Microlearning
BITE-SIZED LEARNING
FOR MAXIMUM IMPACT
MIKE-TAYLOR.ORG
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Mike
Taylor
mike-taylor.org
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bit.ly/2023cuna
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Join at slido.com
#cuna23
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What is your experience with microlearning?
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What's driving your interest
in microlearning?
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Game Plan
Intro & Background
When & How to Use
Design Principles
Tools & Examples
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WTH is Microlearning?
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“Microlearning is an instructional unit that
provides a short engagement in an activity
intentionally designed to elicit a specific
outcome from the participant.”
Robyn A. Defelice
& Karl M. Kapp
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“learning that fits”
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“There is no such
thing as a new idea.”
—Mark Twain
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Microlearning is
NOT
a new idea!
First adopted in the 1960s
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Microlearning Timeline
1880s
Ebbinghaus
Forgetting Curve
1950s
Skinner
Programmed
Learning
1956
Miller
Miller’s Law
1960s
“Microlearning”
coined
1990s
Web
1994
First
Smartphone
limitations of human cognitive capacity enabling technology
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The “OG” or Hot New Trend?
2015 2023
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Why so popular?
Changing Demographics
Younger workforce prefers quick,
digital formats for learning.
Attention Spans
Less patience for longer methods of
learning. (TikTok-ification)
Just-in-Time Learning
Immediate skill application allows
learning exactly when needed.
Cost-Effectiveness
Generally quicker to develop &
deploy, saving time & money.
Adaptability
Easily updated & adaptable to
changing business needs
Integration
Easily integrates w/ existing
programs and technology
Data-Driven
Easier to track and analyze data on
learner engagement & effectiveness.
Remote Work Surge
Pandemic made online, flexible
learning solutions more relevant.
Technology
Easier to create & deliver with
SmartPhones & hi-speed internet.
Microlearners can retain
information better than
traditional learners
(Sitzmann et al., 2013; Park et al., 2016).
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Microlearning learners were
more engaged and motivated
than learners who received
traditional training
(Manning, J. L., & Thorpe, K. 2021, Shamir-Inbal, T., & Blau, I. R. 2020)
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Microlearning can help to
improve the transfer of
learning to the job
Park, S. Y., Spector, J. M., Oh, J. S., & Lee, H. (2016), Zhu, R., & Gao, F. (2021).
rethinking how we apply proven
practices to solve familiar problems
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Microlearning Uses
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Ways to use
Microlearning
CREDIT: Making Micro Work: 20 Ways to Use Microlearning to Add Value to Your Curriculum Carla Torgerson, MEd, MBA
Preparation
Pre-Work
What are some ways you can use microlearning
in a preparation or pre-work context?
Carl Torgerson
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Preparation
•Don't know why they're attending the event.
•Need to learn / information before
they can participate in the event.
•Learners have different levels of knowledge.
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Preparation
Introductory Video
Reading Assignment
Interactive Quiz/Survey
Scenario-Based Questions
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Ways to use
Microlearning
CREDIT: Making Micro Work: 20 Ways to Use Microlearning to Add Value to Your Curriculum Carla Torgerson, MEd, MBA
Preparation
Follow-Up
Pre-Work
Brain Boosts
Short-form
Performance
Support
What are some ways you can use
microlearning in a follow-up context?
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Follow Up
•Learners need to be reminded to use their new skills.
•You want learners to continue learning after the event.
•Learners are likely to forget important details.
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Follow-Up
Recap Video
60 Second Summary
Email/SMS Quiz
Brain Boosters
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Hermann
Ebbinghaus
discovered the forgetting curve
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Realize that
your learners
will forget
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PRESENT A
LEARNING POINT
PRESENT SAME
LEARNING POINT AGAIN
WHAT IS
SPACED
LEARNING?
wait some amount
of time
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This is NOT distributing
unrelated, non-repetitious
learning events over time.
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Will
Thalhemier
Spacing Learning Events
Over Time:
What the Research Says
Will Thalheimer
@WillWorkLearn
www.worklearning.com
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Maximize
Learning
The Problem
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Maximize
Learning
The Problem
Do Nothing for
Forgetting
As soon as the learning event ends the forgetting begins
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Maximize Learning AND
Minimize Forgetting
Spaced repetition on the job turns the forgetting curve into a
learning-and-forgetting curve, improving memory.
The Problem
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http://supermemo.com
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Does it work?
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The spacing effect is one of
the oldest and best
documented phenomena
in the history of learning
and memory research.
HARRY BAHRICK & LYNDA HALL (via W. Thalheimer)
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2+2+2 Memory Boosters
2 days
2 weeks
2 months
https://learningsolutionsmag.com/articles/1423/brain-science-enable-your-brain-to-remember-almost-everything
Art Kohn
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Art Kohn
5 Second Rule
Memory Boosters:
• 5 seconds
• 30 seconds
• 5 minutes
https://learningsolutionsmag.com/articles/1423/brain-science-enable-your-brain-to-remember-almost-everything
There was no difference!
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KEY
FINDINGS
Repetitions are very effective
Particularly if long-term retention is the goal
Presentation vs Retrieval
Prompting learners to practice retrieving items
from memory is more beneficial than simply
re-presenting
Spaced retrieval practice is the
aspirin of instructional design
Will Thalheimer
...it has multiple benefits and very
few negative side effects.
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Ways to use
Microlearning
CREDIT: Making Micro Work: 20 Ways to Use Microlearning to Add Value to Your Curriculum Carla Torgerson, MEd, MBA
Preparation
Follow-Up
Stand Alone
Pre-Work
Brain Boosts
Short-form
What are some ways you can use
microlearning in a stand-alone context?
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Stand Alone
So many possibilities
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Stand-Alone Training
• Concept is small and easy to understand.
• Concept is big, but can be broken down into smaller,
easier-to-understand parts.
• Concept is something learners will need to review often.
• Learners already have some understanding of concept.
• Learners are motivated to learn the concept.
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Ways to use
Microlearning
CREDIT: Making Micro Work: 20 Ways to Use Microlearning to Add Value to Your Curriculum Carla Torgerson, MEd, MBA
Preparation
Follow-Up
Stand Alone
Support
Pre-Work
Brain Boosts
Short-form
Performance
Support
What are some ways you can use
microlearning in a support context?
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Support
•Learners do a task infrequently or the information for the
task is easy to forget.
•Accuracy is important or mistakes could be dangerous.
•The task is complex or has many steps.
•Learners need help with certain topics.
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Support
Quick Reference Guide
Chatbot / Assistant
QR Code
Interactive Checklist
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Design Principles
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Can’t simply
“chop up”
existing stuff
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Duration doesn’t matter*
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Focus on the
‘Learning’
in Microlearning
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“The length and structure of a
microlesson should be
informed by cognitive load
theory and not by time frame.”
Dr. Nidhi Sachdeva
University of Toronto
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The secret to microlearning
is not making things short.
It's making short things matter!
(Grovo, 2022)
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“Any piece of learning content
that is just five minutes long
but not useful to your learners
is a waste of five minutes.”
Diane Elkins
Artisan E-Learning
“You don’t have to create content day in
and day out. You just have to work on
getting the content you already have in
the hands of more people”
Derek Halpern
@tmiket
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Repurposing
Existing Content
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Look for
Facts Quotes Statistics
Tips and
hacks
Step-by-step
instructions
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@biancabaumann @tmiket
Microlearning Makeover
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Infographics
Infographics deliver research in an
easy-to-understand, visual layout.
*most-shared type of content
https://coschedule.com/blog/social-media-content
What could you repurpose
as an infographic?
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What could you repurpose
as an audiogram?
Audiograms
Audiograms bridge the audio and visual
gap by letting you share audio clips of
your content set to an image and
waveform.
https://www.buzzsprout.com/blog/podcast-audiograms-tips
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Channels: Think Beyond the LMS
Learning
management
systems (LMS)
Learning
Experience
Systems (LXP)
Microlearning
platforms
Mobile apps Social media
Email *** Intranet Internet
Point-of-sale
(POS) systems
Customer
relationship mgt
(CRM) systems
Human capital
management
(HCM) systems
Enterprise
resource planning
(ERP) systems
Augmented
reality (AR)
Virtual reality (VR)
Physical items
(print, etc.)
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Start With What You
Already Have!
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Use/Format Matrix
Text-based Visual Audio Interactive
Preparation
Follow-up
Stand-alone
Performance
Support
Adapted from Designing Microlearning by Carla Torgerson and Sue Iannone
Important Considerations
Relevance
How can you
ensure that the
micro content you
create is
immediately
applicable to your
employees' needs?
Integration
What existing
learning platforms
or training
programs can be
complemented by
microlearning?
Measurement
How will you
measure the
effectiveness of
microlearning
within your
broader learning
ecosystem?
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Get a Head Start
AI Generation
Transform
Content
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Microlearning: Short and Sweet by Robyn A. Defelice, Karl M. Kapp
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C.U.R.A.T.E.D.
Model
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A Model For Learning Design
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Clarify
Objectives
Focus on one
specific,
measurable
objective per
microlearning
module.
Unearth
Content
Source bite-
sized content
like articles,
infographics, or
short videos that
can be
consumed
quickly
(Curate from larger
sized content)
Review &
Refine
Ensure the
content is not
only relevant
and accurate
but also concise
and to the point.
Arrange
Systematically
Sequence
microlearning
modules in a
way that they
can stand alone
or be part of a
larger
curriculum.
Transform
Presentation
Optimize for
mobile devices
where
microlearning is
often consumed.
(Or other unique traits
for your audience)
Engage
& Enrich
Use interactive
elements like
quick quizzes or
flashcards to
make the
microlearning
module
engaging.
Develop
& Deliver
Use analytics to
continually
refine the
microlearning
content based
on real-world
usage and
feedback
Adapted For Microlearning
What’s your favorite tool for
creating microlearning?
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What’s your favorite example
of microlearning?
(and why is it your favorite? )
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Whisper Courses
• Originated at Google
• Short lessons
• Stand along or follow-up
• Don’t sleep on email
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MICROLEARNING:
SHORT AND SWEET
DESIGNING
MICROLEARNING
Gleaning insights from research, theory, and
practice, authors Karl M. Kapp and Robyn A.
Defelice go beyond the hypothetical and offer tips
on putting microlearning into action
Experts Carla Torgerson and Sue Iannone answer
the questions you need to know to fully engage
your learners and tackle organizational
performance needs.
Karl Kapp & Robin Defelice Carla Torgerson & Sue Iannone
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Effective learning meets
people where they are and is
frictionless, continuous,
practical, and data-informed.
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Demo Examples
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I learned…
I’m beginning to think…
I wonder if…
I was surprised that…
I’m going to…
Links & Resources →