Microlearning for smarter training
In today’s fast-paced work environment, training and development are important to stay competitive and relevant. However, traditional classroom-based training programs can be time-consuming and costly and may not always meet the needs of mobile employees. This is where bite-sized learning, also known as microlearning, comes into play.
Discover what bite-sized learning is, the benefits of this training approach, how to divide your training into bite-sized information, and examples of the best training topics for this approach.
What is bite-sized learning?
Bicycle-sized learning is a training approach that provides information in small digestible parts that usually last within 10-15 minutes. Content focuses on specific learning goals and can be delivered in a variety of ways, including videos, podcasts, infographics, quizzes and more.
Bicycle-sized learning is designed to fit your employee’s busy schedule and is accessible anytime, anywhere, making it perfect for mobile employees on the go. This aims to help employees stay in the long term, not overloaded, and not overwhelmed by the amount of information they need to learn.
What is microlearning? bite-sized learning?
The terms “microlearning” and “bite-sized learning” are often used interchangeably, but there is a subtle difference between the two. Microlearning usually refers to short individual learning units that are part of a larger training program, whereas bite-sized learning usually refers to a complete training program that is offered in small chunks.
What are the benefits of bite-sized training?
1. Increased retention
Bicycle-sized learning provides information in short bursts, making it easier for employees to absorb and retain information. This is because the brain can only process a limited amount of information at a time, and bite-sized learning ensures that employees are not overloaded with information.
2. Improve engagement
Bicycle-sized learning is designed to be interactive and engaging, helping employees stay motivated and interested in training content. This is especially important for mobile employees who may have limited time and many priorities may be attracting attention.
3. Flexibility
Bit-sized learning is perfect for deskless employees who can access anytime, anywhere, on any device, and only access a smartphone, not a laptop. This flexibility means employees can learn at their own pace and at their own time, improving the overall learning experience.
4. Cost-effective
Bicycle-sized learning is often more cost-effective than traditional classroom-based training programs, as it requires fewer resources to deliver this training content and requires employees to be separated from the workplace for a long period of time. This is especially important for small businesses where training and development budgets may be limited.
5. Easy to update
Bicycle-sized learning content can be easily updated and changed. This means you can keep it up to date with the latest information and trends. This is important for topics that can change frequently, such as workplace safety and cybersecurity.
How do you break down your training into bite-sized information?
One of the biggest challenges in training is to keep employees involved and retain the information they need to do their job effectively. Bicycle-sized learning is a powerful tool to help you overcome this challenge.
Decompose training into smaller, more manageable parts, allowing employees to absorb information more easily and frequently review it for increased memory retention. Here are some tips for breaking your training into bite-sized information:
Identify the main point. Start by identifying the most important points of the course. These points should be clear, concise and feasible. Create a list of these points and organize them into logical sequences. Condensate information. Once you have identified the main point, you condense the information into a form that is easy to digest. Explain things using lists and procedures instead of full sentences and paragraphs. Keep your language simple and avoid jargon. If you include examples, make sure they are short and relevant. Use visual aids. Visual aids are extremely useful in breaking down information into bite-sized pieces. Consider using graphics, charts and images to explain the points. Visual aids can make information more attractive and easier to remember. Visual aids can replace written examples to reduce information overload.
Bit size learning example
There are different types of bite-sized learning that can be used in your training program. Here are some examples.
Mobile Flash Card
These are great ways to break down information into bite-sized pieces that allow employees to take over their smartphones. You can use flashcards to quizzify employees at key points in a course or to enhance learning after a long course or training session has been completed.
Short video
Short videos are another effective tool for bite-sized learning. Videos can be used to explain complex concepts and demonstrate how to perform tasks. Make sure your video contains more visual aids than the text employees need to read.
Infographic
Infographics are a great way to break down complex information into easy-to-digest formats. If you have numerical data to present, selecting the right infographic can go a long way.
Best Training Topics for Bicycle-Sized Learning
Virtually any type of training can be categorized into bite-sized pieces, but there are some topics that are particularly suitable for this approach. Here are some examples.
Company missions and values
The first step to establishing a unified company is to ensure that all employees are aware of the organization’s mission and values. And usually, bite-sized learning is the perfect approach to conveying it, as it doesn’t require too many words or long explanations to convey the message.
Company policies and procedures
Company policies and procedures are complex and overwhelming, especially for new hires. Bit-sized learning helps employees understand these policies and procedures in a more manageable way.
Cybersecurity training
Cybersecurity is a key concern for every business, and employees need to be trained in the fundamentals of password security, clean desk policies and other best practices.
Workplace safety
Employees should understand the fundamentals of fire exits, slips, travel, falls and other safety concerns. Creating bite-sized learning to cover these topics will help you refresh and refer to it regularly.
A little bit of information is very helpful
Bicycle-sized learning is a powerful tool that helps you overcome many of the challenges of traditional training programs. And if 80% of employees say they prefer shorter and more frequent training sessions than long one-off events, bite-sized learning is worth considering at least for your company. Breaking information into smaller, more manageable parts can improve employee engagement and retention.
Key takeout
Bicycle-sized learning breaks down training into smaller, more manageable parts. Flashcards, short videos, and infographics are examples of bite-sized learning. Mobile and field employees usually benefit from bite-sized training as they are always accessible from any device. Using visual aids, you can easily divide your training into bite-sized sections, and use some short examples to condense only the main points of your training.
Talent Cards
It connects workers globally, transfers knowledge and impacts performance. Meet TalentCards: Mobile Microlearning Tools for the Deskless Workforce.
It was originally published at www.talentcards.com.
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