Microlearning: The Ultimate Guide


What is Microlearning? What are the benefits? How can I use it?

What is microlearning?

Microlearning is a learning approach ideally suited for skills training. It involves stripping down a skill or idea to its most essential parts - and only teaching those. Consequently, microlearning courses are highly focused and made up of bite-sized exercises.

Bite-sized exercises or “learning nuggets” are at the core of microlearning. In fact, everything about microlearning is shorter, quicker and sharper than traditional long-form learning methods.

The Ultimate Guide to Microlearning: Definition, benefits & use cases | TalentCards

What is microlearning?

Microlearning is a learning approach ideally suited for skills training. It involves stripping down a skill or idea to its most essential parts - and only teaching those. Consequently, microlearning courses are highly focused and made up of bite-sized exercises.

Bite-sized exercises or “learning nuggets” are at the core of microlearning. In fact, everything about microlearning is shorter, quicker and sharper than traditional long-form learning methods.

The Ultimate Guide to Microlearning: Definition, benefits & use cases | TalentCards

What are the main characteristics of a microlearning course?



Learn everything you need to know about microlearning and how to best use it in your training. Put it into practice using TalentCards, the disruptive mobile microlearning solution.

It's short in duration. Think 3 - 10 minutes.

(But no more than 20)

It focuses on a specific concept, skill, idea, or topic.

There's a variety of content.

Types of microlearning content include text,

presentations, infographics, video, audio, and even

interactive games.

It's usually designed for and delivered on a

smartphone. Microlearning and mobile learning

are a match made in heaven!

Learn everything you need to know about microlearning and how to best use it in your training. Put it into practice using TalentCards, the disruptive mobile microlearning solution.
It's short in duration. Think 3 - 10 minutes. (But no more than 20)
It focuses on a specific concept, skill, idea, or topic.
There's a variety of content. Types of microlearning content include text, presentations, infographics, video, audio, and even interactive games.
It's usually designed for and delivered on a smartphone. Microlearning and mobile learning are a match made in heaven!

Microlearning content can be transferred in many ways, but using software purposefully built for this type of approach makes the most sense. Microlearning platforms like TalentCards, make it easier to create, manage and deliver microlearning courses. They also make it more accessible for learners to access and engage in learning.

Join the microlearning revolution and try TalentCards today!

Is there a difference between microlearning and nanolearning?


No. There's no difference between microlearning and nanolearning. Both terms refer to concise, highly-specific content turned into learning bites for the fast and effective transfer of knowledge.


But, you might see a minority of learning and development professionals use nanolearning to identify the tiny units of content within a microlearning course.

What are the benefits of microlearning?


Whether it's referred to as microlearning, microtraining or even nanolearning, one thing is clear: there are massive benefits for both learners and organizations who use a bite-sized learning approach

Learner attention rates go up


The benefits of bite-sized learning is backed up by available microlearning statistics. In fact, a study out of the Dresden University of Technology found that short content drives over 20% more information retention than long-form content.



Easy accessibility increases completion rates


Most microlearning research has found that the combination of bite-sized learning and smartphones boosts completion rates. Mobile phones encourage anytime-anywhere learning while shorter courses ensure learners are more likely to complete their training.


Skill gaps close faster


Short bursts of targeted content is ideal for just-in-time learning in the workplace. It ensures that trainers focus on one learning outcome at a time which lets learners quickly close any small knowledge or skill gaps they have.



Easy to create and update


Another benefit of microlearning is that due to shorter content, courses are much easier to build. And microlearning apps like TalentCards have intuitive content builders that do all the heavy lifting for developers.


Budget friendly


One of the financial benefits of bite-sized learning is that it has an impressive return on investment. The cost of creating a bite-sized course is much lower than the cost of creating long-form training.



Ideal for the modern learner


According to Deloitte’s influential 2014 “Meet the Modern Learner” study, employees have only about 20 minutes a week to focus on training and development. With microlearning, organizations can make those 20 minutes count.


Why is microlearning a better way of training?



HIGHER ENGAGEMENT
HIGHER ENGAGEMENT Generates 50% more engagement.
TIME-SAVER
TIME-SAVER Can be developed 3x faster than traditional learning.
COST-EFFECTIVE
COST-EFFECTIVE Requires 50% less cost in development compared to traditional learning.
BETTER RETENTION
BETTER RETENTION Learning in 3-7 minute chunks is a perfect match to the brain’s working memory ability.
HIGHER ENGAGEMENT
HIGHER ENGAGEMENT Generates 50% more engagement.
TIME-SAVER
TIME-SAVER Can be developed 3x faster than traditional learning.
COST-EFFECTIVE
COST-EFFECTIVE Requires 50% less cost in development compared to traditional learning.
BETTER RETENTION
BETTER RETENTION Learning in 3-7 minute chunks is a perfect match to the brain’s working memory ability.
HIGHER ENGAGEMENT
HIGHER ENGAGEMENT Generates 50% more engagement.
TIME-SAVER
TIME-SAVER Can be developed 3x faster than traditional learning.
COST-EFFECTIVE
COST-EFFECTIVE Requires 50% less cost in development compared to traditional learning.
BETTER RETENTION
BETTER RETENTION Learning in 3-7 minute chunks is a perfect match to the brain’s working memory ability.

Microlearning examples in business and education


The benefits of microlearning have been proven over and over in both business and education settings. This contemporary learning tool can be used as part of a broader program and in various parts of the learning cycle.

Microlearning in business


While microlearning can be adapted to suit most, if not all, industries, it especially shines in situations where an organization sees constant changes in their workforce or work environment. And need to quickly close knowledge or skills gaps.


Let’s look at a few microlearning examples in action.

Onboarding

It's common for businesses in the retail industry to experience high employee turnover which creates the need for effective onboarding. Onboarding created with a bite-sized approach can get new hires up to speed quickly as it will provide the right information, at the moment they need it.

Onboarding

Onboarding

It's common for businesses in the retail industry to experience high employee turnover which creates the need for effective onboarding. Onboarding created with a bite-sized approach can get new hires up to speed quickly as it will provide the right information, at the moment they need it.

Onboarding
Product knowledge training

Product knowledge training

Now consider franchises that operate nationally or globally and who release new products regularly - in some cases, weekly. Their employees will need product knowledge training that works. And a microlearning approach is ideal. With TalentCards, for example, you can create online cards to include product images with the main features and benefits. And learners can quickly and easily study training on mobile and even use the microlearning course as a resource on the job.

Product knowledge training

Now consider franchises that operate nationally or globally and who release new products regularly - in some cases, weekly. Their employees will need product knowledge training that works. And a microlearning approach is ideal. With TalentCards, for example, you can create online cards to include product images with the main features and benefits. And learners can quickly and easily study training on mobile and even use the microlearning course as a resource on the job.

Product knowledge training

Compliance training

Another good example of microlearning in the workplace comes from organizations in highly-regulated industries, like aviation, health care and telecommunications. Using microlearning for compliance training will significantly boost retention rates. Because at the core of compliance training are rules, regulations and policies that learners need to memorize. This is the type of knowledge transfer that microlearning excels at.

Compliance training

Compliance training

Another good example of microlearning in the workplace comes from organizations in highly-regulated industries, like aviation, health care and telecommunications. Using microlearning for compliance training will significantly boost retention rates. Because at the core of compliance training are rules, regulations and policies that learners need to memorize. This is the type of knowledge transfer that microlearning excels at.

Compliance training

Microlearning in education


A microlearning approach also makes a splash when used in educational institutions and across most subjects. One of the benefits of microlearning is that it can be used at all stages of the learning cycle. Especially in cases where repetition and memorization are involved.


Let’s look at three micro examples from the world of education.

Acquiring knowledge

Microlearning can pack a punch when introducing a new concept in subjects like science, technology, engineering and maths. By breaking down a complex idea into its most essential parts, learners are more likely to engage with the material instead of feeling overwhelmed and dismissing it.

Acquiring knowledge

Acquiring knowledge

Microlearning can pack a punch when introducing a new concept in subjects like science, technology, engineering and maths. By breaking down a complex idea into its most essential parts, learners are more likely to engage with the material instead of feeling overwhelmed and dismissing it.

Acquiring knowledge
Remembering knowledge

Remembering knowledge

Studies have shown that when learners engage in microlearning courses, retention goes up dramatically. For this reason, bite-sized learning can act a powerful study aid for students.

Remembering knowledge

Studies have shown that when learners engage in microlearning courses, retention goes up dramatically. For this reason, bite-sized learning can act a powerful study aid for students.

Remembering knowledge

Using knowledge

Microlearning is one of the most effective approaches to learning languages. By using audio, video and other types of microlearning content, learners can practice a new language in short bursts and repeat the same material until they’ve grasped it. By using a bite-sized approach, language teachers and schools can make learning a language easier for students.

Using knowledge

Using knowledge

Microlearning is one of the most effective approaches to learning languages. By using audio, video and other types of microlearning content, learners can practice a new language in short bursts and repeat the same material until they’ve grasped it. By using a bite-sized approach, language teachers and schools can make learning a language easier for students.

Using knowledge

How to create microlearning courses


Whether as part of a broader learning strategy or as a complete solution, microlearning is fast and affordable. But just because it's small, doesn't mean designing effective microlearning courses is easy. To capitalize on the benefits of bite-sized learning, here are a few microlearning best practices to follow.

Go mobile


According to Deloitte’s 2014 “Meet the Modern Learner” study, corporate learners unlock their smartphones up to 9 times per hour. It only makes sense to deliver micro-courses on a device they're already choosing to use. By combining microlearning with mobile learning, you'll get the benefits of both. (i.e. higher engagement, participation, retention and completion rates). Learners can build their skills on the go and even use microlearning courses as a quick reference guide to go back to anytime, anywhere.



Make them visual


One of the benefits of online learning is that it’s much easier to fill a course with visual elements instead of text-heavy content. In microlearning, infographics, images and other media can engage learners and help them remember information better.


Video is one of the most effective ways to transfer knowledge as it can cater to most learner types: visual, aural and verbal. Add subtitles to reach the linguists who prefer reading and make sure all learners have video control. Some might need to pause to process information before going any further. Most importantly, microlearning videos need to be short (3 - 5 min), otherwise learners will disengage and disconnect.


Provide additional resources


Yes, microlearning courses need to be focused on one idea, but you should also include links to other resources. Some learners will want to explore a topic deeper and you can make this easier for them by linking to extra articles, videos, or even giving them access to full-length training.



Keep it conversational


Effective microlearning courses are clear and focused. Your choice of language should reflect that. Replace formal, complex and long-winded thoughts with the active voice, simple words, and a conversational tone. These small changes make a big impact on your learners’ engagement.


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