Corporate learning is experiencing a shift towards more agile and effective training. Google Trends data from the latter part of 2023 reveals a pronounced spike in interest in “microlearning,” a term that has steadily gained prominence since July 2010. This surge in interest reflects a growing recognition among organizations that learners need new ways of accessing and receiving information so that it is easier to retain and apply.
The concept of microlearning is that it is a quick and focused learning experience. Delivering content in small, digestible bursts provides more flexibility for employees with on-demand learning that better integrates into their workflows.
The increase in microlearning signifies more than just a trend; it reflects a strategic pivot in how organizations approach talent development. With technology, platforms have evolved from basic educational tools into integral components of business strategy.
What is Microlearning?
Microlearning revolves around delivering small, digestible content morsels to learners, allowing them to seamlessly integrate learning into their daily workflow. Unlike lengthy training sessions that disrupt office routines, microlearning can be consumed in as little as 3 minutes or as long as 15-20 minutes. By repeating these microlearning moments over time, individuals can effectively learn and internalize concepts relevant to their roles.
Microlearning is not just about short learning sessions; it represents a fundamental shift in the way knowledge is delivered and absorbed in the workplace. It focuses on delivering concise, targeted content in manageable segments.
Why is Microlearning Strategic for Talent Development Leaders
1. Retention and Application: The bite-sized nature of microlearning helps in combat issues like the forgetting curve, as learners engage with key concepts in short, frequent bursts.
2. Adaptability to Changing Needs: Microlearning is flexible by nature and allows learners to access when it is best and most advantageous for them.
3. Learner Engagement: Content that is quick to consume and designed to integrate into a learner’s day makes it easier to digest and more appealing access, particularly among younger employees.
4. Cost-Effectiveness: Reducing time spent away from work and the need for extensive training resources or coaches, microlearning can deliver high-impact learning with less cost.
HUMAN SKILL PROGRAMS ARE HITTING LIMITATIONS...
- Close the widening gap between learning and on-the-job application
- Overcome the tension of pausing productivity for development opportunities
- Integrate learning so it is actually in the flow of work
- The evolution of human skill development
- What Automated Coaching™ is and how it works.
Microlearning & Automated Coaching: Personalizing Learning at Scale
Traditionally, microlearning has taken various forms, including short videos, e-learning modules, audio clips, readings, and infographics. While these formats are beneficial, they often lack true personalization that is particularly unique to the individual beyond their role. However, Automated Coaching—a form of microlearning, is tailored content that is highly personalized to individuals and their teams. It is learning that meets you where you are and is about who you are.
AUTOMATED COACHING IS MICROLEARNING THAT ACCELERATES BEHAVIOR CHANGE
Traditionally, microlearning has taken various forms, including short videos, e-learning modules, audio clips, readings, and infographics. While these formats are beneficial, they often lack true personalization that is particularly unique to the individual beyond their role. However, Automated Coaching—a form of microlearning, is tailored content that is highly personalized to individuals and their teams. It is learning that meets you where you are and is about who you are.
How Can Teammates Use Automated Coaching?
Suppose a new team member joins a team, and through automated coaching insights, managers or teammates can learn about their preferred communication style. Equipped with this knowledge, individuals can adjust their own approach to collaborate more effectively with them.
For instance, I might be someone who enthusiastically dives into discussions or meetings without prior planning, whereas my new colleague prefers receiving agendas in advance or starting meetings with an overview of topics to be discussed. As I receive more automated coaching insights about my team members, I can adjust my behavior to enhance collaboration and the results we produce together.
Automated Coaching Is Non-Disruptive By Nature To The Flow of Work
One of the most attractive aspects Automated Coaching is that it actually a microlearning platform. Each insight is designed to be digested in approximately two minutes, making it possible to quickly consume and reflect upon without breaking the flow of your workday. This relevancy to both individual and team contexts means that insights can immediately spark thoughts or actions that enhance daily productivity.
A Microlearning Platform That Creates A Proactive Workday:
Starting one’s day by receiving automated coaching insights encourages a proactive approach to tasks and opportunities for collaboration. People can’t possibly remember everything about all of their team members every day or even have all of their own strengths top of mind. Automating the process helps keep critical information about dynamics with teammates and personal strengths at the forefront to influence better decision-making and interaction throughout the day.
Reduce Disruption So That Learning Is Seamless:
Unlike other microlearning platforms that might require setting aside dedicated or extended time for consumption, Automated Coaching is accessible and on demand. It is done-for-you learning that does not require the learner to listen to anything or even complete an action. Whether you need a quick tip before a meeting or a reminder about a team member’s communication style, it’s available right when you need it, integrating seamlessly into your workflow.
Dual-Direction Accessibility:
The great part about Automated Coaching is that it can be pushed out to you and pulled towards you. It is nudge learning that comes to you and is also at your fingertips anytime you need it. This feature allows for customizing personalized preparation, which is especially useful in strategizing for upcoming interactions or feedback sessions.
Relevant Learning That Impacts Culture:
The ongoing, dynamic personalization of Automated Coaching ensures that learning is relevant and useful and continuously lives as a creative resource to support ongoing self and team awareness. As individuals take intentional action resulting from engagement with Automated Coaching, it can lead to a positive domino effect on team cohesion and culture.
Maximizing Microlearning Platforms For Engagement, Knowledge Retention & Integration
Easy, quick learning that provides value, makes repeating small acts attainable for people, and will lead to higher learning potential. This is not to say that live or virtual training can’t be valuable for team building or even changing up the environment, but for longer-term knowledge retention, much of what people learn in a finite training session is quickly forgotten.
This is also known as The Forgetting Curve. Within 1 hour, people forget 50% of new information. Within 1 day, they have forgotten 70%. Within 1 week, they have forgotten 90% of what they learned. This means more frequent touchpoints that are personalized and bite-size can have a much greater impact on learning retention.
One of the most valuable aspects of Automated Coaching is that it’s not an LMS. Instead, coaching insights can be delivered through tools people are already familiar with and using every day. This microlearning approach is different because it truly embeds the learning in the flow of work and enables people to remain in the context to apply the learning over time.
Reinforce Training with Little Lift
An advantage of Automated Coaching is that it does not require any development or the work of an Instructional Designer. Automated Coaching is “done for you” microlearning that can greatly impact productivity, collaboration, soft (essential) skill development, communication, and self/team development.
People and learning leaders can be confident knowing that microlearning people take action on is at the fingertips of their leaders, managers, and teams.
For learning and development leaders, utilizing microlearning means embracing a future where development is continuous, personalized, scalable, and aligned with strategic business goals. With microlearning platforms, the goal is not just to provide information but to ensure that learning translates into positive action.
For more information about how Automated Coaching is a powerful microlearning tool, download: Talent Development In The Age Of AI: Overcoming the Limitations of Traditional Learning
