Have you heard of microlearning? Odds are that you probably have, and if you haven’t listen up, because microlearning is becoming an increasingly popular and necessary tool for organizations navigating Covid-19. For those that don’t know, microlearning is a way of teaching new content to learners in small, specific bursts. As we’ve talked about in a previous post, microlearning is awesome because it enables quick digestion of new knowledge, continuously engages your audience, and meets users where they are: on their devices.
So, why is Covid-19 causing a surge in demand for microlearning? First and foremost, training needs have shifted as much of the global workforce has gone remote. In the US alone, 85% of workers are now remote, a number that has stayed relatively constant since March. With so many people working remotely, most learning and development initiatives have also gone entirely online. And it’s not just workforces: it’s everything from gym members to non-profit groups and more that have had to quickly adapt to a digital-only flow of communication and experiences.
The second big reason microlearning is surging during the Covid-19 crisis is because of the virus itself. Each day, the world learns more about Covid-19 and how to combat it in our everyday lives. Organizations need tools that allow them to quickly educate their audiences on constantly changing protocols, new offerings or operations, corporate updates and more to keep everyone safe, healthy, and informed.
But, successful online knowledge sharing isn’t as easy as converting in-person tutorials into hours-long videos or emailing users a 50-slide deck and hoping they read and retain new information. Studies show traditional, static e-learning causes high levels of learners fatigue, which negatively impacts engagement and retention. This is only exacerbated by companies using the same old techniques to meet the learning needs of a newly remote audience.
This is where microlearning comes in. It allows for quick absorption of new information, be it a new product spec sheet or the latest protocols for returning to an office, by presenting it incrementally – improving information retention by 22% over traditional training. Microlearning sessions are short, and they allow remote users to access training and insights on their mobile devices, so they can stay in-the-know wherever they are. A Merrill Lynch case study noted that employees using a mobile microlearning platform spent between 45% – 80% less time in training and displayed no loss of comprehension. In a study by Nanyang Polytechnic University, 60% of students agree or strongly agree that they preferred bit-sized learning over longer, lecture-style learning. Meaning? With microlearning, people learn faster, and have a better time doing it. We call that a win-win.
Here at CatalystXL, we understood the benefits of microlearning long before Covid-19. Our signature Cardware™ platform allows organizations to create flashcard-style microlearning content that people can access anytime, anywhere via a smartphone or tablet. Our Cardware™ approach displays high-level information on one side of a digital flashcard, and deeper, scrollable detail on the flip side. Plus, it’s customizable! You can share knowledge in the way that works best for you, whether it’s via video, image, text, attachment animation or web link. The best part? Our enterprise app can be up and running in as little as 48 hours.
Interested in joining the microlearning revolution as you help your organization navigate the Covid-19 crisis? Book a demo today.