Microlearning is a relatively new trend which is probably the most effective for today’s students. Essentially it is breaking a large chunk of information into small sections which is target or specific outcome based. Microlearning is mostly E-learning based, done in small doses, a little bit or learning or training material at a time and sometimes microlearning is an extension to current learning or studying. It can also be compared with sending your student homework based on the lesson you have had.

I see microlearning as a pie chart, at least in my crazy jumbled brain.

Microlearning

I’ve made an example below. The main topic is “The English Language,” but we want to adapt the information into smaller chunks to make it easier to digest and understand. Thus we use microlearning as a teaching method to get the information across effectively.

Microlearning is perfect for the busy and on the go humanoid (uhm, person but I call them humanoids since they are incredible at managing their time and getting things done, I can barely get out of bed in the morning) Microlearning is simple and easy because it can be done from:

— Anywhere

— Almost any device

It is:

— Short / doesn’t take a lot of time to complete

— Outcome-based

— Not overwhelming

— Requires little to no effort at all.

Let’s talk about the benefits of microlearning a little bit more:

  1. It’s time to face it. In this ever-changing, fast-paced and technology-driven world we are used to instant gratification at a click of a button or launching an app. Humans now have a much shorter attention span. Thus, microlearning is perfect for people who have little time, struggle to keep focused or pay attention. This might even be perfect for those with learning struggles and disabilities and not to mention those who have a hard time with self-discipline.
  2. Research has also been able to prove that we learn more effectively and remember more when we have short and focused bursts of information instead of large overwhelming chunks. Loading your students with too much information results in cognitive overload. Moreover, according to Ebbinghaus’ forgetting curve within 24 hours of learning something new, 67% of what was learned will be forgotten. So learning in bite-sized pieces makes sense.
  3. Because microlearning is e-learning based (mostly online or available on any mobile phone or tablet) people can now use their time more effectively by learning in the subway, while traveling, while on their commute to work. It is perfect for the modern age and worker, don’t you agree?
  4. Microlearning also combined age-old learning techniques and methods by gamifying it. Think old school flashcards, interactive tic tac toe, and hangman. Just to name a few.

Thus microlearning helps one to achieve one objective at a time, one step at a time, ensures that they understand it before moving on to the next objective. Think about how perfect this would be if implemented for grammar rules but only if you break each rule into their own separate objectives.

What are the disadvantages?

  1. Microlearning, unfortunately, is not the alpha and omega of digital learning. It won’t ever be able to replace other forms of learning or in fact, traditional education. Microlearning is just a special “add on” feature to make learning easier, faster, and more efficient.
  2. Keeping in mind that microlearning is “small informational chunks” it is exactly what is it, small.. a little bit of information. For more complicated courses it could be difficult to “connect the dots” get the “bigger picture” thus making it sometimes impossible to paint one big coherent picture.

In short, microlearning is not appropriate when there is a large amount of material that needs to be covered and studied especially if there are great details. Think of it this way, the information used in microlearning must be short, sweet and simple. Can you compress your materials to fit into the “short, sweet and simple” category? If not, then the content is not suited for microlearning. Easy as that.

Can we use microlearning to teach a language?

Yes and no. Some parts of the language yes such as vocabulary and some grammar rules but on a broader scope not all the different elements of the language will be translatable through microlearning. It wouldn’t work for learning how to “speak English properly ”. The rule of thumb is to remind yourself that microlearning is a supporting method of learning, not the primary function of educating.

Examples:

  1. The most popular meas of delivering microlearning is through videos, watching educational/ training videos online on YouTube channel,Tedtalks or TedEx. This is my personal favourite. Ted Education allows you to create questionnaires and short tests after videos. Perfect for E-learning/Microlearning.
  2. Comprehension Assignments. This would involve reading or listening followed by a short comprehension test to check for understanding such as listening to English songs or watching one episode of a TV series.
  3. Students may read news items, Facebook* or tweeter posts and focus on words and phrases they don’t know.
  4. Flash Cards. Flashcards take me back to my childhood memories where my pre-school teacher used to teach us vocabulary and believe it or not, until today as adults we use flashcards. Flash Card learning is a thing. For Microlearning, flash cards are sent or used on applications and used to train vocabulary (Skyeng has its own application with flashcards).
  5. Microlearning exists within communications such as group chats, group emails, even social media where informational blurps are shared such as “word of the day” ( this is something I email to my students daily or add in a skype group ) or in teacher training groups question of the day could be asked such as “what do we do if a student does xyz” and teachers answers are analyzed then the correct information is provided.

To sum, up, microlearning is:

— Perfect for the “on the go person” with limited time

— Takes very little time

— Is to the point and outcome-based

— Perfect for basic information

— Great for those who struggle with focus and attention

Did you know that Skyteach uses microlearning? Even this article that you are reading is microlearning! Every time Skyteach posts in slack with a hack, it is microlearning! How awesome is that! We were microlearning all this time and didn’t even know it.

I hope you now feel more aware and confident in incorporating microlearning not only for yourself but for your students.

*Facebook belongs to Meta Platforms Inc., whose activities are recognized as extremist and banned in the Russian Federation.

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