Your learners only remember 10 to 15% of the concepts learned in training, and 80% of them are forgotten in the following week. We then understand the importance of the fragmentation of information!
In a rapidly changing economic context, continuing employee training is becoming a major challenge to maintain competitiveness. Microlearning appears to be an appropriate solution in this context.
But what are its benefits for employees and businesses? What is the best implementation strategy for organizations? All of these questions will be answered in this article!
Introduction to microlearning in business
What is microlearning?
Microlearning, or learning in small units, is revolutionizing traditional vocational training methods. By dividing content into short, targeted segments, this approach responds to the decline in the ability to concentrate and to our new accelerated rhythms of life.
Each microlearning session lasts only a few minutes and has a specific objective. The result: better assimilation and better retention of information by learners. This type of training is characterized by its flexibility, practicality and engagement. Apprenticeship then becomes more accessible and more attractive for your employees!
Microlearning is growing in popularity in vocational training, which is not surprising. Its ability to adapt to the needs of modern businesses makes it relevant. This method is simple, flexible, fast and fun, and marks a change in the transmission and acquisition of knowledge in the workplace.
Why is microlearning adapted to the business world?
Microlearning allows for rapid and effective employee training and meets the specific needs of the business without disrupting its usual workflow. The training becomes possible at any time and on any type of support which offers great flexibility for both the organization and the learner.
In addition, microlearning is particularly beneficial. for teams in the field, which require quick and easy access to information without having to devote themselves to long face-to-face training sessions.
How microlearning is transforming corporate training
Benefits of microlearning for employees
The micro-learning sessions are short and exciting, which captures the attention of employees. They offer a learning approach that adapts to individual pace and facilitates access to training while allowing learning paths to be personalized.
This allows employees to focus on specific skills or areas of knowledge that correspond to their professional needs or interests.
Benefits of microlearning for businesses
From a business perspective, microlearning also offers numerous advantages ! First, it improves employee retention through opportunities for ongoing professional development.
Microlearning, compared to more traditional training methods, also makes it possible to significantly reduce costs by minimizing time spent away from the work station and by optimizing educational resources used (room rental, travel expenses...).
Finally, its great adaptability to rapid changes in the professional environment makes it a valuable tool for keeping employee skills up to date.
Strategies for implementing microlearning in business
3 key steps to deploy your microlearning strategy
- Define your goals and key results
Setting up a successful microlearning strategy starts with defining Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) that incorporate SMART goals (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, time-bound) and key results.
- Choice of formats
The next step is choosing the right content and appropriate formats, which is crucial for attracting attention and facilitating knowledge acquisition. But we'll talk about that a bit later in this article.
- Assessment and analysis
Regular evaluation through learning analysis (via Learning Analytics) is essential. It makes it possible to measure the effectiveness of microlearning training and to make the necessary adjustments to continuously improve the process.
Choosing the right tools and platforms
The success of your microlearning strategy also depends on the careful choice of your educational tools and platforms. These should be accessible, easy to use, and offer good value for money.
It's also important that they have the ability to actively engage employees in their learning journey. But before making your choice, make sure you have the necessary resources in-house to set them up!
Concrete examples of the use of microlearning in business
Google and leadership
Google has integrated micro-learning in its leadership development strategy to strengthen team culture and improve managerial performance. Using a behavioral approach, the company sent a series of emails, known as “whispering lessons,” to executives. These emails contained practical tips and built-in incentives to promote a psychologically safe environment. The results were impressive: employee evaluations of executive performance improved by between 22 and 40%, demonstrating the effectiveness of this method in positively influencing managerial culture.
Walmart and workplace safety
Faced with a high risk of injury in its distribution centers, Walmart has implemented a security program based on microlearning, integrating gamification elements to captivate and educate its employees. This program aimed to build a world class safety culture. The statistics revealed a 54% reduction in incidents in the centers involved, while voluntary participation in the program reached over 90%. In addition, the level of knowledge on security-related topics increased by 15%, and employee confidence in this area improved by 8%.
Asurint and employee integration
Asurint, a technology company specializing in background checks, has integrated microlearning in its integration process, targeting in particular young graduates with little management experience. Thanks to this approach, Asurint reduced the training time from 6-8 weeks to only 4 weeks and doubled the retention rate of new employees. In addition, 25% of microlearning modules were consumed voluntarily, indicating a high level of employee engagement in their training journey.
Effective microlearning content formats
Microlearning can take a variety of forms, each offering unique benefits based on learners' learning goals and preferences. Here are some of the most effective content formats:
Short videos
The 3 to 6 minute videos are particularly suited to Generation Z and “visual” learners. They allow complex concepts to be presented in a concise and engaging manner and facilitate understanding and long-term memory.
Interactive quizzes
The use of quizzes engages employees in their learning journey and allows effectively measure information retention. Quizzes can also be used as a revision tool to reinforce the memory of key concepts.
Games and gamification
Gamification increases employee productivity and engagement through the introduction of fun elements in the learning process. Educational games stimulate healthy competitiveness and encourage learners to reach their learning goals in a fun and interactive way.
Educational podcasts
Podcasts are a great option for learning on the go because they allow employees to optimize their time during the commute between home and work and to make it more productive. They are particularly suitable for language learning or personal development.
Infographics and visual summaries
Clear visual presentations of key ideas make it easier to understand and remember information. Infographics and visual summaries are particularly useful for summarizing complex concepts or for provide quick overviews of broad topics.
Evaluating and monitoring the effectiveness of microlearning in business
To ensure the success of microlearning, it is essential to assess and monitor its effectiveness on an ongoing basis.
Measuring the impact on employee performance
Businesses can use quizzes and tests to assess how employees put into practice the knowledge acquired during microlearning training. It is also advisable to conduct regular interviews to get the impressions of employees on the concrete use of the skills acquired.
Knowledge retention and practical application
Monitoring the effect of microlearning on long-term retention and improving skills is crucial. The use of key performance indicators, such as the evolution of the conversion rate or the number of sales for sales teams, makes it possible to assess the effectiveness of microlearning.
Best practices for succeeding with microlearning in business
- Personalizing learning
Adapting your content in microlearning and learning paths tailored to the individual needs of each employee promote a more personal and therefore more effective learning experience. Adaptive learning also makes it possible to adjust the modules according to the progress and preferences of each employee.
- Making learning fun with gamification
Integrate games and fun elements (gamification) not only improves information retention but also makes learning more enjoyable and engaging.
- Create engaging and interactive content
Creating engaging content is critical to maintaining employee attention. Using different formats and copywriting techniques can help create engaging microlearning modules for an immersive learning experience.
Microlearning is an innovative learning method that meets the challenges of the rapidly changing professional world. By exploring these educational innovations, companies can enrich their training programs while adapting to technological and educational developments. The future of microlearning in business promises to profoundly transform training practices, which marks a progression towards a learning culture that is more flexible, engaging, and effective.
