The concept of micro-learning is becoming more popular in corporate circles. The base of this form of learning lies in essentially making huge amounts of content smaller.
For example, typical corporate learning requires attending full-day training sessions to learn basic business concepts. With micro-learning, the content is broken down into info-graphics, videos or mini activities which would explain the same concept within a fraction of that time.
This allows people to learn detailed concepts in the shortest amount of time without losing their productivity. Since the material is concentrated, it is easy to understand and retain. Instead of waiting hours or days to get irrelevant information, they have the necessary information required to apply what they learn.
With that, they are able to master the skill much quicker and at their own pace and comfort. This is what makes microlearning even more effective.
When it comes to microlearning, content is not distributed in a typical manner. Here are some microlearning content examples:
Videos are a great way to explain processes and concepts within a few minutes. These videos could include infographics, animations, and other visual aids. This is especially beneficial for explaining concepts that can’t be explained in classroom settings. People can also rewind and watch as many times as they want or come back to it if they ever feel the need to.
The key is to make the videos short. I found no more than 7 min is a good length.
Info-graphics refers to static visuals that consist of condensed complex ideas explained with text and graphics. They usually consist of facts, statistics, concise bullets, trends, etc., that represent the key information.
A favourite of mine, Mini/Micro games are an example of micro-learning is best suited for kinesthetic learners with short attention spans. They are engaging and require a high level of interactivity. They can also be fun and immersive and allow you to integrate spaced repetition. This way, the key concepts could be reinforced in different forms in a short amount of time.
Animations have become quite popular. You can use this technique to help explain difficult concepts quickly.
And of course, simulations. Used in the army, medicine, and various other technical fields, simulations are regarded as one of the most effective ways of learning. They allow learners to face the challenge without the consequences or responsibility of failing. The core strength in simulations is that they recreate a learner’s on-the-job environment. This way, the learners can learn through experience. They can also redo the simulation as many times as they want to get a handle on the concept.
Campbell Craig 