7 Features Of Corporate Microlearning: Who Is It Good For?
But what is it about microlearning that makes it a favorite among corporate learners? In this article, we’ll discuss those features which make microlearning a class apart, in addition to determining which type of employees does it work best for.
1. Brevity
Microlearning gets its name from the fact that the modules created using this method are concise, with no place for any irrelevant content or material, which target solely on a single learning objective. This helps learners get right to the point and absorb only what is required. These specific and to-the-point modules engage learners better than other approaches, allowing them to retain knowledge easily.
2. Independence
A microlearning module is independent of any other modules in the course, being self-sufficient even if taken by itself. It does not require access to any other eLearning modules. Thus each module imparts a specific skill or quality to the learner, and regardless of the fact whether the learner attempts other modules in the course or not, they go away having learned something from every single microlearning module. For the sake of learning, however, it is best that learners attempt all modules in a course.
3. Promptness
Microlearning is perfect when learners need Just-In-Time learning. For example, imagine that a group of employees need to learn a skill just before an important meeting. No worries! They just take a 5-minute module on the said skill, and voila! They are good to go! Because microlearning is available on-demand and requires a very small amount of time to take, it can also be used to revise skills as and when needed.
4. Variety
Microlearning modules come in a number of varieties, however, unlike lengthy eLearning courses which contain a number of different learning strategies and tools, a microlearning module usually focuses on one. This may include microlearning modules built around short videos, podcasts, flashcards, mini-quizzes, infographics, interactive PDFs, or small nuggets of information via email. This varies learning experiences and increases learner interest.
5. Interactivity
Having said that those microlearning modules are short, doesn’t mean that they aren’t interactive. Microlearning modules are usually wholly interactive from start to finish so that the learners stay involved and easily engage with them. There are usually simulations, clickable activities or drag-and-drop activities galore in most microlearning (but not so much to the point of being repetitive or boring).
6. Portability
Microlearning modules, like most eLearning modules these days can be easily accessed on multiple devices such as smartphones, tablets, laptops, and PCs. Microlearning modules are created on HTML5 (or converted to the format), which makes it adaptive, responsive, and mobile-friendly. This is great when learners want to learn on-the-go, anytime, anywhere. Learners can easily learn a lot of course material when they travel to their office and back. It is truly a learning strategy fit for the dynamic world we live in, facilitating convenience and flexibility for learners.
7. Digestibility
Microlearning is often also called “bite-sized learning”. The reason behind this is the fact that shorter, more-focused information is much easier for the brain to process or “digest”, as well as retain. Humans have short attention spans, which are getting shorter at an alarming rate. Small chunks of focused information have always been the optimal way for humans to learn, and microlearning banks on exactly that.
Who Is Corporate Microlearning For?
Although microlearning works for all kinds of employees/learners, it has been found most effective for desk-less workers, i.e. employees who don’t have desk jobs and are always on the move or in the field. Industries with the highest percentage of such employees include retail, manufacturing, and logistics, as well as finance and insurance. These employees cannot be expected to sit in front of a computer in their respective offices and take lengthy eLearning courses, but with microlearning, they don’t need to. The eLearning courses are brought to them.
