Microlearning: New Learning Strategy Of the Future

In this fast-paced world, the demand for learning-on-the-go systems just keeps rising.

This article will look deeper into Micro & Nano Learning, including best practices. We will quickly review the concepts, formats, and opportunities and compare Micro & Nano Learning.

So, if you are ready, let’s start!

Microlearning as a type of eLearning

The future of learning is e-learning. 

Micro and nano Learning have been widely gaining popularity throughout recent years. Why is that? Well, both are incredible for bite-sized training sessions to learn on the go.

They fulfill target learning objectives while allowing the creation of short-form learning content that is easy to create for instructors and to learn from for students. 

Microlearning is a type of eLearning. It refers to the process of delivering learning in 10-15 minutes sessions, videos, and activities. These usually also include 2-5 minute activities. 

One of the ways through which microlearning is possible is mobile learning. The main features of microlearning include the availability to learn from anywhere with any device, focused units, and highly informative lessons.

Explore 6 types of virtual training.

Nano-learning, on the other hand, is even further compressed from microlearning. It aims to teach skills in a few minutes, e.g., 2-3. 

Opportunities microlearning offers

According to recent trends in learning, micro-learning is on-demand. So, why is microlearning gaining popularity? 

Microlearning offers lots of opportunities for instructors and students to enjoy on-the-go learning. So, let's take a look at the main benefits of microlearning. 

• Easier to maintain students’ engagement levels and fight short attention span throughout the whole session as sessions are not very long and to-the-point
• More convenient form of online learning in this fast-paced world
• Flexibility for students and instructors in terms of time and location 
• Highly on-demand 
• Offers bite-sized learning experience
• Allows the facilitation of more efficient & focused knowledge 
• Cost-effective eLearning strategy 
• A learner-centric approach that increases learners’ retention level 

There are also certain benefits for health; for instance, microlearning reduces cognitive overload allowing students to acquire knowledge more efficiently. 

So, the microlearning module delivers the so-called digestible learning experience for the students allowing for more accessible learning and development. 

Drawbacks of microlearning 

Besides all the fantastic opportunities that come in handy with microlearning, there are certain drawbacks. Well, let’s review the main ones. 

• It is limited to one or a few concepts per session. Keep the sessions extremely focused, which limits you to discussing one or very few short concepts per session. 
• It is not suitable for industries that require complex training and preparation. 
• Delivery of bote-sized sessions can be time-consuming. However, keep in mind that you create a course for just ones. Then you will enjoy its outcomes and sell it repeatedly until the content remains relevant. 

These were the main challenges and drawbacks of microlearning. 

Microlearning formats

Microlearning can be more than just off-the-shelf course content. It often refers to apps, infographics, videos & animations, ebooks, and quizzes. So, you can incorporate these into a pre-recorded course but also create a wholesome experience utilizing just these elements on their own. Let’s take a look at everything in more detail. 

Time to review the microlearning examples. 

Animations & Short Videos 

Animations such as “pencil” or “whiteboard” animation, as well as videos, are perfect for “how-to guides.” The tendency among people to be more attentive and learn better with videos is a fact. It, in a sense, creates a classroom experience. 

If it is an animation nowadays, you can create them by utilizing quite a low cost, in some cases even free tools. 

If you are recording a video, phone cameras are well too. Keep a few things in mind, such as neat background, good audio, and clear visuals. 

People tend to learn faster with videos; therefore, this format enjoys popularity. Keep in mind the appropriate duration of the videos should be around 3-15 minutes long. 

Infographic

In-glance learning experience is possible through infographics. You can incorporate infographics into a wholesome pre-recorded course that also offers short videos, quizzes, and ebooks. 

Infographics are great for summarizing lessons, showcasing key takeaways of previews or new lessons, and so on.

Ebooks

Another great way to teach new skills is through eBooks. They can be consumed on the go, offer a variety of styles of learning, and are an excellent alternative to reading long-form articles or manuals.

Many businesses have adopted eBooks as a microlearning format. They provide the learner with a tangible and interactive experience that they can take with them anywhere.

Quizzes and games

Quizzes and games are a great way to engage learners in the learning process. Quizzes are interactive and can be taken by learners at any time. 

Gamification effectively gets learners excited about the content and keeps them engaged for longer periods. It helps to greatly modernize the learning experience and create an interactive and dynamic learning environment. 

The use of quizzes and games has been increasing over the years. Why? Well, because they offer a different approach to learning that is not always seen in other formats. They are also more engaging for the learner, which can increase the amount of information they take away from it.

With quizzes, tests, and other activities, learners have to recall the study material, which helps with better memorization of vital concepts. Plus, quizzes provide you with measurable results on students’ progress as well as the efficiency of the course. 

Podcasts

Podcasts are a great way to learn new skills or gain knowledge on a specific topic.

They can be listened to in the car, while out for a walk, or even while doing chores around the house. Podcasts are an effective microlearning format because they allow you to learn at your own pace and use your own time and space.

Articles & Short-form documents 

You can also provide a learning experience by creating of paid content in article form. Each part of your course can be written down as an article or how-to guide explaining the user’s key concepts. 

These articles should be positioned as "gated content" users should pay to read. Also, you can collect them and create an eBook that you can sell later. 

In short, microlearning fundamentally changes the way we perceive knowledge. It offers the ideal length of sessions for modern learners making information easier to comprehend in less time. 

How to incorporate microlearning? 

As far as we are clear on the concept and formats, we can dive into implementing microlearning. So, how can you incorporate it? 

Here are the steps you should follow. 

Step 1 - Know Your Audience

If you are not aware of who your learners are, it would be almost impossible to deliver a top-notch experience. 

So, first of all, understand who you are creating content for. Clarifying this aspect will also help you to decide on the format and what more & less to incorporate. 

Step 2 - Create Learning Outcomes

When you are clear on the niche & format you want to provide, it is time to set learning outcomes & objectives. 

First, completing this step will allow you to design a course that truly gives value. Secondly, knowing what are the key takeaways from your course, basically its key features, you will be able to sell it better. 

Step 3 - Keep it Short 

If you chose the main format to be short-form videos, it is better to keep them within 3-10 minutes a session. 

Avoid long-term content, including videos. Stick to the philosophy of microlearning and offer bite-sized training that works. 

Step 4 - Keep the Content Interactive 

If you chose videos, make sure to ask questions and have discussion forums. You can also incorporate quizzes, tests & games into the course to further take the interaction level. 

Interactive learning helps with better knowledge retention, leading to satisfied customers and good reviews. 

Step 5 - Choose a Platform

One more important step is to choose the right platform. 

The right platform will allow you to deliver a top-notch learning experience through tools it gives for better course organization. 

Plus, in this case, make sure that the platform of your choice has an app because many students are going to access microlearning content from mobile devices or tablets. 

Nano-learning and Microlearning 

Nano-learning and Microlearning come in handy with certain similarities and differences. 

Of course, both of these are eLearning strategies. And here are the main areas in those two are similar: 

• Both of these allow for filtering the water and deliver key concepts & skills needed in real-life situations for practical application 
• Both of these eLearning types are based on the Pareto principle, which stands for 20% of efforts bring 80% of results.
• Also, another common characteristic of these two types of e-learning is that both contain lots of multimedia elements in them. These include but are not limited to presentations, short videos, whiteboards, and various visual activities. 

However, the difference is that nano-learning further breaks the learning experience. If in a 10-15 minute course session you can cover a few vital areas & key concepts, plus incorporate an activity, nano-learning is about covering one skill or area. 

The future, though, is behind microlearning, as it provides a more convenient and wholesome learning experience while at the same time remaining short and focused. 

Let’s Microlearn together! 

Well, it is time to wrap things up. 

Uteach makes it possible to deliver microlearning experiences for your students. You can create a microlearning course that is responsive both for mobile and computer devices. So, students can access it and learn whenever they want from any device they want. 

Also, through the Uteach app for Android and IOS, you can deliver an off-the-roof mLearning experience. 

It offers every necessary feature to grow your audience and sales and expand your business. So, it is your time to get started.

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