Why your organization needs to start utilizing micro-learning in 2021 and beyond
How does micro-learning work?
Is it an effective training tool?
What are the benefits of micro-learning?
These are all great questions to ask if you’re looking for a way to ensure that employees engage with training content and retain the information.
Micro-learning isn’t a new training method, but it’s still a powerful way to quickly provide employees with necessary information or refresher training. Instead of making employees undergo lengthy training programs, micro-learning provides the ability to train and upskill your employees with content that’s short, informative, and engaging.
Unfortunately, many companies have a tough time truly embracing micro-learning. They don’t want to “forget something”, so they end up making their training too long and packing them with too much information—missing out on the benefits of actual micro-learning.
If you’re interested in learning what micro-learning is and why it’s so powerful, you’re in the right place.
In this article, we’re providing you with all the information you need to know regarding micro-learning. We’ll share micro-learning statistics and micro-learning trends to help you understand more about the effectiveness of micro-learning.
Keep reading to learn about the best micro-learning tools for 2021 and beyond.
How does micro-learning work?
Experts estimate that by 2025 millennials will account for 75% of the American workforce. That means that 3 out of every 4 individuals in the professional world will be a millennial.
Why is this statistic about millennials in the workforce significant?
Because millennials learn and consume content differently than the previous generations. Millennials have a much shorter attention span and don’t want to spend large chunks of time in meetings, watching videos, or reading text.
Instead, millennials desire training that allows them to receive information quickly and then move on to a new topic.
So, what’s the solution for training the modern workforce?
Enter micro-learning tools—videos and content specifically crafted for millennials.
Micro-learning works by providing employees with training videos that are:
- Short
- Relevant
- Engaging
Here’s a quick look at each of these three micro-learning components that help drive learner focus and retention.
Short
Micro-learning is any video that’s between 1-5 minutes long. This is the sweet spot for video length because:
- A video shorter than one minute won’t include enough relevant information. And if the video is longer than five minutes, learners will become disengaged.
- Social media and other modern entertainment sources (think Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc.) have conditioned millennials to consume content quickly and then move onto something new.
Micro-learning videos allow employees to:
- Watch the videos as they have time—no need to set aside 30+ minutes
- Return to and rewatch videos if they need a refresher
- Quickly move from one topic to another
Short, micro-learning videos take advantage of how millennials consume content by curating it to fit their habits.
Relevant
Not only do millennials want quick videos, but they also want the content to be highly relevant to their job, roles, and responsibilities.
If content isn’t tailored specifically for a team, they’ll become disinterested and less likely to finish the training.
When creating micro-learning training content for your employees, it can be helpful to consider:
- The team you’re training (e.g., sales, customer service, etc.)
- What kind of skills, information, or knowledge they need to excel in their position
- Any new company or industry standards taking effect
Your sales team will require different training than your customer service team, so make sure to think about which team you’re training and what kind of content they need.
Engaging
Lastly, employees want video content that’s fun, creative, and interactive.
Here are two different approaches to a training video:
- Someone talking into a camera and sharing all about the company’s values for 30+ minutes.
- A series of six 5-minute long animated videos with a running theme, each diving into a specific company value.
Which training option sounds more engaging?
Option 2, of course!
When training videos include fun animations and creative themes, employees are more likely to watch the entire video and remember the information.
Researchers have found that the human attention span is decreasing and millennials are easily distracted. Short, relevant videos that include graphics, fun animations, etc., help keep the learner focused on the information being presented.
The business case for micro-learning: micro-learning statistics and trends
We just talked in length about three aspects of micro-learning videos that drive learner engagement and retention.
But you might still be wondering, “Is micro-learning actually effective?”
Here at Unboxed, we’ve helped many organizations improve their training completion rates, upskill their employees, and increase revenue through micro-learning training videos. We found that:
- 90% of employees agree video is effective for communicating information
- 75% of employees are more likely to watch a video than read text
- 79% of employees agree video improves the quality of training
The above micro-learning statistics show that employees truly do prefer video when it comes to training content.
But don’t just take our word for it. Here are some other micro-learning statistics that show the micro-learning trend will continue in 2021 and beyond.
1. Micro-learning allows for 80% greater retention
A study by RPS found that micro-learning videos can increase learner focus and retention rates by up to 80%.
Research has shown that employees (and humans in general) can forget 50-80% of all information learned if it’s not reinforced. Micro-learning videos allow you to easily provide quick refresher training to employees on important topics—continuous training at its finest.
2. Micro-learning can boost engagement by up to 50%
58% of employees involved in a recent survey said they’d be more likely to use their company’s online training tool if it included micro-learning videos.
What does this statistic mean?
If you want your workforce to engage with your training content, then micro-learning videos can make that a reality.
3. Micro-learning videos cut development costs by 30% and introduction speed by 300%
Utilizing micro-learning videos can allow you to:
- Cut your training program development costs by 30%
- Increase the speed at which you can introduce new training to employees by 300%
Because micro-learning videos are only 1-5 minutes long, you can create them more quickly and at a cheaper cost. This means that you can save money on content development while getting new training into the hands of your employees faster.
Invest in microlearning training tools today
The modern, millennial workforce is different from previous generations. They consume content differently and need a training program that aligns with their habits.
Micro-learning videos are designed to help these millennial employees learn and retain job-specific information more efficiently.
To make micro-learning videos most effective for employees, these videos should be:
- Short, 1-5 minute long clips
- Relevant to the employees or team they’re intended for
- Engaging to capture learner attention and focus
And micro-learning statistics support the power of micro-learning in the modern workplace, with:
- 75% of employees being more likely to watch a video than read text
- 80% greater retention rates with micro-learning videos
- 50% more engagement with training content among employees
- 30% decreased content development costs and 300% increased training implementation speeds
Still wondering, “How does micro-learning work, and is it really effective?”
At Unboxed Training & Technology, we’re your go-to team for micro-learning videos and custom training content. Our creative team can take your company’s training content and turn it into fresh, engaging micro-learning videos that your employees will love. Plus, we have one of the best micro-learning tools on the market—Spoke® Learning Platform. Spoke is an award-winning online software platform that allows you to house your content in one place and make it remotely accessible to all your employees.
The micro-learning trend started about a decade ago and doesn’t look like it will go away any time soon. Are you ready to invest in micro-learning in 2021 and start giving your employees training that gets results?
