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Microlearning – How to Change

Learning into Knowledge
By Michelle A. Youngers

icrolearning is a way of higher demand is placed on

teaching and delivering employees to keep up. Traditional
content to learners in small, very learning approaches are not Microlearning Landscape
specific bursts, also referred to in sufficient for employees to gain the
training as “bite-sized” learning. knowledge and level of retention $130 Billion
Microlearning is more than small needed to be top performers. $ Is spent by companies worldwide
on employee learning &
pieces of digestible content; it Microlearning benefits just in time development programs

involves a methodology for the performance support, by providing

delivery of need to know access to the right information at < 1%
information to increase long-term the moment it needs to be applied. of an average employee’s work
retention. The learners are in The ability to deliver focused, week is available to learn
something new
control of what and when they're “must-knows” in an engaging
learning, having access to key format increases the likelihood for
knowledge when it is needed. repetition, therefore overall
49%
of companies indicated that their
retention is achieved. Such a main challenge for deploying
Microlearning is learner-driven, situation might include a nurse
new learning is ensuring
understanding and utilization on
supports learning at the time of needing to recall the specific use the job

need, and increases overall issues of a device when

retention.
Mobile technology and the
administering a product, or a 60%
Medical Science Liaison quickly more likely for Best-in-Class
internet have influenced the reviewing therapy guidelines in the companies to consider
microlearning to be effective for
learner’s expectation of how form of a 3-5 minute presentation employee development
information should be accessed and of key points in advance of Source of data: http://aberdeen.com/research/11639/
used; further impact of this engaging with a key opinion leader. 11639-RR-employees-require-knowledge.aspx/content.aspx
dynamic is a reduction in the Microlearning will enable your
attention span of each user. With learning organization to focus on
the accelerated pace of business and learner competency, not
persistent new information, a completion.
Impactful Microlearning requires standardized as on-boarding) and materials are not easily available when
design and instructional-based elements. needed. Providing access via the cloud in an easy to access
1. Be Brief and Targeted and searchable format is one solution.
Microlearning content should be delivered in the form of
4. Deliver in Flexible Formats
2-5 minute self-contained learning concepts that are
Providing learning content in appropriate multimedia
targeted and relevant to the individual learner. Targeted
formats will address multiple adult learning styles and
content is more appropriate particularly for clinical or
ensure it is effortlessly adapted to multiple learning
science-based information that is complex. Additionally,
initiatives, is easily updated and therefore consumed more
learning in small chunks matches how the human brain
often. This can be especially useful for a global initiative
works and the learning is more likely to be repeated and
and ease of localization.
therefore retained.
Microlearning is flexible and cost-effective because
2. Identify Specific Knowledge to Sustain
Focus on only one learning objective at a time, but provide
it is reusable.
The demand for more informal, targeted and less linear
a methodology to relate a series of topics to one another
learning will significantly impact how training is created,
for complete context. A major challenge in learning science
delivered and supported. Many companies are now
is the complexity of the principles and processes. The more
examining how training can be produced and delivered
complex concepts are better understood once foundational
faster and cheaper, but are still not employing
knowledge of basic principles is in place. Microlearning
methodologies that focus on building learning content in
has its place in the learning continuum to improve the
modular, discoverable formats that allow for ease of re-use.
application and retention of new knowledge once this
This ability for reuse is particularly relevant for adapting
foundational learning is mastered.
and extending core materials that are topics based in
3. Provide Intuitive Access science across product life cycles, thus reducing time to
Although Microlearning is best supported through mobile delivery and overall costs.
technology, desktop access is equally important. Access has User demand for more informal, targeted and less linear
two primary goals; make the information digestible (quick learning will significantly impact how training is created,
and to the point) as well as intuitive to find and use and delivered and supported. Integrating Microlearning as part
available when needed. Learning resources in place at most of your organization’s learning methodology can help
companies – cumbersome learning management systems, employees build, sustain and apply knowledge continually,
Sharepoint sites, e-newsletters and lengthy classroom and keep them more productive and engaged.
training, focus on learning at a specific point in time (such

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