6 Microlearning Formats & When To Use Them

Editorial Team

Microlearning Formats

Microlearning provides employees with pertinent information when and where they need it. It is a quick and convenient learning method. Microlearning has proven to be a great way of training corporate employees and even for other training scenarios where sitting for long hours may not be the most feasible option.

Microlearning is more than a fragmented eLearning course; it motivates learners to apply in practice what they have learned in theory. The roots of this training style come from the desire to provide employees with quick, accessible training exactly when they require it. Considering that most employees only have 1% of their workweek to devote to training, it is crucial to use microlearning to develop tiny, meaningful learning opportunities.

Microlearning materials capitalize on these smaller opportunities for teaching since

  • They are typically not longer than two to three minutes.
  • They allow access to employees whenever and however they like.
  • They are connected to a single learning purpose or concept.

This training method has been named with many other terms in the past, but people like to refer to them as “bites” as the information received is small.

How Is Microlearning Used?

Microlearning is a teaching method that is brief, intense, and accessible on mobile devices. It can be used for formal and informal training. Here are a few possible options:

Formal Training

You can convert your macro eLearning course for formal training into small-sized courses or modules within those courses connected by a learning path. These are usually designed for mobile learning or mLearning, allowing employees to access them on any device and at their convenience.

Job Aids Or Performance Support Tools (PSTs)

Microlearning can drastically enhance the performance of learners. PSTs are learning aids designed to address specific problems and are accessible within the workflow when needed. They may be a quick fix to assist employees with their work or act as a quality assurance checklist to ensure the desired outcome.

Types Of Microlearning

There is a misconception that microlearning can only be done with videos. There are a variety of microlearning formats that we use on a day-to-day basis. You will have to make the right choice based on your training objectives, learning environment, and the situation. Think of where your learners will take the course, which may help you decide on the format.

Below is a list of popular microlearning formats and how you can use them.

Infographics

Infographics are a good idea if you want to summarise a large amount of data in a quickly accessible and comprehensible format. When employees are ready to learn more, you can enhance the training experience by linking interactive infographics to advanced information.

You can use this microlearning format to onboard and orient new employees to company policies and procedures. Infographics can be in the form of flowcharts, lists, timelines, how-to guides, comparisons, and more.

Animations

Animated videos developed with free or low-cost software are a cost-effective approach to explaining concepts, providing information, sharing stories, and more. Do not think that animation is only for children. These videos are often used to convey complex information to both youngsters and adults. Animation can assist break down abstract concepts into more manageable bits.

Additionally, animation offers a range of styles (character, company background, realistic situation, etc.) that are suitable for different corporate cultures. Therefore, you can use it when you need to introduce complex and abstract concepts creatively to your learners.

Podcasts

Podcasts are audio recordings that people listen to, similar to an episode of a recorded talk radio program. They are especially effective when the learner has a lot of idle time or needs something they can listen to while traveling. That said, it is not a thumb rule to have long podcasts. You can have short, focused, and informative podcasts that last only 10 minutes.

Although they are not commonly utilized in corporate training, they make sense when employees travel between locations. Many employees spend a substantial amount of time traveling to and from work. Training podcasts are a great way to make use of this time productively.

Geofencing

Geofencing enables you to send training push notifications to employees in a specific geographic location when they require it.

Consider the following scenario: your employees arrive at work and realize they have not been informed of some new changes or circulars that were taking rounds at the office about an important detail. Here, thanks to geofencing, you will send an update to their smartphone automatically, ensuring they always have access to the most current information.

This format can be especially useful when employees in an organization are working from different locations. Everyone can stay in the loop about all the latest information and internal communications.

Simulations

Simulations are an effective method for familiarizing employees with a task before they can execute it.

Take a flight simulation, for instance. Most pilots train in a flight simulator before entering the cockpit. This enables them to troubleshoot potential catastrophes and make mistakes without harming passengers.

Other instances where you may use simulations include emergencies, standard protocols for healthcare professionals, responding to a phishing attempt in a financial institution, and handling customer service complaints. The danger involved with simulations is minor, but the potential payoff is enormous.

Interactive Parallax-Based Scrolling

This is another innovative microlearning format that uses the standard parallax effect on websites. It replicates a learner’s capacity to “scroll through” a learning route using the same method. It allows us to add interactions and quizzes to the learning path. When learners navigate the course, interactive quizzes, questions, and data appear to assess their comprehension. Similar to a maze or a world-building game, this type of microlearning is especially intriguing for employees with a limited attention span.

Conclusion

When you have decided that microlearning is the way to go for your organizational training, you should explore how you can reach out to your learners and give them valuable training. Consider what you can do to address the needs of the learners so they can return to work and apply newly learned knowledge at work. When you try to list what your learners need and where they might be when training, you will be able to develop better solutions that meet their requirements.