Microlearning: Bite-Sized Learning for Maximum Impact

Join us for an engaging and informative session that will delve into the concept of microlearning, a cutting-edge approach to instruction that emphasizes brief, focused lessons designed to meet specific learning outcomes. We will explore the benefits and challenges of implementing microlearning strategies and illustrate them by sharing best practices and inspiring real-world examples. You will leave with practical guidance on how to design effective microlearning experiences and an introduction to a range of tools that facilitate the creation of microlearning content.

In this session we will:
* Introduce you to microlearning
* Illustrate the benefits & challenges of microlearning
* Share best practices and real-world examples of microlearning
* Introduce you to the top tools for creating microlearning

https://mike-taylor.org

Transcript

1. Microlearning BITE-SIZED LEARNING FOR MAXIMUM IMPACT MIKE-TAYLOR.ORG
2. Mike Taylor mike-taylor.org
3. bit.ly/2023cuna
4. Join at slido.com #cuna23 ⓘ Start presenting to display the joining instructions on this slide.
5. What is your experience with microlearning? ⓘ Start presenting to display the poll results on this slide.
6. What's driving your interest in microlearning?
7. Game Plan Intro & Background When & How to Use Design Principles Tools & Examples
8. WTH is Microlearning?
9. “Microlearning is an instructional unit that provides a short engagement in an activity intentionally designed to elicit a specific outcome from the participant.” Robyn A. Defelice & Karl M. Kapp
10. “learning that fits”
11. “There is no such thing as a new idea.” —Mark Twain
12. Microlearning is NOT a new idea! First adopted in the 1960s
13. Microlearning Timeline 1880s Ebbinghaus Forgetting Curve 1950s Skinner Programmed Learning 1956 Miller Miller’s Law 1960s “Microlearning” coined 1990s Web 1994 First Smartphone limitations of human cognitive capacity enabling technology
14. The “OG” or Hot New Trend? 2015 2023
15. Why so popular? Changing Demographics Younger workforce prefers quick, digital formats for learning. Attention Spans Less patience for longer methods of learning. (TikTok-ification) Just-in-Time Learning Immediate skill application allows learning exactly when needed. Cost-Effectiveness Generally quicker to develop & deploy, saving time & money. Adaptability Easily updated & adaptable to changing business needs Integration Easily integrates w/ existing programs and technology Data-Driven Easier to track and analyze data on learner engagement & effectiveness. Remote Work Surge Pandemic made online, flexible learning solutions more relevant. Technology Easier to create & deliver with SmartPhones & hi-speed internet.
16. learners prefer microlearning https://learning.linkedin.com/resources/workplace-learning-report-2018
17. What does the research say?
18. Microlearners can retain information better than traditional learners (Sitzmann et al., 2013; Park et al., 2016).
19. Microlearning learners were more engaged and motivated than learners who received traditional training (Manning, J. L., & Thorpe, K. 2021, Shamir-Inbal, T., & Blau, I. R. 2020)
20. Microlearning can help to improve the transfer of learning to the job Park, S. Y., Spector, J. M., Oh, J. S., & Lee, H. (2016), Zhu, R., & Gao, F. (2021).
21. Benefits EFFICIENCY Time & Cognitive Load ENGAGEMENT Align w/ Natural Attention & Learning EFFECTIVENESS Better retention & application
22. rethinking how we apply proven practices to solve familiar problems
23. Microlearning Uses
24. Ways to use Microlearning CREDIT: Making Micro Work: 20 Ways to Use Microlearning to Add Value to Your Curriculum Carla Torgerson, MEd, MBA Preparation Pre-Work What are some ways you can use microlearning in a preparation or pre-work context? Carl Torgerson
25. Preparation •Don't know why they're attending the event. •Need to learn / information before they can participate in the event. •Learners have different levels of knowledge.
26. Preparation Introductory Video Reading Assignment Interactive Quiz/Survey Scenario-Based Questions
27. Ways to use Microlearning CREDIT: Making Micro Work: 20 Ways to Use Microlearning to Add Value to Your Curriculum Carla Torgerson, MEd, MBA Preparation Follow-Up Pre-Work Brain Boosts Short-form Performance Support What are some ways you can use microlearning in a follow-up context?
28. Follow Up •Learners need to be reminded to use their new skills. •You want learners to continue learning after the event. •Learners are likely to forget important details.
29. Follow-Up Recap Video 60 Second Summary Email/SMS Quiz Brain Boosters
30. Hermann Ebbinghaus discovered the forgetting curve
31. Realize that your learners will forget
32. PRESENT A LEARNING POINT PRESENT SAME LEARNING POINT AGAIN WHAT IS SPACED LEARNING? wait some amount of time
33. This is NOT distributing unrelated, non-repetitious learning events over time.
34. Will Thalhemier Spacing Learning Events Over Time: What the Research Says Will Thalheimer @WillWorkLearn www.worklearning.com
35. Maximize Learning The Problem
36. Maximize Learning The Problem Do Nothing for Forgetting As soon as the learning event ends the forgetting begins
37. Maximize Learning AND Minimize Forgetting Spaced repetition on the job turns the forgetting curve into a learning-and-forgetting curve, improving memory. The Problem
38. http://supermemo.com
39. Does it work?
40. The spacing effect is one of the oldest and best documented phenomena in the history of learning and memory research. HARRY BAHRICK & LYNDA HALL (via W. Thalheimer)
41. 2+2+2 Memory Boosters 2 days 2 weeks 2 months https://learningsolutionsmag.com/articles/1423/brain-science-enable-your-brain-to-remember-almost-everything Art Kohn
42. Art Kohn 5 Second Rule Memory Boosters: • 5 seconds • 30 seconds • 5 minutes https://learningsolutionsmag.com/articles/1423/brain-science-enable-your-brain-to-remember-almost-everything There was no difference!
43. KEY FINDINGS Repetitions are very effective Particularly if long-term retention is the goal Presentation vs Retrieval Prompting learners to practice retrieving items from memory is more beneficial than simply re-presenting
44. • verbatim • paraphrased • stories • examples • demonstrations • illustrations • metaphors • etc • testing • practice exercises • simulations • case studies • scenarios • discussions / dialog • etc Retrieval Practice Presentation
45. Spaced retrieval practice is the aspirin of instructional design Will Thalheimer ...it has multiple benefits and very few negative side effects.
46. Ways to use Microlearning CREDIT: Making Micro Work: 20 Ways to Use Microlearning to Add Value to Your Curriculum Carla Torgerson, MEd, MBA Preparation Follow-Up Stand Alone Pre-Work Brain Boosts Short-form What are some ways you can use microlearning in a stand-alone context?
47. Stand Alone So many possibilities
48. Stand-Alone Training • Concept is small and easy to understand. • Concept is big, but can be broken down into smaller, easier-to-understand parts. • Concept is something learners will need to review often. • Learners already have some understanding of concept. • Learners are motivated to learn the concept.
49. Ways to use Microlearning CREDIT: Making Micro Work: 20 Ways to Use Microlearning to Add Value to Your Curriculum Carla Torgerson, MEd, MBA Preparation Follow-Up Stand Alone Support Pre-Work Brain Boosts Short-form Performance Support What are some ways you can use microlearning in a support context?
50. Support •Learners do a task infrequently or the information for the task is easy to forget. •Accuracy is important or mistakes could be dangerous. •The task is complex or has many steps. •Learners need help with certain topics.
51. Support Quick Reference Guide Chatbot / Assistant QR Code Interactive Checklist
52. Design Principles
53. Can’t simply “chop up” existing stuff
54. Duration doesn’t matter*
55. Focus on the ‘Learning’ in Microlearning
56. “The length and structure of a microlesson should be informed by cognitive load theory and not by time frame.” Dr. Nidhi Sachdeva University of Toronto
57. The secret to microlearning is not making things short. It's making short things matter! (Grovo, 2022)
58. “Any piece of learning content that is just five minutes long but not useful to your learners is a waste of five minutes.” Diane Elkins Artisan E-Learning
59. Microlearning Formats Text-based • SMS • Articles • Blog posts • eBooks • Flipbooks • Infographics • Job aids • Newsletters • PDFs • Quick reference guides • Social media posts • etc Visual • E-learning • Animations • GIFs • Image carousels • Infographics • Screencasts • Short videos • Whiteboard animation • etc Audio • Podcasts • Snippets from longer podcasts • Audiograms • Webcasts • etc Interactive • E-learning • Interactive Videos • Branching scenarios • Clickable hotspots • Quizzes • Simulations • Games • etc ALMOST ANYTHING
60. Start With What You Already Have!
61. “You don’t have to create content day in and day out. You just have to work on getting the content you already have in the hands of more people” Derek Halpern @tmiket
62. Repurposing Existing Content
63. Look for Facts Quotes Statistics Tips and hacks Step-by-step instructions
64. @biancabaumann @tmiket Microlearning Makeover
65. Infographics Infographics deliver research in an easy-to-understand, visual layout. *most-shared type of content https://coschedule.com/blog/social-media-content What could you repurpose as an infographic?
66. What could you repurpose as an audiogram? Audiograms Audiograms bridge the audio and visual gap by letting you share audio clips of your content set to an image and waveform. https://www.buzzsprout.com/blog/podcast-audiograms-tips
67. Channels: Think Beyond the LMS Learning management systems (LMS) Learning Experience Systems (LXP) Microlearning platforms Mobile apps Social media Email *** Intranet Internet Point-of-sale (POS) systems Customer relationship mgt (CRM) systems Human capital management (HCM) systems Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems Augmented reality (AR) Virtual reality (VR) Physical items (print, etc.)
68. Start With What You Already Have!
69. Use/Format Matrix Text-based Visual Audio Interactive Preparation Follow-up Stand-alone Performance Support Adapted from Designing Microlearning by Carla Torgerson and Sue Iannone
70. Text-based Visual Audio Interactive Preparation Pre-reading materials Glossaries Infographics Flowcharts Audiograms Brief interviews w/ experts Quizzes Flashcards Follow-up Summary emails FAQs Animated recap videos Diagrams of processes Audio summaries Q&A sessions Interactive PDFs Drag-and-drop exercises Stand-alone Quick tips Checklists How-to videos Data visualizations Audiobooks Simulations Scenario-based games Performance Support Job aids Step-by-step guides Quick reference charts Process maps "Just-in-time" audio tips Micro-interviews Decision-making flowcharts Interactive troubleshooting Use/Format Matrix
71. Important Considerations Relevance How can you ensure that the micro content you create is immediately applicable to your employees' needs? Integration What existing learning platforms or training programs can be complemented by microlearning? Measurement How will you measure the effectiveness of microlearning within your broader learning ecosystem?
72. Get a Head Start AI Generation Transform Content
73. Microlearning: Short and Sweet by Robyn A. Defelice, Karl M. Kapp
74. C.U.R.A.T.E.D. Model
75. A Model For Learning Design
76. Clarify Objectives Focus on one specific, measurable objective per microlearning module. Unearth Content Source bite- sized content like articles, infographics, or short videos that can be consumed quickly (Curate from larger sized content) Review & Refine Ensure the content is not only relevant and accurate but also concise and to the point. Arrange Systematically Sequence microlearning modules in a way that they can stand alone or be part of a larger curriculum. Transform Presentation Optimize for mobile devices where microlearning is often consumed. (Or other unique traits for your audience) Engage & Enrich Use interactive elements like quick quizzes or flashcards to make the microlearning module engaging. Develop & Deliver Use analytics to continually refine the microlearning content based on real-world usage and feedback Adapted For Microlearning
77. Tools & Examples
78. G2.com
79. 7taps • Interactive • Analytics • AI Create & Convert EdApp • Interactive • Gamified • AI Creation • PowerPoint converter Giide • Interactive • Audio-based iSpring/Rise • Adaptive • Flexible MailerLite • Email • Automated • Dynamic • Analytics
80. What’s your favorite tool for creating microlearning?
81. What’s your favorite example of microlearning? (and why is it your favorite? )
82. Whisper Courses • Originated at Google • Short lessons • Stand along or follow-up • Don’t sleep on email
83. MICROLEARNING: SHORT AND SWEET DESIGNING MICROLEARNING Gleaning insights from research, theory, and practice, authors Karl M. Kapp and Robyn A. Defelice go beyond the hypothetical and offer tips on putting microlearning into action Experts Carla Torgerson and Sue Iannone answer the questions you need to know to fully engage your learners and tackle organizational performance needs. Karl Kapp & Robin Defelice Carla Torgerson & Sue Iannone
84. Effective learning meets people where they are and is frictionless, continuous, practical, and data-informed.
85. Demo Examples
86. I learned… I’m beginning to think… I wonder if… I was surprised that… I’m going to… Links & Resources →
87. bit.ly/2023cuna