Microlearning is a disruptive technology that is going to transform the learning landscape. It’s a type of training delivered in small units. They’re designed to help learners tackle a large volume of learning content by taking small chunks at a time. A microlearning course can be just a five or 10 minute lesson, or a series of short standalone lessons that are targeted on just one certain learning objective. 

Microlearning will move us away from traditional classroom-based, block-learning to on-demand, bite-size learning, delivered via mobile devices or virtually to desktops. Unlike traditional courses, where you have to study the first lesson to move forward to the second, each chunk of a microlearning course is a complete meaningful unit. Learners can study lessons one by one or choose them depending on their individual learning paths. Completing each unit lets learners quickly see results, feel progress, and not feel guilty because of a large incomplete task.

Here are some benefits of microlearning –

• Saves time. Sessions last a couple of minutes; limits time away from the office.

• Take Away Actions. Each session has 3 specific actions for you to complete.

• Keeps Your Attention. Better attention means better retention, and improves buy-in to the learning.

• “Doing” Not Theory. Sessions focused on the most important, practical elements.

• Empowers Your Learners. Self-directed learning means learners are in charge of their development.

• Agile Learning. Sessions can be deployed very quickly and are ideal for collaboration

• Specific, Not Broad Needs. Short, focused sessions centered on one specific skill or behavior.

• Better Retention. Research has proven that knowledge retention increases with microlearning.

• Cheat Sheets. Each session comes with a one page cheat sheet of the essential information.

• Just-In-Time. Sessions are available and on demand at the moment of a learning need.

So, what can be successfully learned with microlearning? In fact, almost anything that can be broken down into small topics, episodes, or steps. There is no “perfect” subject for microlearning, as learning is learning. The secret ingredient that makes microlearning effective for use right on the spot is simplicity. You need to really know your audience and understand their needs to talk the same language.

Microlearning isn’t a magic bullet. Not all types of training fit a five-minute format, and not all skills can be practiced like that. While microlearning techniques are good for memorizing glossaries, facts, and basic how-tos, they won’t help learners identify cause-and-effect relations and don’t provide them with a deeper understanding of subjects. It’s a really bad idea to study medicine or engineering this way.

Microlearning feels like a great approach to modern workplace learning. It’s effective, engaging, and appeals to learners. It can be a stand-alone solution for corporate learning, as well as support and augment longer eLearning courses and even face-to-face learning. At the same time, we cannot call microlearning a “one size fits all” solution. Without a strategy and precise planning, it’s not going to save the day. Yet, given the fast-paced culture we have now, microlearning is absolutely here to stay.