Professional Partner Content
Published Thu Aug 01 2019
Giving learners the ability to access training and development tools precisely at the point-of-need, microlearning’s style of just-in-time training delivers exactly the right amount of information to complete a specific objective. Microlearning assets are generally easier and more affordable to produce and maintain than lengthy courses. What’s the best way to ensure your microlearning course is effective? At AllenComm, we think the key is to start by using the right content. Here are three pointers to consider when choosing effective content for your microlearning course.
Choose Content That’s Easy to Break Up Into Small Chunks
Short, focused, actionable content that can be broken into small pieces lends itself well to microlearning strategies. This keeps training fresh and relevant for your audience too. Micro-modules let learners select and use assets most applicable to their current needs on whatever device is handiest, so they can pick content that’s relevant to their daily work. Abstract or complex content, which may be more difficult for learners to grasp, may need a blended solution. Those content delivery solutions would be better served by longer format training to develop foundational knowledge while deploying microlearning pieces for targeted, actionable content.
Great for New Systems Training
Microlearning can easily be used for a variety of purposes: as a component of larger training initiatives, as performance support, or as a communication tool. The key to choosing successful microlearning content is picking subjects or tasks that impact your employees every day without requiring a large amount of background knowledge or formal training to understand or complete. A tutorial that helps new hires learn your company’s new point-of-sale system is an ideal example of great microlearning content; so is a quick video on how to set up a user account with a new software, a troubleshooting infographic or interactive guide that takes employees through a step-by-step process to retrieve a password, or even a gamified app with quizzes, information nuggets, and competitions to encourage healthy habits. Any content that can quickly make a learner more effective for a specific task works.
Build It to be Learner Driven
Building content that lets the learner take control and plot their own way through a course creates some significant advantages for microlearning courses over other e-learning methods. As they navigate a course, learners can easily find what they need to complete real, job-related tasks. This fosters learner autonomy, driving greater learner interest and motivation. As learners personalize their training experience, they are more likely to apply knowledge on the job and seek out future training.
Conclusion
Microlearning offers key advantages for trainers and learning and development departments that need to implement a training solution easy for their employees to access and digest on the job. Pick content that can be broken down into smaller components and provides training on day-to-day tasks. Then build that content into a microlearning course driven by the learner. This will make your training more engaging for your audience and more effective as a corporate training tool.
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