Micro Learning for The Modern Learner

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eLearning Industry – Alfredo Leone

There has been a lot of buzz in the learning industry about micro learning and about shorter learning experiences having a better impact with learners. Several companies are implementing learning production and distribution models based on targeted content nuggets or pills that let learners control their learning time and ensure that learning occurs at the time of need.

Steps To Address Micro Learning Moments

In a recent post on Think with Google, Google focused on the opportunity for brands to connect with consumers by focusing on the hundreds of real-time, intent-driven micro moments that make today’s mobile driven customer journey. I believe the same concepts apply to the eLearning industry, as companies and organizations develop new learning strategies that engage learners along a new real-time and intent-driven learning journey made of micro learning moments.

While the hype around micro learning is very much deserved, all the discussion focuses mainly on how to replicate technologies and formats of generic content platforms like Facebook and YouTube that arguably deal with micro content well. Vendors are rushing to provide enhanced features to create, edit, enhance, and package such micro content, primarily video. What is missing is the proper contextualization of the learning experience that makes micro learning applicable and effective. For example, it is not enough to deliver to learners short videos as alternative to traditional online learning courses just for the sake of addressing shorter attention spans.

Taking a step back, the surveys powered by Google in their work on micro moments highlighted consumer behaviors that apply to learners as well in our understanding of how to develop learning strategies and platforms that effectively address micro learning moments. Some of them:

• 62% of smartphone users are more inclined to take immediate action to solve an unexpected problem or a new task.
• 90% have used their smartphone to move towards achieving a long-term goal or multi-step process through small steps (i.e., people pursue big goals in small moments).
• 91% said they are looking for new ideas on mobile devices while performing routine tasks.
• 91% of smartphone users seek ideas through these devices at the same time they perform other tasks.
• This year users have seen on YouTube 100m+ hours of “how-to-do” content.

Google has categorized these new mobile-driven behaviors into 4 micro moments that consumers face on a daily basis along the customer journey: Want-to-know, want-to-do, want-to-go, and want-to-buy (4 New Moments Every Marketer Should Know). Learners today exhibit the same behaviors that need to be addressed when implementing effective micro learning solutions.

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by MindMake via MindMake Blog