In the world of elearning, microlearning has become a buzzword. It’s considered a powerful new approach to training the workforce. With the average attention span in North America dropping from 12 seconds in 2000 to 8 seconds in 2015, the demand for shorter, more engaging training is higher than ever!

In this post, our goal is to cover the basics and leave you with an understanding of: What Microlearning is and the benefits it can provide. Throughout this post, we’ll try to give you examples of how to use microlearning in your own training programs.

What is Microlearning?

Microlearning is focused learning that is delivered in bite sized chunks. Since this method of learning provides small bits of knowledge at a time, it’s best used for delivering information that learners need to retain.

Microlearning can be achieved using a number of different delivery methods: emails, online posts and short multimedia videos, are all examples of different ways you can deliver training that is designed for your learners to retain new knowledge and achieve their educational goals.

Examples of Microlearning:

– Watching video tutorials on Youtube

– Receiving small bits of education via email: like Word of the Day from Dictionary.com

– Online learning programs like Duolingo or Lynda

What are the benefits that Microlearning can provide?

1. Avoid the risk of overwhelming learners

Microlearning allows learners to move at their own pace, giving them the ability to go back and review complex concepts as often as needed. Since new knowledge is delivered in smaller chunks, learners avoid the risk of being overwhelmed by too much information at once.

2. Create on-the-go training that can be accessed anywhere, at anytime.

Microlearning can be achieved using a number of different delivery methods. Email, online posts, videos, even tweets because of this training can usually be accessed across multiple devices, making it available on-the-go. Learners can access and review training materials while doing everyday tasks like: waiting for the bus, sitting on the train, or even riding the elevator!

3. Help learners better retain new knowledge

Traditional classroom training often provides little to no long term takeaways for learners. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that 90 percent of new skills are lost within a year of training! Microlearning breaks new knowledge down into short chunks making learning easier to digest, understand, and apply on the job.

Different ways to use Microlearning:

– Health and Safety training

– Learning new software

– Business Processes and Procedures

Microlearning yields many benefits for organizations looking to effectively train their people. Some may say that it’s another way of bringing education into the 21st century and adapting it to our ever-changing learning styles. Whatever the case may be, I think microlearning is more than a buzzword, it’s an effective form of delivering education that’s here to stay! I’m curious to know your thoughts, lets us know in the comments section below.

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