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Read more Fabrizio Giorgini
Head of Professional Services,
EMEA
eXact Learning Solutions
Why is microlearning
relevant today?
It is significant to note that, although the hype
cycle may have died down somewhat, the use
of microlearning is on the rise. A survey by Rapid
Learning Institute, claims eight out of ten L&D
professionals prefer microlearning because their
users favour it over traditional learning.
This preference has also risen steadily within the
large corporate L&D departments that now
provide microlearning. The e-learning Industry
provides the following list of the top
microlearning trends, resulting from broader
adoption:
• More infographics and the rise of interactive
infographics
• Interactive PDFs
• eBooks
• Animation; and
• Mobile apps.
Until recently, the gravitation towards
microlearning was driven primarily by the trend
to develop informal and community-produced
content as a means of supplementing formal
learning activities. This, in turn, was accelerated
by the rapid development of new technologies
and delivery platforms that simply were not
available 10 years ago. Fast-forward to today,
and the second wave of microlearning is being
driven by the transformative changes in the way
businesses operate, as a result of the
technological evolution that was happening in
the initial wave.
Pete Radice is Learning Specialist at
pharmaceutical company Merck: "Here the
current focus is on meeting the learners needs
in the flow of work and on the go. The design of
what we now call 'Journeys' entails focusing on
what is required to enhance performance. This
will, and does, include microlearning, as we
recognize that 3-4 minutes to consume content
is the current trend."
Some common benefits
• much less costly and time-consuming to
produce than traditional e-learning
• more closely-aligned with how human
memory works
• removes the likelihood of boredom by
minimising time commitment
• better suited to accessing and using
relevant on-demand content, without having
to sort through a monolithic course
• introduces business efficiencies by
achieving maximum benefits via minimal
input
• better aligned to the attention span of those
entering the workforce
• easier to 'mix-and-match' to create highlytailored and personalised content.
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