Microlearning and training reinforcement go hand-in-hand. Learn how they work together to boost your corporate eLearning initiatives!
Clear, effective, and engaging training is essential in any organization. Whether you're onboarding new employees, upskilling current staff, or cross-training—the workplace is a constant stream of learning new information. But what good is all that training if it just goes in one ear and out the other? After all, most corporate training programs are chock-full of complex and intense subjects requiring reinforcement to stick. While businesses have their choice of retention-enhancing methods, microlearning has quickly come to dominate L&D programs.
Microlearning reinforces training in quick, repeatable bursts by focusing on brevity instead of long-form content. Because microlearning can take a number of forms, it serves a variety of learners’ needs.
Training reinforcement and microlearning work hand-in-hand to increase employee knowledge retention. So how can investing in a microlearning platform accelerate your corporate eLearning initiatives?
Microlearning uses bite-sized modules to teach and reinforce training material. Spacing out information over time and with shorter intervals can vastly improve learning retention, countering Ebbinhaus' Forgetting Curve—the bane of all corporate training programs.
In 1885, German psychologist Herman Ebbinghaus sought to discover how quickly we forget the things we've just learned. He conducted several experiments to see how well he could remember a series of nonsense three-letter words. He tested his knowledge retention over different intervals and discovered, on average, how quickly humans tend to forget. The results were eye-opening.
People forget 50-80% of what they've learned after one day. After a month, they forget 97-98% of the information.
The caveat here is the lack of reinforcement. Ebbinghaus found he’d be more likely to remember his nonsense words if he reviewed them before each "test." In other words, if Ebbinghaus implemented microlearning strategies, his curve would look a lot different.
In fact, Ebbinghaus determined that the best window for reinforcement is within 24 hours of training. He also determined several other factors that influenced memory strength. The more interested a learner is in the material, the more likely they'll remember it. For example, a multimedia presentation is easier to recall than static content. His findings point to the power of microlearning as the most effective tool to combat The Forgetting Curve.
Microlearning can prove effective whether implemented on its own or blended with more traditional strategies. Digital and traditional learning are two sides of the same coin; working in unique ways while relying on each other to get different messages across. Incorporating microlearning into your current training strategies will render tangible results in a hybrid workplace.
Blended learning combines instructor-led training (ILT) with online courses. On the one hand, ILT offers a more facilitated and rigorous approach. On the other hand, eLearning allows you to move at your own pace. Each has its merits, but it’s blending both methods that yield the best results and return on investment (ROI).
Microlearning uses the time before and after an ILT course to improve knowledge intake and retention. A hybrid workforce will seldom if ever, all be in the office simultaneously. You might try to have them come in for the ILT course—but microlearning modules help them prepare and retain information before and after, on their own.
Learners can quickly strengthen their knowledge base by practicing what they've learned. They can take short assessments, play games, and run practice simulations to put their training to the test. And since these modules are bite-sized, learners can use their mobile devices to access them anytime, anywhere.
Everyone remembers those thick history textbooks from high school. If they were more exciting and engaging, don't you think you'd have been a little more interested? Microlearning aims to solve the engagement problem with short and fun activities that keep learners interested in the material, even on the go.
Outside of training, microlearning also boosts overall engagement in the workplace with increased productivity. When learners truly retain the intended concepts, they apply them more readily in their day-to-day tasks. Furthermore, organizations spend less time and money on the training process when employees quickly become proficient in their new skill sets.
For Millennial and Gen Z employees, microlearning is the key to increasing engagement in the workplace. Because they can access modules from their smartphones—devices that rarely leave their side—younger generations are more inclined to participate in available microlearning lessons.
Microlearning technology understands the importance of mobile learning in the modern workplace. Short, bite-sized activities make training easier to learn, process, and remember. HR professionals can redefine what it means to attract and retain Millennial and Gen Z talent by introducing more mobile flexibility in the workplace.
Gamification is perhaps one of the most valuable tools included with any microlearning platform. Integrating a mobile gaming aspect into your training programs makes them far more engaging for younger workers. While it may not be as fun as Angry Birds, a goal-oriented approach helps reinforce training with something they can win or achieve.
Microlearning modules are stored in the cloud, making them accessible 24/7 and incredibly useful in a hybrid work environment. Employees can easily complete their microlearning lessons in the flow of work and review them whenever they need a refresher in the future.
Microlearning and training reinforcement go hand-in-hand. When applied together, employees can counter The Forgetting Curve to achieve higher productivity and engagement levels. Also, because these bite-sized modules are conveniently available via mobile app, Millennial and Gen Z employees are more inclined to genuinely participate.
Mindmarker leverages the power of microlearning with customizable training programs that work with your course materials, and on your schedule. Microlearning modules engage workers via multimedia content, including video, audio, infographics, games, and competitions. You can measure how effective these modules are in boosting employee knowledge retention through data analytics, shining a light on those who excel and those who need a little extra help.
Get started with Mindmarker today to strengthen your corporate eLearning initiatives and boost knowledge retention across the board with microlearning software.