Micro Learning – Efficient Learning in Nuggets
From The Series Digital Learning

In our series digital learning we report on new learning approaches, their advantages, and how they can be used in company learning. After recently examining blended learning, we are now dedicating ourselves to the learning method micro learning.

 

What Does Micro Learning Mean?

 

Do you remember using index cards for vocabulary training? Instead of studying the entire vocabulary, you learn in small vocabulary groups. In the end, you put your skills together like a puzzle. That’s exactly how micro learning works.

Micro learning refers to learning in small learning units – often called learning nuggets. Instead of trying to quickly climb an entire mountain, you focus more on each step it takes to reach the top. Thus, the cognitive load and stress levels decrease significantly, while motivation and learning success increase. What’s more, micro-learning is 17% more effective than traditional ways of learning. 

The compactness of learning nuggets is predestined for mobile and flexible learning, such as e-learning. Whether using explainer videos or small interactive learning games, micro learning can be versatile.

 

 

Where Does The Idea Come From? What Are The Benefits of Micro Learning?

One of the greatest challenges in providing knowledge is capturing the learner’s motivation and attention. If learning units are prepared in a concise and succinct manner, the learner remains much more focused and motivated for a longer period of time. Learning becomes much more efficient.

Splitting the learning material lessens the cognitive burden, which relieves your employees and reduces the feeling of stress. Even employees with back to back schedules can take 5 minutes in their day to manage micro learning, since learning units are separated into small nuggets. If this micro learning unit is playful or entertaining, it even provides variety and relief from the normal work day.

Your employees can access the Micro learning offers when they are available online. Micro learning also lends itself to individualizing the learning path. Since the trainer or the program gives feedback after each lesson, the learning success is analyzed quickly. This way, the learner becomes aware of their own learning success. This creates self-confidence, and the rest of the learning path is then adapted to the needs of the learner.

 

Growing Demand for Micro Learning in the Company

In corporate learning, the need for short training sessions and refreshing knowledge is increasing. The study ‘Human Capital Trends Switzerland 2014′ found that functional and technical knowledge is only remembered for 2.5 to 5 years. That’s why repetition in the business is more important than ever. Micro learning offers the opportunity to consolidate and renew its knowledge in the company on a small scale.

Another great advantage of micro learning is that the small learning units can be revised quickly. This is important because your business is constantly evolving. The learning material can always be adapted to new challenges and work areas.

 

Micro Learning in at the enterprise level is still not self-evident. Only 36,6% – that’s just a good third – of all companies use the learning method so far. As a pioneer, you can present your company in a modern, flexible and employee-friendly way, both internally and externally. Keep in mind that as an employer, being a pioneer involves consistently remaining in good standing while competing for good staff.

 

Playful Micro Learning with Gamification

 

Micro learning can be easily combined with gamification approaches. Game mechanics can be transferred to learning nuggets in the form of serious games, so that your company’s learning opportunities become more entertaining through interactive games. At the same time, the learner is activated and more involved in the topic. Overall, micro learning offers variety and increases motivation.

How can micro learning efficiently train your employees or refresh their old knowledge? We help you with the successful implementation of your video-based learning methods – tailored to your topic and your target group! Let our experts advise you!

 

 

 

Henrike Rau is a prospective media researcher and since 2015 has been working intensively on the use of explainer videos in corporate communication and knowledge transfer. For the explainer video pioneer simpleshow she writes blog posts and researches use cases, success stories of video usage, and storytelling in digital media. She is particularly interested in linking creative aspirations with countable results.