What is Microlearning? Why you should use it in your organization?

OGG
April 16, 2024
2
min read

Microlearning refers to short forms of learning and consists of short, fine-grained, inter-connected and loosely-coupled learning activities with microcontent (Lindner, 2006; Schmidt, 2007). For Buchen & Hamerlmann (2010) microlearning facilitates self-directed lifelong learning, as short activities can be easily integrated into every-day activities. Small learning steps with small chunks of information can be used for learning in-between and on-demand. In this way microlearning enables individuals to stay up-to-date in today’s knowledge society and offers a viable supplement to more time-consuming and formalized modes of learning, such as classroom courses or web-based trainings.

What is not Microlearning?

  • A new concept.
  • Learning in a small-time span (i.e. 2 minutes).
  • Learning in a video format.
  • Chopping content into small pieces.
  • Performance support.
  • A single “one-dose” solution: In most cases, it’s part of an array of learning solutions.

Benefits for learners

  • It’s targeted, concise, flexible, and learner-centric.
  • It’s easily accessible (multimedia).
  • Allows for immediate feedback.
  • Facilitates collaboration, contributions, and sharing.
  • Foster knowledge encoding, retention, retrieval, application, and transfer.

Benefits for organizations

  • Can be easily updated, reused, and repurposed.
  • Enhances employee motivation and retention, increasing productivity.
  • Enables faster impact on desired results/objectives.
  • Reduces employee time away from work.