‘Microlearning’ Emerges as an Effective Training Tool

The origin of the term "microlearning" dates back to the 1990s, when the first mobile devices began to emerge. The concept refers to the delivery of small units of information in a quick and easily accessible way, which is particularly useful for online education and mobile learning.

The term "microlearning" has evolved over time and is now used to describe a variety of teaching techniques and strategies, including the delivery of content in small learning pills, the use of games and simulations, gamification, problem-based learning, social and collaborative learning, or personalized learning.

The idea stems from the concept of learning in small doses or chunks of information, rather than in longer, more in-depth learning sessions. It is a trend in education that has become increasingly popular thanks to digital and mobile technology, which has made it possible to access educational content anytime, anywhere.

Microlearning is based on the theory of reinforcement learning: a technique that exposes the brain to repetitive doses to expedite learning. Therefore, microlearning lessons are designed to be short, specific and easy to digest. This way of learning has been validated from different disciplines, such as neuroscience; a line of research that focuses on the study of the brain and how it reacts to certain stimuli. The stimuli (also called conditioners) are monitored through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to analyze the brain's reaction to the stimuli. In education, it refers to the way of learning different content (practical, theoretical, among others).

Common forms of microlearning include short videos, infographics, quizzes and podcasts. The benefits of microlearning include increased retention of information, increased motivation to learn and greater flexibility in lesson planning.

Some of the benefits of microlearning are:

Accessibility: By presenting content in small portions, microlearning makes it more accessible to learners, as they can absorb and process the information more easily.

Flexibility: Microlearning adapts easily to the needs and schedules of learners, as the content can be accessed at any time and from anywhere.

Increased retention: By presenting information in small chunks, microlearning helps learners retain knowledge better by focusing on one idea or concept at a time.

Efficient learning: Microlearning allows learners to learn more efficiently, as they can focus on the information they need at any given moment, without having to go through lengthy learning processes.

Continuous learning: Microlearning encourages continuous learning, as learners can access the content at any time and continue learning at their own pace.

Statistical data can be useful in microlearning to measure the effectiveness of this approach and to help instructors improve their delivery of content.

Some statistical data that may be relevant to microlearning include:

Completion rate: This metric measures the number of people who start a microlearning module and successfully complete it. A high completion rate indicates that the content is effective and accessible to learners.

Time spent: It is important to measure how much time learners spend on the microlearning content. This can help instructors adjust the length of the content to ensure that it is easily absorbable.

Knowledge assessment: It is essential to assess knowledge retention after completion of the microlearning module. Multiple-choice questions and surveys can be useful tools to measure learner understanding.

Learner feedback: Asking learners for feedback on the effectiveness of the microlearning and to suggest improvements can help improve the content and delivery of the microlearning.

Number of repetitions: It is important to measure how many times the learner re-accesses the microlearning content. This can help trainers understand whether the content is being effective in terms of retention and comprehension of the material.

Some statistics on the use of microlearning in companies show the following data:

According to a survey conducted by Brandon Hall Group, 56% of companies use microlearning as a training and development tool for their employees.

A survey by Bersin by Deloitte found that 80% of employees enjoy and prefer the microlearning training format over longer, more traditional courses.

Finally, according to a Microsoft study, the average attention span of a person is approximately 8 seconds. However, employees can maintain their attention for longer periods when they are trained in short periods of time and on small pieces of information.

In today's world, microlearning has become a popular trend in training because of its convenience, flexibility and ability to meet people's learning needs more effectively.

Microlearning is used in a variety of training and education settings. In corporate training, microlearning is used to provide training in soft skills, such as communication, teamwork and leadership, as well as technical skills, such as software and programming. It is also used in higher education to provide additional training in academic skills, such as research and writing.

It has certainly become an emerging trend in education and training. Its ability to offer personalized, convenient and accessible learning makes it a valuable tool for a variety of learning situations. As more organizations continue to adopt this approach, it is expected that new design techniques and innovative tools will be developed to enhance the learning experience.