Learning has become a part of our everyday lives, and this extends to the workplace as well. New challenges are coming up every day, be it in the form of technological advancements, the introduction of new tools, or a trend that can change the face of the industry. That said, learning while managing a full-time job among other responsibilities can be a challenge, especially if an employee is required to adapt quickly and start generating results at the earliest.
That’s when microlearning strategies can be incredibly beneficial. As the learning methodology focuses on delivering vital pieces of information in a simpler and easy-to-digest format, learners can continue to update their knowledge pool without feeling overwhelmed or stressed about missing out on other aspects of their lives. Besides, as the modules are smaller in size, they can be updated whenever relevant upgrades are introduced in the niche or industry.
Here are all the details to know about:
What is Microlearning
Microlearning is concerned with a set of compact and bite-sized e-learning modules that are created wth the intention of imparting knowledge without causing learner fatigue.
They can be customized to deliver professional skills (soft and hard skills, for instance) or can be educational to help individuals upskill without feeling demotivated or burdened.
What Makes Microlearning Prevalent in Today’s Times
Microlearning is so prevalent today because it is easy to teach knowledge to individuals, regardless of their information retention ability.
Aside from this, microlearning also facilitates just-in-time learning, making it possible for professionals in rapidly evolving industries to stay relevant. From an organizational point of view, offering training through microlearning instills confidence in the employees, encouraging them to explore their field of interest and even take up leadership roles in the future.
It makes employees believe more in their ability as team members while feeling encouraged to contribute. Above all, the flexibility that comes with microlearning is worth mentioning. Most of the course modules can be accessed anywhere through a dedicated mobile application or a web portal, posing minimal to no device compatibility issues. In fact, due to such flexibility, employees can learn while on the go, making the most of their time.
This, in return, encourages a company culture where learning is part of being an employee, enabling employees to continue upskilling themselves without being held back by the shackles of any limitations. Since all the microlearning progress is tracked and customized for unique learning pathways, it is guaranteed to inspire an individual to continue making progress and learn one step at a time.
How to Make Microlearning Work Wonders for Your Employees
While the impact and outcome of microlearning are impressive, adequate implementation is crucial. These are some practical ways to maximize the benefits of microlearning for your employees:
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Recognize and Start with Challenges
To make the most out of the microlearning modules, it is crucial to recognize a challenge(s) that the course aims to solve.
While adding to the existing knowledge base can work wonders in increasing productivity, using it to resolve a challenge will ensure your employees truly experience the benefits of microlearning.
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Create a Sensible Scale
The challenges that your employees are solving should increase in difficulty levels to ensure they can put their acquired knowledge to the test. This can either be done in a gradual, incremental manner or should be given as a choice for learners to choose themselves.
It allows them to recognize their strengths as well as weaknesses while also growing familiar with the topic before taking on the challenges in the field. This helps them feel confident about their skills and be able to provide solutions without second-guessing their knowledge.
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Identify the Metrics to Track
The best and most effective way to get results from microlearning courses is to track metrics that represent the learning abilities and capabilities of the learners.
This is particularly important as it can get confusing to track a multitude of metrics; instead, focus on identifying parameters that matter to your objectives and then track them.
If you are unsure where to start, then metrics like learner engagement, content completion, re-engagement, and assessment from quizzes can be a great headstart.
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Create Tangible Milestones
Milestones are pivotal to keeping your employees motivated and on track. It ensures they are continuously working towards learning and not slacking. That said, it is equally important not to create milestones that are difficult to achieve alongside everyday challenges.
For instance, if the microlearning course focuses on equipping individuals with technical skills to solve a current problem, then it becomes crucial to complete the modules as soon as possible to provide a solution and prevent delays.
Similarly, if the module teaches skills that are relevant to an upcoming future change, then completing them under a specific time frame will be required so that the individual has time to prepare for the changes.
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Make It Part of the Routine
For microlearning to be effective, it should be a continuous practice instead of occasional engagement. Allocating badges, creating leaderboards, giving scores, or adding any kind of reward can be immensely helpful in keeping employees engaged and motivated throughout the learning process. Unless learning becomes part of an everyday routine, retaining and putting into practice their acquired knowledge can become difficult.
When Microlearning May Not Work
While microlearning is an effective tool for imparting knowledge that can be retained for extended periods, its applicability still has limitations that must be considered.
Certain complex topics and concepts might best be taught using traditional, long-form content methods to help the learner understand and retain information.
Besides, regardless of how well the microlearning modules have been designed, they still require time and effort to understand, making it crucial for organizations to allocate adequate time for the learners to process and start using the newly acquired knowledge.
In addition, if microlearning is being used to build upcoming skills, it is essential to plan how these newly acquired skills will align with the existing ones to create a balance and an effective working ecosystem.
Bottomline
Microlearning can be an effective tool for upskilling your employees without overburdening them with an additional obligation. The seamless and compact size of microlearning can easily fit into a regular routine, allowing individuals to learn on the go. Nonetheless, to ensure consistency in learning, identifying key metrics to track performance and recognizing the hard work will be the key to making learning enjoyable and rewarding.