The 7 Benefits of Microlearning

Organizations are starting to move away from traditional e-Learning. Instead, they are choosing to adopt an innovative method of development referred to as “Microlearning”.

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Microlearning is defined as bite-sized learning content, exploring a topic in a compact format. Giving bite-sized modules / bite-sized elearning modules helps modern learners quickly achieve their specific learning outcome or specific learning objective at their convenience. Additionally, each module also addresses a single learning objective.

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Microlearning content examples include: text, images, video, audio, games, and quizzes.

Research shows that employees only retain 10% of what they read in classrooms [1], while nearly 70% of learners prefer to learn on the go. [2]

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In an era of remote working, short attention spans and busy schedules, training programs like microlearning is an ideal model to train new hires as well as established employees for the following reasons:



1. More Affordable

The costs of a microlearning course are often manageable for an employer. These modules are short and powerful in nature and therefore often quick to make. Depending on the format, it is also not always necessary to engage professional content creators. Content and rich media such as instructional videos, welcome messages or guideline documents can be created in-house, which can reduce development costs by a significant amount.

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Online education also removes the need for a company to spend on classroom equipment and other microlearning tools. This allows the company to invest more in more conventional forms of learning and the skills of its workers.

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2. Easily Updated

By splitting up large topics into microlearning modules, only the part that is no longer up to date can be revised to add one learning objective. It is much easier to adjust one video than to change a compressed training program, especially after a few months of deployment.

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Additionally, online training and mobile learning help employees go back to previous topics to enrich their learning process, refresh their memory and improve learner retention. This is one reason why many training managers prefer microlearning over traditional elearning and other traditional forms of learning.

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3. Fast Impact

Due to the short modules, a limited amount of information and often a practical approach to microlearning, employees tend to understand a topic faster. Additionally, the fact that learning can be interrupted after a module has been completed lowers the threshold to start with a new topic. As a result, learners typically learn new content faster.

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4. Increased Freedom

As microlearning modules are manageable chunks of information, available in the cloud and even viewable in offline mode on mobile, employees can learn casually at their convenience. Whenever, from wherever they wish.

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Microlearning also allows the company to facilitate online training anytime, anywhere. Mobile learning or online learning is now more important than ever, especially with over six billion mobile users worldwide [3].

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5. Highly Engaging

Microlearning offers the most engaging training delivery method. The experience for learners is similar to checking their favorite social media app, compared to the "serious study" feel of regular classroom training. This is something that all businesses and elearning program service providers strive to achieve.

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Another one of the many benefits of microlearning courses is that it helps learners achieve specific knowledge in a shorter amount of time. This is because microlearning courses are offered as bite-sized pieces of information, therefore reducing the load needed by the working memory and the fatigue felt by adult learners going through longer courses or an entire range of media forms in one sitting.

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Small portions are also highly effective in ensuring that the learner's attention span does not run out. This means the learner will likely focus on small chunks of information for longer than those learning in non-conventional forms of education.

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6. Microlearning Improves Knowledge Retention

Studies have proven that knowledge retention is much higher when a subject is studied repeatedly and can be easily revisited. This is in line with the principles of microlearning, since the modules are small, self-contained and easy to return to.

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Think of it this way. Three digits are easier to absorb for the human brain than 11 numbers. One of the benefits of microlearning is ensuring that learning modules are only filled with important information and key points, which significantly increases learner retention. This significantly reduces the risk of employees experiencing the "Forgetting Curve," which means forgetting 80% of what was learned after a month. It also prevents cognitive overload.

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7. Improved ROI

As microlearning generally has higher participation and retention rates, the skills and information acquired are actively retained and demonstrable in the workplace, leading to a higher ROI than traditional training.

Microlearning Courses

A survey by Software Advice found that more than half of a company's employees are indicated that they would use their company's learning tools if the learning objectives are clearer and if the courses are shorter. [4]

Product Training

Getting information about a new or updated product out to your staff members is crucial, especially if you have branches across the globe.

Creating a product training video, especially one well-suited for mobile devices, can help ensure that all your existing and new employees are receiving the same information about your products or services. It is also, by far, the most practical and traditional learning solution.

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Onboarding Staff

Once a company hires a new worker, they still have to face the challenge of ensuring that the employee would not change his mind about accepting the offer.

One of the best ways to retain an employee is by sending them an interactive microlearning onboarding course to make them feel like part of the company even before they start.

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Health and Safety Training

One of the benefits of microlearning is addressing or preventing any possible issues that your company may face. By offering health and safety training at a regular interval, you are assuring a healthy working environment where your employees can thrive.

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Sales Training

If you need to train your staff members on what they can and cannot say to customers, you should consider corporate training or online training through programs designed for use on a mobile device. You can send them operational guides and lessons in short bursts wherever they are in a snap.

Going for less traditional e-learning courses gives your workers access to flexible learning as it allows them to view their lessons at their own pace. They may create learning environments during their lunch break or in between busy schedules.

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Job Aids

Once in a while, it is good to introduce your employees to refresher courses. Spaced repetition of easily digestible information essential to their jobs promotes better retention and long term memory.

Why Choose Qualee for Your Microlearning Needs?

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Microlearning has many benefits for organizations who want to revolutionize their learning culture with short, sharp, just-in-time learning that encourages curiosity and enhances learner engagement from top-down.

One of the key features of the Qualee platform is microlearning; supported by text, images, audio, documents and even video. We know that a native mobile app, delivering engaging content, results in a highly effective learning experience.

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You might be interested in the following resources:
Calculate onboarding ROI using our Onboarding Cost Calculator
‍Learn about our Employee Engagement Platform
‍Trial our Employee Onboarding App
Our Recommended Exit Interview Questions for an Effective Offboarding Experience

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[1] https://www.hrtechnologist.com/articles/learning-development/4-reasons-employee-training-should-go-beyond-the-classroom/

[2] towardsmaturity.org/2016/02/01/in-focus-the-consumer-learner-at-work-2016/

[3] https://www.statista.com/statistics/330695/number-of-smartphone-users-worldwide/

[4] https://learning-tribes.com/en/microlearning/