Designing Digitally
11/20/2018
In today’s modern workplace, jobs are fluid and employees are busy multitasking. They check their phones numerous times a day to stay socially connected. With such distractions and demanding schedules, it is difficult to divert their time and attention towards learning. They hardly dedicate 1% of their workweek for learning and upskilling. So, you need to come up with a way that your employees receive the right learning at the time they need it. This is where microlearning comes in.
Microlearning nuggets are designed to be learner-centric. They are compatible with multiple devices so that your employees can access it from anywhere and on any device. Since they are short and engaging, they can effectively flip the forgetting curve to retention. Another advantage of delivering short modules is that more learners complete them. Ideally, you should use the microlearning strategy as a performance support tool and informal learning. For example, after the formal training session, deliver bite-sized modules every week to remind the learners about the concepts discussed. But, if you wish you, you can use it as formal learning too.
If you are still unsure about providing microlearning for your corporate learners, then these benefits are sure to convince you.
Microlearning is bite-sized. Your learners will be able to access information in small bits that are easily digestible. A small amount of information at a time reduces the cognitive load on learners. They assimilate the information that they need and then move on to the next module. There is not overburden on the working memory. The brain is able to connect the new information to the preexisting knowledge. Since the cognitive load is less, your employees are able to retain and recall the knowledge easily. They can relate it to the challenge at hand and resolve it easily.
Microlearning puts your employees in charge of their skill development. They decide where they want to improve and choose the relevant skill. This is a pull mechanism instead of a push method where information is forced on them. Whether they want to fine-tune their existing skills or learn new ones, it is up to them. Every employee gets equal opportunities to excel. This translates into several benefits, one of them being an increase in employee motivation and retention. When employees realize that the organization is interested in their development, they try to excel at work.
Learning Architect Ray Jimenez believes that micro-learning courses need 300% less development time and cost at least 50% less than traditional learning courses. Traditional classroom courses require an investment in travel, accommodations, a venue, equipment, and so on. Microlearning eliminates all these costs. You don’t even need to hire a facilitator as these are self-paced modules. They are easy to update. You can reuse them throughout your organization as many times you want.
Not all learners prefer the same learning format. Some like to learn with the help of videos. Some prefer audio. Others like to read information as text. Microlearning libraries allow your employees to pick and choose from the repository based on their learning preferences. Your employees are happy to receive learning that is customized to their learning goals. They remain invested in the course, which ensures a higher return-on-investment.
Microlearning is the fastest and most effective way your employees can learn. Short learning nuggets grab their attention easily and are digestible. Also, the time to develop and the cost involved is far less than traditional learning. But there are some pitfalls that you need to keep in mind. In this format, there are several small training modules instead of one long module. So, the chances are high that the learners will feel they are missing the bigger picture. They may feel there is a disconnect between the different modules.
But this is not a show stopper. You can overcome these barriers with the help of the following tips.
At Designing Digitally, we create custom designed microlearning tailored specifically to your training objectives. Our courses ensure strong retention of information and provide innovative ways to change learner behaviors.
To learn more about microlearning solutions and how they can improve your company's training, download our complimentary white paper or book a free consultation with our team today!
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