Dive Brief:
- Microlearning is an emerging, fast-paced model that can help employees absorb necessary knowledge for job performance and career development, according to HRO Today.
- Initially driven by younger workers and new technologies, microlearning is defined as "e-learning delivered in small doses that are very user friendly and focus on a narrow topic," HRO reports.
- With typical first impression windows being at around five to 10 seconds, micro learning meets the challenge by providing short, easily engaging content, such as a three-minute training video or a short learning module accessible via mobile devices. The idea is to avoid "learning fatigue and information overload" and meet today's short attention spans.
Dive Insight:
“Most industries could benefit from microlearning if it’s used in an appropriate manner or role,” Eric Kuennen, vice president of employability at Pearson Education, told HRO. Companies that have positions that require consistently up-to-date knowledge, like sales positions, would benefit from microlearning, for example.
Micro-learning should not be seen as a fad or flavor of the month. Early feedback has shown it to be a critical part of learning that can help keep workers focus on career development. HRO Today cites Deloitte research that found average employees today have very little spare time to give to professional development — as little as 4.8 minutes a day within a 40-hour work week. Of course, it also is not the right strategy for every learning challenge.
Bottom line, there are many platforms and strategies applicable to effective microlearning, including mobile access, gamification, timely content and cultural preference consideration. But above all, microlearning should be kept short at all times.
