Microlearning in Education

Microlearning in education involves breaking information for learning into bite sized pieces of content. Gone are the days of lengthy videos with overwhelming information that is hard to retain. Microlearning is now being used in the education sector with short and precise videos that focus on a specific learning objective. In this article we will explain what microlearning is, examples of microlearning, advantages, limitations and best practices.

What is Microlearning?

Microlearning is a way of teaching content in small bursts with a focus on a specific learning outcome. Instead of long form modules or courses, microlearning involves providing small pieces of information in the form of videos, audio, text, quizzes and games that are easy to process and understand. Microlearning is based on the Hermann Ebbinghaus forgetting curve, which demonstrates that when people take in large amounts of information  it is difficult to retain. The curve shows how information is lost over time when there is no attempt to remember it. Most people lose 80% of the knowledge they learn within a month depending on the difficulty of the content, relevance and delivery. Microlearning helps combat the forgetting curve by enabling students to break down pieces of information and revisit them over time.

History of Microlearning

In 1885, German psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus created the forgetting curve, which became the core concept of microlearning. In the 1950s, behavioral psychologist B. F. Skinner championed ‘programmed learning’ which was characterised by self-paced, self-administered instruction presented in logical sequence and with much repetition of concepts. Miller’s Law, developed by the cognitive psychologist George A. Miller in 1956 explained that humans can hold about seven – plus or minus two -items of information in working memory. Miller’s Law also posited microlearning as a solution. It was in 1963, that the term “microlearning” was first published in Hector Correa’s  book ‘The Economics of Human Resources’. Although the book primarily focused on economics, it did observe microlearning as an “interesting application that may be made of the methods of economic theory to the determination of optimum learning time,” and that to learn a new skill several aptitudes are involved including time.

In the 1990s and 2000s with the rise of technology,  the internet, and social media – where people receive information in short form videos – microlearning has become an important factor in education. Smart phones and apps, which started becoming popular in the mid 2000s, gave microlearning a major boost, allowing universal access to content more easily.

Examples of Microlearning

There are several examples of how microlearning is delivered, all with the same objective of delivering bite sized pieces of information.

Videos 

Microlearning videos are short and focused videos that are designed to convey information with the intention of it being retained. Most microlearning videos will range in time from 30 seconds to 6 minutes. This is one of the most effective methods of microlearning as it helps improve knowledge retention and enhances engagement. Websites like TEDEd feature a curated series of educational videos and lesson plans on a huge variety of subjects. This platform is specifically designed  to create and share educational videos.

Educational explainer videos are an example of microlearning videos that explain information in a short period of time. These videos are particularly useful for educational purposes as a medium for learning. Educational explainer videos are often short form, so they can be paused and rewatched so that students can learn at their own pace. 

There are different types of educational explainer videos, from animated and screen cast to character and live action. Different formats help engage with a different audience. Animated explainer videos are ideal for teaching people of all ages. Live action videos that use real people and footage to explain a concept help create a sense of trust with the audience.

All educational explainer videos, regardless of the type, break down complex ideas into easily digestible snippets. They have a short run time, and the video format means they can be replayed which is an important part of learning and retention.

Text 

Whether via short paragraphs, messages or hints, text is a form that can be used for microlearning. Text for microlearning is through the use of short, focused learning modules. This could be through bite sized pieces of text on flashcards; quizzes or games; or interactive messaging that requires the student to apply their knowledge to a real life situation. Often text is combined with images or interactive learning to encourage students to engage with the content and retain information. Some teachers use microlearning approaches with online messaging forums to make professional learning accessible. Concise texts with memes sent through an online messaging platform like Facebook help make learning more engaging.

Audio 

Audio as short snippets of sound can be an effective microlearning tool. Often this is used in podcasts or audio clips for students to listen to in short bursts. These audio cues and information allow the audience to take in pieces of information on a smaller scale without becoming overwhelmed by large amounts of content. Audio is also a convenient way to receive information with the flexibility of listening to it anywhere and at any time. Audio is also used in various non-student applications, as an accessible learning tool for employee training, on the job learning and skill reinforcement.

Advantages of Microlearning

Microlearning is becoming a popular method of teaching in education as it has many advantages. These include:

• Improved retention: The biggest advantage of microlearning is it helps improve retention. The information is easier to remember as it is relayed in small pieces of content, rather than lengthy courses or modules.

• Enhanced engagement: Microlearning has a 50% higher engagement rate than traditional learning methods. The engagement rate indicates the level of interaction students have with the content and how well it resonates with the audience. This helps with the amount of information they are likely to retain. Microlearning also increases the likelihood that students will complete and pass a course.
• Reduced cognitive overload: Because students are receiving small snippets of information, cognitive overload is reduced. The information is received more easily and the audience does not feel overloaded and overwhelmed.
• Self paced learning: Being delivered in small digestible pieces of content, students are able to self pace their learning.  This means they can complete their training at their own pace and ensure better retention of information.
• Easy to deliver: Microlearning is easy to deliver as it is short pieces of content delivered as video, games or quizzes on mobile apps or the internet.
• Flexibility: Microlearning can be accessed anywhere and anytime, making it a flexible approach to learning.
• Cost effective: Microlearning requires fewer instructors and resources, making it less expensive than traditional learning methods.

Limitations of Microlearning

While microlearning has more advantages than not, there are some limitations with this type of teaching. These include:

• Complex subject issues: Microlearning may not be suitable for complex subjects that need specific structure and involve deep subject matter that requires creative or lateral thinking. Bite sized pieces of information are great for quick reinforcement of knowledge but not for detailed and complicated subject matter.
• Requires professionals: Professional video producers are likely required to create video content to be delivered to students. 
• Difficult to balance content: It can be challenging to find the right balance between informative and detailed content with short videos.
• Requires maintenance: Compared to traditional methods of teaching, microlearning does need maintenance and will need to be updated periodically.

Microlearning Best Practices

To ensure microlearning is effective in delivering high quality content that engages the audience, there are a number of best practices to follow. Including these strategies will ensure content is short, sharp and memorable.  

• Keep it brief: The most important element of microlearning delivery is it should be brief and focused. The ability of microlearning to transfer information that will be retained is dependent on short, bite-sized pieces of content. 
• Provide seamless access: Make sure the content can be accessed easily, either via mobile apps or the internet. Students should be able to access the content anywhere and any time.
• Use professional videos: Educational microlearning videos are one of the best ways to relay information. However, the quality of the video is of optimal importance. Investing in the expertise of  video creators will ensure microlearning is delivered in a streamlined and professional manner.
• Use multimedia: Leverage a variety of multimedia elements like videos, animations, quizzes and text to deliver content.
• Encourage continuous learning: Space out the content delivery with breaks in between. This allows the student to process and retain information before more content is delivered. 
• Make it mobile friendly
• Know your audience: By understanding your audience you can develop the right style of microlearning. Content needs to be created to suit the audience’s skill levels.
• Keep it engaging: It is important to keep the attention of your audience.To keep it engaging, provide a balance of text with interesting visuals or interactive elements. Video, in particular, offers a multisensory learning experience that can keep an audience engaged.

The idea of microlearning has been around since the 1880s when German psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus created the forgetting curve, which would become the core concept of the learning method. Since the invention of the internet and the rise of technology, microlearning has become a popular method of teaching in the education sector. Our article explains exactly what microlearning is, where it began and how you can use it for educational purposes. For further information contact the premier video education production team at Ivory Media.