The time-honoured process of tackling your year’s mandatory training all in one day of nonstop, hour-plus-long modules is headed out the door, according to experts. In its place? Microlearning.
What is the door being held open for?
Microlearning
Approaching training in bite-sized chunks that you can complete at your own pace is the future, and is much more engagement-friendly! Studies have proven that training in this fashion (AKA microlearning) can be 20% more effective – so why not get started?
Something fishy is going on…
You’ve finally sat down to tackle your tax return! Time to boot up your laptop.
But first – some YouTube! And Amazon! And [anything else]. Who wants to stare at the same thing for an hour?
It’s no surprise to hear that our attention spans have decreased over the years. Phones, televisions and the internet have all but guaranteed that you’ll lose interest in almost anything after roughly 8 seconds.
As Digital Information World points out: That’s shorter than the attention span of a goldfish.
Not flattering, right?
With the workforce predicted to be more than 50% millennials by 2025, it makes sense that workplaces should begin to shift towards tailoring to their preferences. And, the results are in: The younger generations prioritize learning and development above many other things.
Breaking it down – because there’s just not enough time in a day
Getting sought-after learning opportunities for this new generation can be tricky, though.
Many professionals just don’t have the time in their day to tackle a 3-hour course on workplace safety, no matter how essential or mandatory it is.
A report on training software found that more than half of respondents want to learn, and would be more willing to if their company’s modules were shorter.
How short, you may ask?
Well, as we’re constantly interrupted by pings, buzzes, and alarms, we really can’t spare more than 12 minutes in a row before we need to answer something.
The standard course is recommended to be around 30 minutes max. That fits right in with our available time and concentration habits!
Have a big module that has to be put out into your employees’ brains?
Break it down! Stick it into separate lessons that are scheduled out, timestamped, and made mandatory at a certain date. This allows employees to complete it more so at their own pace, while still giving you valuable analytics and upholding compliance.
The best solutions pack all of these features into one place that’s accessible to all users.
The mobility of digital learning
Now, dear reader, it’s 2020. We’re in the future!
Because the best compliance LMS software and a microlearning platform are able to be used on almost every medium, your microlearning is completely accessible to all employees.
You aren’t strapped to your desk all day anymore. Learning can be done on the go, on your phone, tablet or laptop.
Microlearning has a macro impact
If you aren’t quite convinced yet, here’s another telling stat: A learning and development survey found that almost 95% of respondents preferred microlearning.
On top of this, this format is more budget-friendly and effective.
When employees can find training on demand and in more simple, scannable sizes, their learning experience is more personalized. Feel like picking up a course on cybersecurity? No worries – you can come back to the workplace hazards quiz later!
Instead of focusing on packing as much as possible into one sitting, better their recall and retention by giving participants a quick shot of learning.
Eager to learn
Personally, I know I’d rather take a 25 minute module over a 2 hour session.
It’s only natural that when faced with less daunting, smaller courses, employees will be more eager to jump on the chance to pack some education into their day.
And when your employees are happy, engaged, and developing, everyone prospers!
Specializing in digital marketing programs for industrial and commercial technology solutions.
