{"id":8136,"date":"2022-02-24T17:39:03","date_gmt":"2022-02-24T15:39:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.efrontlearning.com\/blog\/?p=8136"},"modified":"2022-02-24T17:39:03","modified_gmt":"2022-02-24T15:39:03","slug":"microlearning-courses-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.efrontlearning.com\/blog\/2022\/02\/microlearning-courses-guide.html","title":{"rendered":"Train employees with bite-sized courses"},"content":{"rendered":"
Imagine\u00a0having a movie marathon\u00a0or binge-watching your favorite show. Time flies and you don’t even notice. Likewise, long conversations with friends and family can be stimulating and refreshing. But can you say the same about hour-long training sessions?<\/p>\n

There\u2019s hardly a chance anyone enjoys these. Especially when there\u2019s a simpler way to learn<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Microlearning courses have stood the test of time,\u00a0and met successfully their educational purpose while satisfying the need for fast results. Employers can train their teams even\u00a0when training needs arise last minute, and employees learn in a more flexible and less time-consuming way.<\/p>\n

But how do you go about incorporating microlearning in your L&D initiatives?<\/p>\n

In this post, you\u2019ll find out more about microlearning benefits and use cases along with specific microlearning examples. First, let\u2019s answer one key question:<\/p>\n

Is microlearning your best option?<\/h2>\n

Microlearning<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0could be\u00a0a great addition to nearly any training course. Let’s explore the top microlearning benefits before discussing when bite-sized learning\u00a0is your best option for delivering employee training.<\/p>\n

Immerse learners<\/h3>\n

The 8-second attention span is debatable. However, nobody can deny that there are lots of distractions when we’re online.\u00a0An incoming email or notification from our favorite app is enough to make us \u201cswitch tab\u201d and forget about training altogether.<\/p>\n

Maintaining learner attention is a notorious online training challenge<\/a>.<\/strong> It takes an extremely skillful instructor to keep participants focused, or genuine interest on behalf of the learner (which isn’t always there).<\/p>\n

Bite-sized training beats distractions thanks to its short duration and highly condensed information. Microlearning courses stick to the point, thereby immersing learners and maintaining their attention.<\/p>\n

Help employees form a habit of learning<\/h3>\n

Learning is a habit, too. And unless your employees are already lifelong learners, you’ll need to find a way to help them create and maintain a learning routine.<\/p>\n

An effective trick to form a new habit is to start small. Microlearning requires only 10-15 minutes of your employees\u2019 time<\/strong>, and it’s perfect for mobile consumption. Therefore, employees can learn something new in small doses every day, until eventually learning becomes a habit they practice effortlessly.<\/p>\n

Boost knowledge retention<\/h3>\n

Another microlearning benefit is better knowledge retention.\u00a0Short courses\u00a0don’t overwhelm your learners\u2019 already busy brains.\u00a0It’s also easier\u00a0for them to come into contact with the subject matter on a daily basis.<\/p>\n

Plus, with microlearning, you can\u00a0re-create material and turn it into different formats. For example, you can take a few important concepts from a course and break them down into short videos that explain those terms.\u00a0This is a\u00a0perfect\u2014and fast\u2014technique for refreshing people’s memory.<\/p>\n

When to use microlearning<\/h2>\n

It’s not an exaggeration to say you can include microlearning resources in any type of training to wrap up key points. You can create your own or buy ready-made microlearning courses<\/strong><\/a> from your LMS vendor for various topics.<\/p>\n

Let’s see when you can deliver a training program using microlearning.<\/p>\n

Soft skills training<\/h3>\n

Microlearning is the clear winner for soft skills training or any other theoretical training where people need to get familiar with concepts.<\/p>\n

Conflict resolution, sales skills, project management, diversity and inclusion, are just a few examples where you can use microlearning courses to enhance employee skills.<\/p>\n

Just-in-time training<\/h3>\n

The most distinctive microlearning example. Because microlearning imparts knowledge fast and effectively, it\u2019s your go-to choice when you need to see results fast.<\/p>\n

Microlearning courses are\u00a0also an excellent resource that employees can use as a last-minute knowledge refresher or when they are “on the spot” and looking for a quick answer.<\/p>\n

Onboarding<\/h3>\n

Microlearning is\u00a0perfect for new hires who need\u00a0info on\u00a0basic job tasks and company policies. Especially if you’re onboarding remote employees<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Instead of bombarding them with employee handbooks and countless meetings, create microlearning resources they can go through at their own pace and time. They’ll thank you for it.<\/p>\n

Basic technical skills<\/h3>\n

If you’re introducing a new workplace tool, some employees might need more than a one-off demonstration. Most tools, like communication platforms or project management software, come with some sort of training from the vendor.<\/p>\n

But if they don’t, ask your IT department to\u00a0showcase key functionalities in brief videos or in bullet points you can turn into PDF infographics.<\/p>\n

When it\u2019s best to avoid microlearning<\/h2>\n

Now let’s see some cases where microlearning shouldn’t<\/em> be your primary delivery method.<\/p>\n

Manual tasks<\/h3>\n

Microlearning can’t substitute hands-on practice. When manual tasks that can compromise an employee\u2019s safety are involved, employees need extensive training and continuous practice in the workplace or a simulated environment.<\/p>\n

You can always rely on microlearning for a quick overview of safety guidelines, though.<\/p>\n

On-the-job training<\/h3>\n

Again, this is another case where you can use microlearning courses as a point-of-need resource but not as your primary training method. Unless it’s a very simple task, it’s best to use in-person training or shadowing to\u00a0show employees how to perform their job tasks.<\/p>\n

This way, you’ll be able to answer their questions on the spot and practice the task with them.<\/p>\n

\"Microlearning<\/p>\n

5 ways to apply microlearning in the workplace<\/h2>\n

Now let’s explore some microlearning examples that will help better understand how to incorporate microlearning into employee training<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

1. Create microlearning videos<\/h3>\n

Use brief videos to explain in a vivid and direct manner what text can’t. Do you want to discuss your company vision during onboarding? Do you want to demonstrate simple job tasks? Then, a short video fits the bill!<\/p>\n

Make your videos interactive<\/strong> for better engagement and learning. For example, you can ask a multiple-choice question before moving on to the next lesson, where you will reveal the correct answer. You could also use animated characters to make your videos more fun.<\/p>\n

2. Use flashcards<\/h3>\n

Flashcards are another great way to present new information in a clear, visual way that evokes employees\u2019 curiosity. Think of flashcards as mini-quizzes where learners get the answer instantly.<\/p>\n

They’re quick shots of targeted information<\/strong>, which makes them the perfect tool for occasionally testing your learners.<\/p>\n

3. Gamify the learning experience<\/h3>\n

Add a drag-and-drop activity or a branching scenario and\u2014voila!\u00a0Training just got a lot more fun.\u00a0Increase engagement by adding a reward system, like badges or a leaderboard.<\/p>\n

Actual games combined with gamification elements will give an extra motive to learners.<\/p>\n

4. Deliver\u00a0training on the go<\/h3>\n

Microlearning and mobile\u00a0training<\/strong><\/a> go hand in hand. Since you’re already following a flexible training approach, why not maximize intuitiveness and ease of access?<\/p>\n

Choose an LMS that is 100% mobile-friendly, so your employees can not only learn on the go but also gain access to valuable resources at the point of need.<\/p>\n

5. Repurpose existing training content<\/h3>\n

Think out of the box for a moment, and let\u2019s not stick to traditional learning content. Have you recently hosted an amazing webinar<\/strong><\/a>? Have your experienced employees established work processes they could put down to \u201cpaper\u201d? Do you have a subscription to an online magazine with industry-related news?<\/p>\n

All these bits of information are microlearning examples that, when put together, can complement or create a microlearning course.<\/p>\n

How to measure and maximize the effectiveness of your microlearning courses<\/h2>\n

Microlearning works like any other type of training, so measuring its effectiveness is not really that different.<\/p>\n

First off, you can check\u00a0whether people have learned what they were supposed to learn<\/strong> with tests and quizzes at the end of their training.\u00a0For example, if you\u2019ve created a course on conflict resolution, create a \u201creal-life\u201d\u00a0situation\u00a0your employees will have to resolve. Give them a workplace conflict scenario and see how they will work around finding a peaceful solution.<\/p>\n

You can also get feedback<\/strong> from\u00a0employees\u00a0themselves. Ask them if they feel confident they have gained solid knowledge they can actually apply, or whether they need more in-depth training.<\/p>\n

Finally, you can tell whether your microlearning courses are successful by seeing\u2014or not\u2014the actual results on the job and in the workplace<\/strong>. This might take a while, but training should always bring some sort of change in the workplace. Whether it’ll be faster project delivery, fewer tickets for your customer support, or an increase in your client base\u2014it all depends on your specific goals.<\/p>\n

Prevention is better than cure though, so here are some ways to\u00a0get the most out of your\u00a0microlearning courses:<\/p>\n