to ensure consistent learning development over time.
Microlearning is an effective training solution for modern businesses looking to create engaging and effective learning in an era of busier schedules and shorter attention spans, but it is critical that these techniques are delivered in the best way for your business.
Why Wranx?
Wranx is a microlearning platform that utilises Spaced Repetition to improve knowledge retention and engagement.
We take your existing training materials and convert them into e-learning modules and assessments that help to achieve your company’s training goals. Each module is created by a team of content writers, giving you a unique training programme that uses Spaced Repetition, gamification and Certainty Based Marking (CBM) to deliver personalised and engaging learning opportunities and accurately measure employee knowledge and progress.
Our digital platform allows training to be completed on any device, at any time.
