Creating time to learn new skills or expand knowledge can be challenging in today’s fast-paced and busy world. In short, most employees fail to meet their learning targets and struggle to complete the courses assigned to them by their organisations because of the numerous tasks with steep deadlines on their desks. Traditional learning methods, like instructor-led learning, often require motivation, significant time commitments, and attention, which can be challenging for busy professionals. In such cases, microlearning can be applied and helpful.
Microlearning has been found to be effective since 1880 (Hermann Ebbinghaus’s curve theory: Understanding how people retain and lose information). Hence, this article will outline the benefits and impact of microlearning on employee productivity, offer examples and tools for microlearning, share case studies, and explain how organisations can implement it.
What is Microlearning?
Microlearning, known as bite-sized learning, is a flexible, efficient, and effective learning method. It is usually short, concise, and focused on one topic or concept to ensure maximum retention and engagement from a learner. It involves breaking down learning content into short, focused modules, typically lasting between 3-5 minutes. This approach allows learners to absorb and process information in manageable bits, reducing information or cognitive overload, scrap learning and increasing retention and time to apply knowledge gained.
Examples of Microlearning
1. Video Tutorials: Short instructional videos on platforms like YouTube, Vimeo and Vidyard are considered a form of microlearning. Bite-sized videos can be shot on a particular subject matter and published on any learning platform or social media. This is usually adopted for Do It Yourself (DIY) videos. For instance, a Human Resource Manager can create a short video on using a new software adopted in an organisation and share it on the office communication platform for every employee to view, learn and understand.
2. Short Courses on Mobile Apps: Bite-sized learning can be found on learning apps like Percipio. These platforms offer short courses to help subscribers learn in a few minutes.
3. Podcasts: Bite-sized audio content, often with transcripts or resources, is another example of microlearning. Those interested can learn even while in transit by merely listening to the audio recording. Microlearning strikes out the compulsory act of being within four walls of a classroom, chair, and desk setting before learning can occur.
4. Flashcards: Paper flashcards were very common in the past, but now, with applications and software, digital flashcards are standard. Flashcards usually have graphics and text like definitions or short information about a concept. A graphic or question can be on one side of the card and the definition or information on the other. Applications like Canva can be used to design digital flashcards for learners to learn with just a flip and glance.
5. Infographics: The visuals will represent key points from more extended information or training materials. Most of the time, there are options to learn more if the learner wishes to.
6. Dos and Don’ts: This is usually in a tabular form. Sometimes, they can be made up of only images to communicate what is accepted and what is not. The target audience for such information usually understands in just a few minutes, the knowledge the instructor or originator is trying to convey or transfer.
Benefits and Impact of Microlearning on Employee Productivity
1. Time Efficiency: Microlearning fits busy schedules and is ideal for on-the-go learning. Employees can learn at any time, on their way to work or while executing a task, such as listening to a podcast while having lunch. Microlearning simply makes it possible for employees to meet their learning targets without their jobs suffering.
2. Improved Retention: Bite-sized learning aids in retaining information better than lengthy sessions.
A study by Dr Paul Kelly, a clinical researcher, has shown that an intense 20-minute study with 10-minute breaks in between can yield longer memory retention than a longer continuous study period.
Hence, exposing employees to information in bits will aid learning and retention, which is one of the aims of microlearning.
3. Increased Engagement: Microlearning encourages employee participation and motivation because of the little information employees are exposed to at a time and how aware learners are of the short period of the training.
4. Self-Paced Learning: Microlearning is tailored to individual needs and interests and allows employees to learn at their own pace. Learners can search for any topic of choice on any learning platform with bite-size videos or courses, log in to learning apps and audio applications or visit video platforms to learn at any given time.
5. Cost-Effective: Reduced learning time results in lower costs and increased productivity, translating to more excellent outputs at the workplace.
Microlearning versus Other common learning methods
A study conducted by TalentLMS in 2020 investigated the impact of microlearning on employee training. The study involved 500 employees who participated in microlearning sessions, yielding remarkable results. Notably, microlearning led to a 50% increase in learner engagement and a 45% increase in course completion rates. These findings underscore the potential of microlearning to enhance employee training outcomes and promote a more interactive learning experience.
A comparative study of traditional learning and microlearning in ICT lessons conducted by three researchers, Gona Sirwan Mohammed, Karzan Wakil and Sarkhell Sirwan M. Nawroly, found microlearning to be distinctly more effective. With passing rates of 82% versus 64%, microlearning showed an 18-19% advantage across five subjects. Furthermore, 97% of participants reported high motivation due to interactive microlearning tools, solidifying microlearning’s superiority in learning outcomes and student engagement.
Technology has significantly changed learners’ experiences (Sung et al., 2020; Leong and Sung, 2022).
Tools for designing Microlearning contents
Articulate Storyline: Articulate Storyline is one of the most common and user-friendly e-learning authoring software for creating interactive courses. It features multimedia support, triggers, and conditional actions and publishes to HTML5, Flash, and mobile devices. It is one of the best tools you can use to create a microlearning course or content.
Adobe Captivate: Adobe Captivate is a comprehensive e-learning authoring tool offering advanced features for interactive simulations and multimedia content. It supports screen recording, integrates with Adobe Creative Cloud, and publishes to HTML5, Flash, and mobile devices.
Lectora Inspire: Lectora Inspire is a user-friendly e-learning authoring software for creating interactive content. It supports multimedia, variables, and conditional actions and publishes to HTML5, Flash, and mobile devices. Pricing options include $997 (one-time) or $49/month (subscription).
Canva: Canva is a graphic design platform for creating visual content, offering templates and customizable designs. It supports multimedia content and integrates with social media and web platforms.
Vyond: Vyond is an animated video creation tool for crafting engaging content. It features pre-made templates, customisable characters, and multimedia support, publishing to video formats.
Camtasia: Camtasia is a screen recording and video editing software for tutorials, demos, and presentations. It offers advanced features and a user-friendly interface. Pricing varies depending on the plan.
Powtoon: Powtoon is an animated video creation tool for engaging content. It features pre-made templates, customisable characters, and multimedia support.
GoToTraining: GoToTraining is virtual training software for live online sessions. It features screen sharing, polls, and quizzes.
Articulate Rise: Articulate Rise is a responsive e-learning authoring tool for mobile-friendly content. It features multimedia support and a user-friendly interface.
Adobe Spark: Adobe Spark is a visual content creation tool for engaging content. It features multimedia support and a user-friendly interface.
Learning Experience Platforms (LxP) for Microlearning
Platforms like TalentLMS, PeopleFluent, and Percipio provide user-friendly and scalable solutions for corporate training. Percipio offers a learning experience platform that caters to and supports various learning formats, including microlearning. By utilising these platforms, organisations can foster a learning culture, promote upskilling, and enhance employee productivity. The platform has over five hundred thousand (500,000) bite-sized learning content.
Employees can take short courses, watch videos, read ebooks etc. There are learning contents that caters to different employees’ learning needs and preferred formats. With the mobile app, employees can even learn on-the-go.
Internally, we utilise Percipio to ensure continuous learning despite busy schedules. At pcl. we have Strategic Business Units (SBU) that cater to organisations’ learning needs. We have successfully implemented various learning platforms for different organisations to foster a learning culture despite busy schedules, promote upskilling, and enhance employee productivity.
Experience the Difference: Key Benefits of our LxP
- Personalised learning experiences
- Increased employee engagement and retention
- Improved productivity and performance
- Enhanced collaboration and social learning
- Real-time analytics and tracking
- Scalable and cost-effective solution
- Mobile accessibility and flexibility
- Integrated content management
- Seamless user experience
Implementation of Microlearning in an Organisation
Implementing microlearning in an organisation requires a strategic approach to ensure it aligns with business goals and enhances employee productivity. Below are key steps to successfully integrate microlearning into your organisation:
1. Identify Learning Objectives: As an organisation or a learning experience specialist, determine what you want to achieve through microlearning. Outline your objectives and be sure microlearning can help you achieve them. For instance, if the goal is to train employees on the use of new software, encourage compliance, onboard a new employee into the organisation, or introduce a client to the organisation’s culture or service, then microlearning is an effective and efficient training method.
2. Choose the Perfect Method for Implementation: Select the most suitable microlearning design format for your content. Is it best executed as audio, video, infographics, or flashcards? Select the perfect method and have it published or shared via your preferred platform.
3. Don’t Forget to Keep it Short and Concise: Ensure modules are short, straightforward and accessible of unnecessary information to maintain the bite-sized nature of microlearning.
4. Make it Engaging and Interactive: Learning must be engaging and interactive, regardless of the timeline. Do you want to get your employees’ attention without boring them? Then, you can use sounds and graphics to achieve that. Quizzes like true or false can be incorporated to make learning more engaging. Elements like graphics can also be interactive to capture employees’ attention.
5. Track Progress: Monitor employee progress through analytics and insights of the platform of your choice and adjust content where necessary.
6. Obtain Feedback: Request and manage feedback from your audience through polls, surveys, forms, reviews, comment sessions, etc., to enable you to modify where necessary.
Common Challenges and Mitigation Strategies
When adopting microlearning, organisations may encounter common challenges that could hinder its effectiveness. However, with the right mitigation strategies, these obstacles can be addressed to ensure successful implementation. Below are some of the challenges and how to overcome them:
1. Oversimplifying Concepts: It can be difficult to break down complex topics into bite-sized chunks to ensure that each chunk is meaningful and coherent. Maintaining logical flow and context across multiple microlearning modules can also be challenging.
2. Insufficient Detail: Microlearning may not be perfect for complex subjects like Physics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Climate Change and Sustainability, Cybersecurity, and Data Protection, as it may require oversimplifying key concepts.
3. Disengagement: Insufficient context or depth may lead to disengagement, confusion, and a lack of understanding of key concepts.
4. Limited Interaction: There are reduced opportunities for discussion and feedback, which may hinder learning and evaluation.
5. Motivation and Engagement: Maintaining learner engagement and motivation without a traditional classroom structure might be tricky.
Mitigation Strategies
Possible strategies to mitigate these challenges include:
1. Content Oversimplification:
- Break down complex topics and focus on one key concept per module.
- Use storyboarding to visualise the content structure.
- Ensure each chunk provides context, examples, and clear takeaways.
- Illustrating relationships between modules.
2. Insufficient Detail:
- Provide additional resources for deeper exploration (e.g., articles, books, webinars, etc.).
- Encourage self-directed learning and research to ensure further study and learning.
3. Disengagement
- Schedule short breaks and opportunities for reflection.
- Incorporate engaging multimedia and graphics (videos, animations, gamification).
- Use interactive elements (quizzes, discussions, challenges).
4. Limited Interaction
- Incorporate engaging multimedia (videos, animations, gamification).
- Use interactive elements (quizzes, discussions, challenges).
- Schedule regular breaks and opportunities for reflection.
- Encourage peer-to-peer feedback and review.
5. Motivation and Engagement
- Include rewards, badges and points
- Set clear goals, expectations, and milestones.
- Provide regular progress tracking and feedback.
Case Studies
- In the third quarter of the year 2024, pcl. executed a Microlearning project for a leading financial institution. The project was based on the learning needs of the organisation’s employees.
The project was basically to align staff to increase productivity, efficiency and effectiveness on the job. Employees had short courses and training on Email Etiquette, PowerPoint Sprint and Developing Growth Mindset. It was a successful project as employees were exposed to information in bits and learned within a short space of time. This led to enhanced organisational agility, adaptability and increased productivity of employees on the job.
- pcl. also executed a Microlearning project for a prominent firm in the energy sector earlier in the year. The organisation selected from a pool of courses, and we were able to successfully assist the organisation in educating its employees on Time Management, Emotional Intelligence, and Workplace Effectiveness. The training report revealed that the project led to effective prioritisation and decision-making, better relationships and communication, increased productivity and job satisfaction.
- For years, we have taken pride in conducting thorough needs analyses and implementing bespoke and personalised learning platforms for our clients. This year was no exception. We have successfully deployed learning experience platforms tailored to meet the distinct requirements of over ten organisations.
“The future of learning is short, sweet, and mobile.” – Jane Hart, Learning Consultant.
Implementing microlearning using short courses, short video clips, podcasts, flashcards etc., can offer a flexible, efficient, and effective learning method, making it an ideal solution for those with busy schedules.
Organisations can invest in employee development through microlearning, reducing learning time and costs to increase productivity, translating to more excellent workplace outputs. By embracing microlearning, employees can enhance their skills and knowledge and ultimately achieve their goals without investing too many hours.
pcl. has partnered with many organisations to train staff and end users of their products, services, strategies, etc., using microlearning. We can help you make the best use of the learning method and overcome the hurdles involved in microlearning.
Want to take advantage of this form of training? Contact us at enquiry@phillipsconsulting.net to learn more about how we can assist your organisation in adopting this effective training method.
Written by:
Aderonke Ayoade
Instructional Design Analyst/Digital Learning