THE RISE OF MICROLEARNING: BITE-SIZED LEARNING

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by distractions like emails demanding attention, meetings springing up, and social media buzzing frantically? In this constant rush, minutes vanish, hours evaporate, and our aspirations for personal growth get pushed aside. Do not worry, you are not alone.

As observed in a 2023 study by the University of Oxford, a startling statistic was revealed: the average attention span of an adult human has shrunk from 12 seconds in 2000 to a measly 8 seconds today. In the contemporary landscape characterized by dispersed focus and an abundance of information, conventional learning methodologies appear similar to employing a high-pressure hose to fill a container riddled with holes. The inherent desire for knowledge persists, yet the very vessels we utilize for its acquisition are demonstrably inadequate. Overcoming these prevalent distractions is the critical step to unlocking and achieving your goals. Let us delve into actionable strategies to reclaim control of your learning journey.

Understanding Microlearning

Microlearning as an emerging theory of learning utilizes web content, with activities of short duration. It offers a new way of designing and organizing learning, like learning in small steps and small units of content, with structure and classification created by the learner. (Kamilali and Sofianopoulou, 2013). Microlearning is related to relatively short efforts and low degrees of time consumption. It deals with small or very small content units and rather narrow topics (Hug, T. and Friesen 2009). The focus of Microlearning is not on hierarchical classification and sequence of courses and modules but on encouraging learners to become active co-producers of content through active social participation (Kerres, 2007). Microlearning is knowledge on the go, designed to fit around your crazy schedule and fuel your brainpower without zapping your precious time.

Microlearning consists of Microcontent and Microlearning Activities. Microcontent is information published in short form. It may be an article on a blog, a post on Facebook or Twitter. Its length is dictated by the constraints of a single main topic and the physical and technical limitations of software and devices (Dash, 2002 in Lindner, 2006). Microlearning activities are short learning experiences for learners while they are working on microcontents. [1]

The Rise of Microlearning

The concept of microlearning spread like wildfire during the Late Middle Ages (AD 1300 to 1500) as reading and writing became more widespread. But it was not until the era of the World Wide Web in the mid-1990s, paired with the rapid growth of social media and the widespread adoption of smartphones, that microlearning was able to reach the masses. Today, the popularity of microlearning as an instructional/training technique has escalated to a global scale and, based on recent estimates, has a promising future. Consider the following statistics:

In a 2017 survey, 79% of organizations were currently using (38%) or planning to begin using (41%) microlearning to support their employees.
In 2018, microlearning accounted for 60.7% of all e-learning.
In 2020, microlearning adoption grew by 40% during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to one prediction, mobile learning will become the microlearning mode of choice by 2025. [4]

These microlearning statistics perfectly sum up:

Microlearning makes the transfer of learning 17% more efficient.
8 out of 10 L&D professionals favor microlearning because their learners prefer it.
Microlearning creates 50% more engagement.
Learning in stretches of 3-7 minutes matches the working memory capacity and attention spans of humans.
Reduces development costs by 50% and increases the speed of development by 300% with micro eLearning courses. [5]

Factors Contributing to the Popularity of Microlearning

Microlearning is rapidly gaining traction in today’s fast-paced world. Its concise and focused modules, ideal for busy schedules are key drivers of its success. This “bite-sized revolution” empowers individuals to learn efficiently, solidifying microlearning’s position as a rising star in the learning landscape. Some factors contributing to its popularity include;

1. Increasing Time Constraints:

Busy professionals and learners: In today’s fast-paced world, individuals have increasingly limited time for learning due to demanding work schedules, personal commitments, and shorter attention spans. Microlearning’s bite-sized format fits perfectly into busy schedules, allowing for learning in small pockets of time throughout the day.
Knowledge on demand: Microlearning modules can be accessed immediately and completed quickly, providing knowledge exactly when needed. Thus, eliminating the need for lengthy training sessions or committing to large blocks of time upfront.

2. Growing Demand for Upskilling and Reskilling:

Rapidly evolving job market: With technological advancements and changing industry demands, the need for continuous learning and skill development is crucial. Microlearning provides a flexible and efficient way to acquire new skills or update existing ones, keeping pace with the evolving job market.
Targeted skill acquisition: Microlearning modules can be focused on specific skills or competencies, allowing learners to address precise knowledge gaps quickly and effectively. This targeted approach is ideal for upskilling or reskilling for new career opportunities.

3. Advancements in Technology and Mobile Learning:

Accessible learning platforms: The proliferation of mobile devices and learning platforms has made microlearning readily available anytime, anywhere. Learners can access bite-sized content on their smartphones, tablets, or laptops, making learning convenient and seamless.
Engaging and interactive formats: Microlearning modules often incorporate multimedia elements like videos, infographics, quizzes, and games, making the learning process more engaging and interactive. This gamification aspect keeps learners motivated and improves knowledge retention.

4. Preference for Self-Directed and Personalized Learning:

Learner autonomy: Microlearning empowers learners to take control of their learning journey. They can choose the topics, pace, and sequence of learning modules based on their individual needs and preferences.
Personalized learning experiences: Some microlearning platforms offer adaptive learning features that personalize the learning path based on the learner’s progress and performance. This ensures that learners receive content tailored to their specific needs and knowledge gaps. [2]

The Impact of Microlearning on the Future of Education and Training

The rise of microlearning aligns with the digital transformation of education. Mobile devices, online platforms, and apps facilitate instant access to knowledge snippets. Learners can tailor their learning experiences to match their interests and goals. As microlearning gains momentum, it complements lifelong learning, allowing individuals to continuously acquire new knowledge at their own pace. Microlearning’s versatility makes it suitable for various contexts like:

Corporate Training: Companies leverage microlearning to deliver quick training modules on compliance, software usage, and soft skills. This approach ensures employees receive essential information without disrupting their workflow.
Education: Educators embrace microlearning to supplement traditional teaching methods. By providing concise summaries or interactive exercises, teachers enhance students’ understanding and reinforce classroom learning.
Skill Development: Learning a new skill becomes less daunting with microlearning. Language learning apps, coding tutorials, and instrument lessons are all made more approachable through bite-sized lessons. [3]

Forms of Microlearning

PowerPoint Presentations

Be it interactivities, videos, or infographics, PowerPoint is the best tool to make all types of microlearning content quickly. And one of the biggest benefits of using this tool is – you can repurpose PowerPoint presentations by converting them into different digital learning formats, such as an interactive microsite, PDF, etc.

Videos

In microlearning, the most popular forms of content are videos and animated text with audio. These content forms are a great way to showcase abstract ideas and demonstrate stepwise processes. Using animated videos, you can add style and strong visualization to your content and present it in digestible and easy-to-learn pieces.

Podcasts

Podcasts are generally audio, but they can also include videos. They are micro-lectures focused on a single topic, which can be listened to during a long walk, at lunchtime, while traveling from office to home, or home to office – wherever and whenever you want. The learners do not require technical skills or costly equipment to access podcasts.

Infographics

Infographics are the perfect choice to showcase the key takeaways of a concept in a crisp, engaging, and graphical format. Using infographics, you can showcase the summarized points of a longer training, providing quick and at-a-glance information to the audience. You can use infographics to showcase the statistics and survey results, organizational policies and procedures, do’s and don’ts, quick tips/points to remember, and much more.

Storyboards

You can depict a visual representation of various stages of a complex process, sequence of events/tasks in a project, user interaction with your product, advertising campaign plan, and much more through storyboards. You can also use storyboards to visualize the relationships among activities, customer journeys, etc.

Geofencing

If your company assigns field or site work to employees, you can get a geofencing app designed to send push notifications to workers. In comparison to text messages, the opt-in rate of push notifications is higher. These push notifications are sent as a two-minute video to remind employees to check safety updates and compliance.

Healthcare organizations and construction companies can also use geofencing apps to train employees on safety practices, operating procedures, etc.

Gamification

You can make microlearning more interesting by incorporating games. Gamified microlearning helps learners enhance collaboration, teamwork, and critical thinking skills. You can incorporate competition, social interaction, points, scores, levels, achievements, rewards, timers, penalties, and badges in games. By including feedback in your gamified microlearning modules and designing each module as mobile-first, you can take your company’s L&D (learning and development) endeavours to the next level.

Job Aids or Performance Support Tools

Job aids provide employees with grab-and-go information to perform their tasks effectively. Quick reference guides, interactive PDFs, checklists, how-to videos, mobile apps, infographics, etc., are all examples of performance support tools that help your workforce boost their productivity and performance.

Simulations

With 3D simulation training, you can decrease training time by 40%, boost learning engagement by 50%, and improve knowledge retention by 20%. Using simulations, you can train employees in a simulated environment and provide them with hands-on experience before putting them to work in a real workplace. You can create metaverse simulation to provide training on designing earthquake-proof buildings, handling emergency situations in healthcare, responding to customers’ complaints, tracking and preventing a phishing attempt and malware attack in a company, etc.

Mobile Apps

Microlearning mobile apps teach lessons to learners in bite-sized content. Some apps are platform-specific (Android or iOS), while other apps can be run on any mobile platform. Some apps come with a browser version too. TED-Ed, InstaNerd, and Word of the Day are some good examples of microlearning mobile applications.

In addition to the above-mentioned forms, there are many other forms of microlearning, such as social media, static resources, quizzes, and flashcards. You can choose one or more forms based on your learning objective. 8

Benefit of Microlearning

One of the primary benefits of microlearning is fostering a continuous learning culture by offering regular, bite-sized learning opportunities that seamlessly integrate into daily routines. This encourages employees to engage in ongoing skill development, promoting a mindset of continuous improvement. With easily accessible and digestible content, learners can stay abreast of industry trends, adapt to evolving job requirements, and enhance their expertise over time. This approach contributes to a workplace culture that values and supports continuous learning as an integral part of personal and organizational growth.

Another benefit of Microlearning is that it offers focused training content that can be consumed in short amounts of time. By breaking down complex topics into manageable modules, microlearning allows learners to acquire targeted knowledge or skills without lengthy time commitments. This approach maximizes productivity as it seamlessly integrates learning into daily routines, making it particularly suitable for professionals juggling multiple responsibilities.

Additionally, accessibility in microlearning cannot be overlooked, as it offers the flexibility to access modules anytime, anywhere, and on various devices. Like other benefits of microlearning, this accommodates diverse learning styles and preferences. Its accessibility not only caters to the demands of modern, on-the-go lifestyles but also expands learning opportunities to a broader audience, and embraces the culture of inclusivity. Remote workers, part-time employees, and individuals with limited time for traditional training all benefit from the convenience of microlearning. It successfully breaks down geographical and temporal barriers.

One of the key factors championing the popularity of Microlearning is its cost-effective learning solution in streamlining the development and delivery of learning content. Its modular nature allows for the creation of concise, targeted materials that are both impactful and economical. With reduced development time and resources required, your organization can efficiently address learning objectives without extensive costs associated with traditional training methods. Also, the accessibility of microlearning lets employees engage in learning without significant disruptions to their work schedules, minimizing downtime.

It is also notable to include its benefits as it concerns easy integration while complimenting traditional learning methods. With the available technology today, you can seamlessly integrate microlearning into business. Microlearning fits into existing learning management systems (LMS) or corporate training programs without significant disruptions. Whether used as standalone modules or complementary components to broader training initiatives, microlearning aligns effortlessly with various learning platforms. This ease of integration allows you to adapt quickly to evolving educational needs.

What’s more, microlearning training courses increase engagement by taking advantage of their concise and targeted content delivery. By incorporating multimedia elements, interactive features, and gamification, microlearning transforms the learning experience into an engaging and dynamic process. The bite-sized modules capture learners’ attention more effectively, preventing information overload and maintaining interest. This approach accommodates shorter attention spans and encourages active participation and knowledge retention.

In extension and as an antidote to cognitive overload, microlearning stands out by offering a streamlined and focused approach to acquiring information. By breaking down complex topics into bite-sized modules, microlearning prevents the overwhelming cognitive burden that usually accompanies traditional, lengthy training sessions.

This approach allows learners to absorb and process information more efficiently, promoting better understanding and retention. Its conciseness guarantees that learners can concentrate on specific concepts without feeling overwhelmed, leading to a more effective learning experience.

Furthermore, by strategically delivering information in focused segments, microlearning becomes a potent tool for enhancing retention. The approach capitalizes on the spacing effect, reinforcing learning through repeated exposure to key concepts over time. With digestible modules, microlearning allows learners to concentrate on specific, easily digestible pieces of information, promoting a deeper understanding.

An additional benefit is adaptability in learning solutions. By offering personalized and flexible learning paths that cater to individual needs and preferences, learners benefit from the autonomy to choose modules aligning with their specific goals or job requirements, fostering a tailored educational experience. The adaptability of microlearning is also evident in its ability to swiftly update and modify content. This guarantees its relevance in the face of changing technology, industry trends, or organizational demands.

Lastly, by presenting information in focused, digestible lessons, microlearning eases a quick transition from learning to practical application. Learners can readily implement what they have learned in real time, reinforcing their understanding through immediate hands-on experience. This aspect enhances the effectiveness of the learning process and makes sure that the knowledge gained is directly relevant to their work. 6

Mobile Apps

Limitations of Microlearning And Its Applicability To Learning Goals.

Despite the many advantages of microlearning, it is essential to acknowledge its limitations. While many praise this teaching strategy for its brevity and flexibility, these attributes can become drawbacks in specific learning contexts.

The first significant disadvantage of microlearning is limited depth. The bite-sized approach, which is excellent for providing quick and digestible information, may fall short when covering complex subjects requiring extensive exploration and explanation. This abbreviated teaching method might not give the learners enough detail to understand complex topics or to appreciate the larger context within which a specific piece of information fits.

Linked to this is the issue of a lack of context. Pursuing brevity, microlearning modules sometimes fail to explain how a particular piece of knowledge fits into a larger framework, making it challenging for learners to understand the subject matter comprehensively.

Another drawback is the absence of a traditional learning environment, which could affect the commitment and focus of learners. While microlearning’s resemblance to a social media environment can foster behavioural and emotional engagement and enhance intrinsic motivation, it may also contribute to a less formal atmosphere that can potentially undermine serious learning efforts. According to Fidan (2023), microlearning might not offer the ideal learning conditions for learners who thrive in structured, traditional educational settings.

Furthermore, disparities in technology access can create a significant barrier to the successful implementation of microlearning. This teaching method relies heavily on digital platforms, so learners without consistent and reliable access to technology, especially in regions with low connectivity, might be disadvantaged.

Lastly, despite the potential personalization benefits of microlearning, the learning experience may not always be optimally tailored to learners’ needs and capabilities, potentially limiting retention and understanding. 7

Conclusion

Microlearning is not a replacement for traditional education or learning, but it is a powerful tool for busy folks who want to keep learning and growing. It is like having a personal knowledge snack pack in your pocket, ready to fuel your brain one delicious bite at a time. It also offers a flexible, efficient, and engaging way to acquire and retain knowledge in a rapidly changing world.

References.

1. Microlearning as Innovative Pedagogy for Mobile Learning in MOOC-Despina Kamilai and Chryss Sifianopoulm.

2. https://www.edueffective.online/the-future-of-microlearning/

3. https://www.eliteeducationmagazine.com/the-rise-of-microlearning-nurturing-knowledge-through-bite-sized-education/

4. https://er.educause.edu/articles/2023/8/microlearning-the-og-or-hot-new-trend

5. https://blog.originlearning.com/microlearning-a-top-2022-learning-trend/

6. https://www.edapp.com/blog/benefits-of-microlearning-for-business/

7. https://www.i3-technologies.com/en/blog/stories/education/exploring-microlearning- examples-benefits-and-drawbacks/

8. https://trainingexpress.org.uk/microlearning-the-future-of-training-in-the-workplace/

9. Trying Microlearning by Brady Licht.