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With the increasing popularity and availability of microlearning opportunities, teachers need to get with the program. There are so many ways to take advantage of this unique educational tool. No matter what your discipline or subject area is, or what level your students are on, microlearning is sure to become a fast favorite in your classroom.
According to eLearning Industry, microlearning “involves bite-size eLearning content that is easily accessible and easily digestible”. What does it mean for content to be bite-sized? It means that each unit is easy to understand, and can stand on its own. It doesn’t require a lot of advance preparation, and is straightforward and to-the-point. Microlearning often takes the form of digital videos which can easily ba accessed and played on a computer or other device.
While the length of a microlearning unit can vary, it should not be too long. As a general guideline, there is no strict rule regarding length, but the general consensus is that units should be kept to around five minutes or less. This provides enough time to present information in a cohesive and understandable way. While brevity is desirable, it is also important to make sure that the information is comprehensive.
Microlearning isn’t just cutting large amounts of information into small chunks. Each microlearning unit has to be self-contained. If the information does not make sense on its own, then it is not following the framework of microlearning. This is a great way to absorb new information when you only have a few minutes or you want to learn about something very specific.
Microlearning can be used as part of any lesson. No matter what topic you are teaching, short, self-contained learning segments can be an incredible tool. You can make stations around the classroom where small groups of students can absorb individual microlearning units if they finish early. Alternatively, you can also make microlearning units an integral part of lessons. Each student can become the expert in one microlearning unit and then teach it to the class.
Outside of the classroom, educators can base projects and homework around microlearning units. Students can be assigned to create their own microlearning units which they will then show to the class. Because the are digital, you can also use microlearning units in a flipped classroom. Students can be assigned units to review at home, and then complete assignments and exercises based on what they learned the next day in class.
Microlearning is ideal for today’s students who are growing up as digital citizens from day one. With shorter attention spans and the expectation that everything should be at their fingertips, microlearning is perfect for the learners in any classroom. By incorporating this cool modern tool into your lessons, you can show students that they are in touch with their reality both in and out of the classroom, and keep yourself and your subject relevant to their experiences.
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