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Why Microlearning Is The Game-Changer For Online Training?

Microlearning

“Microlearning” is a new buzzword in the corporate world. Microlearning has paved the way for quick and just-in-time learning. It follows a learner-centric approach where the eLearning content is created in such a way that it can be easily absorbed by the employees. 

In microlearning, the eLearning content is broken down into small chunks. These chunks can be easily digested and assimilated by the employees, thus promoting healthy and convenient learning. 

Today, microlearning is considered to be a game-changer for online training. In this article, we will dig deeper and find out the major factors that are propelling microlearning to alter the eLearning landscape.

A) For Employees

  • It supports millennial’s way of learning

Today and in the near future millennials are going to dominate the workforce. These millennials’ needs and wants are completely different from the employees of the previous generation. 

For instance, the previous generation of employees was comfortable with pen paper-based learning and molded themselves the way organizations expected them to be. But the modern generation isn’t like that. They want to learn on the go, which offers convenience and comfort. This generation displays a short attention span, is prone to get distracted easily, is impatient, and stresses out frequently. 

Microlearning addresses the millennial generation’s problems and fulfills their expectations. For instance, the eLearning course on “Ways to develop leadership skills” can be divided into smaller modules that can be accessed while the employee is on the move. Since millennials have shorter attention spans, lengthy eLearning courses and content can discourage them to complete the course. 

  • Productive use of spare time

You must understand that employees are not always in the mood to learn. There may be days when their energy levels are really high, while on some days they may feel lethargic. There may be days when they’ve got a lot of free time and are keen to learn, but even then, lengthy PDFs and long videos might prevent them from learning. 

The best part about microlearning is that it offers great flexibility to employees. During their spare time, they can easily access eLearning content. They can read while commuting, watch videos during lunch, listen to podcasts while cooking, and learn anytime during the day.

A mobile device like a smartphone has penetrated every corner of the world. That small 6-inch device easily fits into your pocket and is your all-day partner. From phone calls to texting, sharing memes, and uploading pictures on social media platforms, the smartphone makes your life easier and happening. 

Did you know that mobile phones can help you train employees? Mobile learning is a new normal in the eLearning industry. Marrying microlearning with mobile learning can help you step up your training program. 

  • Spending less time on learning

There was a time when employees had to sit for long hours to study for their training programs. Extra assignments, lengthy projects, and frequent assessments further increased their burden. Also, managing training and work simultaneously was overwhelming. 

But microlearning has changed how employees are trained. Now that all the eLearning content and courses are packed into smaller modules, employees can freely and easily access the materials. 

The shorter the length, the less will be the time taken to complete the training. For instance, a mini PDF of 10 pages that has all the information to the point can be completed faster than a PDF that has 100 pages. 

  • Focused and to the point content

Often organizations think that supplying employees with tons of information can help them learn new things and boost their knowledge. But sometimes, it opposite. No doubt employees wish to learn new things, but bombarding them with too much information, which is of no practical use, can deter them from learning. If supplying information is important, then the quality of information also matters. 

Microlearning is very beneficial for employees. Since the size of the content is squeezed down, employees get to learn relevant and useful information. Also, a smaller size increases the engagement levels of employees because they know a particular topic can be completed in less time.

  • Increased retention level

We all have been through that situation when we had to finish reading several books for training assessments. During the assessment, it was difficult to recall the topics, and hence, we ended up scoring poorly. 

The human brain cannot process and absorb everything. When the brain is introduced to so much jargon and new information, it takes time to comprehend the information. However, if the same information is provided in small bits, it becomes quite easy for the brain to process information.

Microlearning is the best way to train your employees because it can increase their retention levels. Since humans have short attention spans, bite-sized information can easily be consumed and retained by them for long periods.

B) For eLearning professionals

  • Lesser time to develop eLearning courses

Ask an eLearning professional what it takes to develop engaging and informative eLearning courses and content. While preparing the content and courses, they’ve to refer to multiple journals, texts, and other resources to extract and use the best possible information. The time taken in content and course creation depends on the size of the information required. If eLearning professionals get busy developing eLearning material, how will they focus on training employees?

Microlearning is of great use to eLearning professionals. Since they’re required to build micro-courses and micro-content, they can find time for training employees and addressing their queries. 

  • Allows them to bring changes quickly and easily

Today, we’re living in an information age. The information keeps changing every day with new research and discoveries. Every organization expects to keep its employees updated with the latest information so that they can be aware of what’s going on around them and what they need to do. 

Remember, the eLearning courses and materials need a quick refresh at some point. You can’t just keep feeding them with the same old information. For instance, the concept of sales, training, and marketing products has undergone a huge shift. Now, to market your products you need to engage with the audience on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, and to sell your products to the clients, you need to learn new tactics. 

Microlearning allows eLearning professionals to bring new changes in the eLearning courses and content quickly and easily. They simply need to inject only relevant and key information into the existing resources without the need to change them completely. 

  • Spending more time training employees

Organizations that follow a microlearning approach get more time to spend with the employees. Since the content and course development time is reduced, they can focus more on core operations. 

eLearning professionals can give more time to employees and take up online training classes, and devote separate time to discussing important topics with them. 

  • Reduce grading time

The most difficult part of the job for an eLearning professional is perhaps grading piles of papers lying on the desk. But what if the whole system of assessing or grading employees was automated?

A learning management system that deploys short modules can be of great help to eLearning professionals as it reduces the grading time. eLearning professionals can easily figure out who’s scoring more, who’s struggling, and who needs more attention. 

Conclusion

Microlearning is a game-changer and can help you train employees effectively. It’s useful for employees who have tight schedules and want just-in-time training support. Microlearning boosts the engagement and retention rate of employees and pushes them towards excellence. It’s a cost-effective deal for the organization, too, as they’ve to create bite-sized information. 

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