Micro-learning, or nano-learning, describes the practice of providing learners with short, focused units of learning content. The idea is to break content up into short lessons, focused on individual morsels of information, to make it more easily absorbed by learners.
Micro-learning has rapidly gained traction in organizational learning because it works in synergy with people's busy schedules. It can be difficult to take time out of our working lives to dedicate to learning new skills and absorbing information that is important to our jobs. Micro-learning helps us to learn in short bursts so that we can learn faster—whilst we are commuting or during other moments of pause in our day. It also helps us to learn as we perform work tasks, so that we can apply the information in real-time, a concept known as learning in the flow of work.
What does it mean for your learning content?
We are used to digesting information on-demand, on our mobile phones. Micro-learning is a useful approach to creating content that works on a mobile phone.
There are a key set of principles that can be applied when creating strong micro-learning content:
Break it up:
Divide content up into individual content blocks. Assign just one key lesson per block. Dividing information up into manageable chunks helps learners digest and remember the information.
Keep it short:
Use short sentences. Make a single point in each sentence. Don't use extra words.
Use visuals:
Imagery and graphics help punctuate word-heavy content, helping to break it up and bring it to life. They are also a useful tool for conveying messages and concepts faster and with fewer words.
Mix up your formats:
Applying alternative formats to content blocks helps make the learning more engaging by stimulating alternative parts of our brain, helping to make the information more memorable. Duller subjects can be made more engaging by using alternative formats to text, for example:
Video
Photographs
Infographics
Animations
Quizzes
How this transforms learning content: A Cyber Security Example
Cyber security is of great importance, but when we are busy, we do not always pay as much attention to the risks as we should. By taking a long piece of text about how to offset the risks of cyber-crime and turning it into something colorful, visual, and presented in sections, the content becomes intensely more engaging and memorable.
The difference is obvious at-a-glance. Traditional training might be paragraphs of black and white text, whereas micro-learning is colorful, visual, and presented in easy-to-digest sections.
Here's how to do it in 5 steps:
Set clear objectives:
Kick-start the course with a set of direct questions to set clear objectives and map out a learning path, so the learner immediately knows what they will achieve by completing the course.
Use engaging introductions:
For potentially dry subjects, use an animated video to introduce the topic and engage learners with the course right from the start.
Chunk the information:
Divide information into easy-to-digest chunks with a dedicated section for each element of the module—delivering just one learning point at a time.
Optimize the text:
Break the text up using short sentences to convey meaning, punctuating it with visually stimulating colorful graphics.
Make it interactive:
Put the individual in control of their own learning. This can be done by including interactive buttons requiring separate actions at the end of every section, such as:
Validating completion of the section with a slider button.
Actively selecting 'Next' to move to the next session.
Summary:
By applying these 5 steps, you can revolutionize your learning assets and create truly engaging courses that fit perfectly into the modern learner's workflow.