Learning doesn’t have to be confined to the long, in-depth lectures most of us remember from school and college. In fact, it usually shouldn’t be. Microlearning is an alternative approach that can improve information retention and motivation while also fitting seamlessly into modern, busy lives. Let’s explore some microlearning examples below.
What is microlearning?
Before we dive into examples of microlearning, let’s recap what exactly it is.
Microlearning is the practice of taking education or training and dividing it into small, bite-sized modules that learners can access at their convenience. Learners only need to devote a few minutes to each lesson, encouraging regular practice.
Microlearning is especially useful for relatively simple topics where students can learn little and often. This includes language learning or providing a high-level overview of a topic. Learners can reflect on topics between lessons and regularly recap key messages.
Microlearning also allows learners to take control of their studies, making content accessible, flexible, and engaging. For educators, this content is cost-effective to produce and delivers high levels of student satisfaction.
In short, microlearning offers many benefits – but how can you implement these into your L&D?
10 microlearning examples to inspire you
Variety is an essential element of successful microlearning courses. Here are some great microlearning examples you can use to create an engaging, effective course.
1. Short videos
Short videos are often the mainstay of microlearning courses. Keeping a video between 3 and 7 minutes long makes it easy for learners to fit learning into their busy schedules. It also closely mirrors the entertainment content they enjoy on social media.
Make the most of short videos by sticking to a single concept per video. Continue to use established best practices; providing a brief overview, explaining ideas thoroughly, and recapping what they have learned.
2. Mini audio clips
Mini audio clips can be a great alternative to videos for learners on the go. Watching a video on a packed subway train can be tricky but listening to an audio clip is easy.
If the topic you want to present doesn’t require visual learning, consider including audio clips as well as videos. Remember that without visual cues, learners may need a steadier pace to absorb lessons. Speak slower and include pauses for them to assimilate what they are hearing.
3. Quizzes
Quizzes should be included in most microlearning courses. They’re an opportunity to step back from offering new information and allow learners to evaluate their progress and check their understanding.
Quizzes are especially important for high-stakes training because they prove what learners have understood. This is vital when learners are required to complete training before carrying out certain work tasks or to demonstrate knowledge of health and safety principles.
4. True or false
Asking true or false questions is another great microlearning example. Although these might seem simple, true or false questions can provide a real test of a learner’s knowledge and judgment.
Consider creating more complex true or false questions designed to stretch your learners. For challenging questions, provide a rationale to help students understand where they went wrong.
5. Fast facts
One way to improve learner engagement is to offer fast facts. These are simple facts, concepts, or ideas designed to intrigue students and encourage them to investigate further.
Fast facts can be presented as either a statement or a question. Asking learners to answer a “question of the day” or providing fun facts in a “did you know” format is especially effective at driving engagement.
6. Digital flashcards
Digital flashcards are some of the most intuitive ways of using microlearning. They’re a modern update on the file cards many adults used to learn vocabulary, scientific facts, or mathematical formulae in high school.
Flashcards present learners with a very small amount of information to quickly refresh their memory of facts they have already learned. They can simply restate the information or follow a question-and-answer format where learners are shown a question and click on the card to reveal the answer.
7. Dos and don’ts
Providing learners with essential information in the form of “do’s” and “don’ts” is both simple and effective. Categorizing content as either a “do” or a “don’t” helps engage more analytical thinking while providing clear guidance.
Dos and don’ts are especially well-suited for practical learning, such as safety guidelines or following important procedures.
8. Slide shows
Slide shows are another useful example of how you can offer valuable training through microlearning. These are ideal if the topics you’re working with are best described through graphs or charts.
Slide shows allow learners to move through the information at their own pace. They can take as long as necessary to understand each slide and even return to those they found especially difficult or interesting. Slide shows are also great for giving learners additional resources for further study.
9. Gamification
Gamification simply means making a game out of something. It is a highly effective tool to dramatically increase motivation among learners. This typically involves creating fun metrics for learners to measure their efforts and encouraging competition
To gamify microlearning, consider assigning points to specific learning tasks, creating league tables, or allowing learners to progress up levels and earn rewards.
When using gamification, be alert to possible unintended negative consequences. Learners can lose motivation or even “rage quit” if they feel unfairly penalized or if tasks appear unachievable.
10. Multiple choice
Multiple choice questions are easy to create and give learners another opportunity to test their knowledge. Importantly, learners receive immediate feedback about their abilities, without instructors having to devote time and energy to marking.
When creating multiple choice tasks, remember that the wrong answers can be even more important than the right ones. Select your incorrect potential answers with care to achieve the difficulty level you’re looking for.
