Microlearning: Using Little Learning to Improve Skills

Hola Vicigers, This time we will discuss about microlearning in order to have an understanding of it. 

Currently, apps allow you to learn languages in your free time. Of course, there are also tutorials on YouTube, infographics, tweet threads or mini games at school.

Welcome to the era of microlearning, the triumphant education of students and workers around the world.

It's no coincidence that this trend has exploded in recent years. Microlearning has found the perfect terrain to thrive in an environment where stimuli try to get our attention.

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What is Microlearning?

Microlearning is a relatively new approach to competency-based education. This approach manages various lessons packaged in small modules.

With this in mind, it's easy to trace the microlearning pedigree. These range from MOOCs – massive open courses – launched by Stanford University in 2011, to things like TED talks and webinars. 

Today, all platforms from universities around the world use short videos to teach their courses. This is the case for Coursera or edX, founded by MIT and Harvard University, which offers more than 3,500 courses in 30 subjects.

However, microlearning goes far beyond video and uses a variety of formats, including text, audio, infographics, essay examples, all kinds of gamification, and even projects prepared by students to explain concepts to their classmates.

In addition, microlearning must have an appropriate structure that facilitates, among other things, the study of concepts by students and their assimilation. It is about sharing information, managing it in a logical sequence, and planning activities that help achieve predetermined goals.

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Benefits of Micro Learning

Efficiency is one of the most important points of micro learning. Micro learning types and formats favor quickly assimilating content presented in a small form.

In particular, sequential learning in these microcontents improves students' concentration, and the dynamics also help increase their interest.

In addition, micro-learning contributes to the universalization of education because most of the formats it uses are digital. That is, they can be easily consumed anytime, anywhere, by simply having access to a smartphone or computer and the internet.

The adaptation of microlearning to the uniqueness of learners is very high, both in terms of time and space, as well as their own educational needs. Moreover, it is much easier to adapt small modules or short content, both for student characteristics and for possible subject changes.

All of these features make microlearning a very suitable format for today's economy. When massive amounts of information constantly make us divide our attention among various subjects and for a short period of time, our margins for retaining it begin to narrow.

This phenomenon has an explanation and does not have to do with anything strange going on in our brains. In fact, what's happening is that we now have the same amount of time as before to focus our attention, while the choices we can direct have doubled.

Their growth is so strong that they are even competing with each other to conquer us. Consequently, we  spend less time on each subject.

In the context of this competition, education and training for the younger generation in the future must learn to overcome it. One weapon they have is micro-learning, with content designed to engage learners and help them assimilate that content.

This doesn't mean the classroom has to be a highly stimulated space that TikTok influencers direct. Microlearning is yet another tool that can be used in education and other, longer formats.

Using videos and short games with dopamine-filled rewards in class doesn't even matter. Sometimes, using short text or easy-to-assimilate infographics is faster, easier, and more effective than watching a five-minute video. And this is within the reach of every educator.

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Training for a New Work Environment

The concern isn't exclusive to teens with cell phones in their hands. The current work environment – which also awaits them in the future – is characterized by constant interruptions and attention hopping from one task to the next, leading to higher levels of stress, frustration and effort to get things done.

Formats such as microlearning are well suited to these circumstances because they allow, on the one hand, professionals to acquire knowledge at the time that best suits them in a time-constrained context.

On the other hand, they facilitate upskilling and reskilling which will help them navigate this frenetic environment.

In a workforce environment, where change occurs at an ever-increasing pace, the amalgamation of skills must be permanent. Employers will look for the specific skills they need in the talent they are hiring rather than a specific title.

Under these circumstances, it is clear that recent graduates and working professionals must strive to acquire the right skills at every point in their careers. In other words, they have to pursue that skill their whole life.

The times when people studied careers and pawned their books are far behind us. In the new, when we have to include constant training in saturated everyday life, micro-learning will be very useful thanks to its adaptability.

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