Microlearning Best Practices: Create Big Impact with Small Courses

Today’s employees are parched for time. Dynamic work schedules and demanding customers keep them on their feet all day long. In such a work environment, finding time for a lengthy training session, be it classroom or digital, can become cumbersome. Hence, organizations are increasingly adapting microlearning to address their training challenges.

Microlearning refers to the delivery of learning content in the form of small information morsels. With this method of learning, content is divided into several small chunks, each of which wouldn’t take more than 10 minutes to complete. Microlearning allows you to get the best learning results by breaking down a sizable subject into bite-sized modules that learners undertake in the order of their choice.

This method creates a more learner-centric approach to impart knowledge. As short courses don’t make a huge dent in people’s work life, learners readily undertake the learning program. Combine that with the interesting formats they are available in and you get something that really captures their attention. This in turn improves knowledge transfer, retention and thus employee performance.

However, for micro modules to deliver the expected results and be a pillar of effective learning in your organization, it is necessary that they be developed the right way. Let’s see some best practices or tips that you can follow to create the most impactful microlearning modules:

Short and sweet

The first, and the most obvious thing you need to take care of while designing a micro module is to keep its duration between 3-7 mins long. These are designed for learners who cannot spare more than a few minutes at a time for learning and skill development. The short duration enables learners to quickly gain knowledge right at the point of need and make the most of the little spare time they have.

The short duration also keeps microlearning accessible through mobile devices without causing too much of a strain on the eyes and minds of learners due to the small screen size.

Single learning objective

It is very crucial that you design your modules to cover just one single learning objective. A single learning objective keeps the micro module, and thus your learner, focused. Instead of trying to cover many things haphazardly, a single learning objective allows your microlearning to do just one thing optimally.

This also increases the usefulness of your module. For e.g., let’s say your training conveys instructions to operate an equipment or the safety procedure to be followed during a particular operation, when learners are finished with the module they are assured of having gained complete knowledge about the topic.

Attractive learning elements

The essence of microlearning depends on creating maximum impact in minimum time. What better way to achieve this than to include attractive & interactive multimedia elements? These allows your learners to apply what they’ve learned, helping them commit knowledge to their long-term memory. Instead of just passively reading through the subject matter, interactive elements serve as an active form of online training.

Simulations, drag-and-drop interactions, mini games, and clickable walkthroughs all can be part of your microlearning module that gives your learners the chance to put their knowledge and skills into practice. Using videos or animations is also a good way to breakdown complex topics.

Multi-device compatibility

Due to their short duration, microlearning modules have an impromptu air to them. Whenever users have a little free time on their hands, they use their smartphones, tablets and laptops to access the course irrespective of their current location. One of the most important technical aspects that your micro module has to fulfill is its ability to work on multiple devices.

Always use responsive design to ensure your course works flawlessly across any device of any size, operating system, and browser software. Responsive design is ideal for developing microlearning as it delivers mobile-ready online training content, giving learners unmatched flexibility.

The effectiveness of microlearning is undeniable. The only hurdle that remains is to create a micro module that delivers whatever this method of learning promises. If you are finding yourself getting lost in the process, make sure to consult an experienced e-learning partner to get it right.