AnnaMarie Houlis
Ever feel like you’ve bitten off more than you can chew?
The same can happen with studying. You can take on too much at once, so you have a difficult time absorbing all of the information.
Microlearning is a way of learning that can help you absorb information efficiently and effectively. It involves biting off small bits of information at once, so you can take your time with it.
Here’s how microlearning works and how you can use Dorothy to help you do it.
Key Takeaways
- Microlearning means studying small-sized bits of information that are part of a larger topic
- Microlearning can help you absorb and retain more information than cramming in a lot at once
- Microlearning can be a more cost-efficient way to learn than other types of learning
What is Microlearning?
Microlearning is a science-back method of learning snack-sized study materials at a time. Instead of cramming a ton of information into your brain at once, you simply study “micro” bits.
Microlearning is proven to be both efficient and effective, as well as engaging. For one, microlearning is far less overwhelming than trying to grasp an entire topic. It also allows your brain more space to actually hang onto the information you’re taking in—instead of it all creating clutter you’re likely to lose.
Sure, microlearning takes time. You learn less information over a longer period of time than you would cramming in more information in a shorter period of time. But you’ll learn it all a lot better.
Examples of Microlearning
Here are some more examples of microlearning:
- Instead of trying to master the guitar all at once, practice a few chords at a time. Try learning the most popular three or four chords that you’ll need to eventually master a couple of songs. Practice them on repeat before moving on.
- You don’t need to learn how to become a chef overnight. You can start teaching yourself how to cook by practicing easier recipes to start with. Take, for example, a homemade pasta dish. You can learn how to make the pasta from scratch and add some sauce to it that you have in your fridge. Over time, you can get more creative by making the sauce and adding vegetables or meats to your pasta dish, experimenting with different recipes.
- Rather than trying to become fluent in Portuguese before your Brazilian vacation, try to just focus on parts of the language at a time. First get to know the vocabulary words that might come up a lot while traveling—like greetings and how to order at a cafe. Once you get comfortable with some everyday phrases, you can start learning more difficult ones or getting into the grammar.
Is Microlearning Effective?
Microlearning is scientifically touted as an effective method of learning. It’s based on the Hermann Ebbinghaus forgetting curve.
The Hermann Ebbinghaus forgetting curve suggests that, when we take in large amounts of information, our retention degrades. While memory retention is at 100 percent at the time of learning, it drops to just 40 percent within a few days.
Therefore, microlearning is effective—whether you’re studying for an exam or learning a new skill at work.
In a typical work week, employees spend 33 percent of their time in meetings, 25 percent of their time on emails and five percent of it being interrupted. They have just one percent of their time set aside to actually learn and develop skills.
That’s not a lot of time. But it is enough time to focus on microlearning. Some employers offer development programs for employees to leverage in their spare time. Others host conferences, summits and webinars for employees to sit in on and take away insights from key speakers.
In fact, microlearning is actually a preferred method of learning for most workers. Fifty-eight percent of employees say that they’d actually use their employers’ learning tools more if the information was broken up into “multiple, shorter lessons.”
Benefits of Microlearning
Microlearning is hugely beneficial. First and foremost, it’s convenient. Almost half (41 percent) of respondents in a survey, “Microlearning: Delivering Bite-Sized Knowledge,” said that access is a top benefit. Forty percent of those respondents also reported feeling less overwhelmed.
Another major reason that microlearning is less overwhelming is because it doesn’t take up so much time. You only need a few minutes each time you review the material, since there’s not much of it.
Microlearning is accessible, but it’s also a cost-effective way to learn. Tools like apps, videos and e-books can help you—and you can use them from your phone, many times for free. Infographics and images can also be helpful resources. Instead of enrolling in a whole language course, for example, you can watch individual videos for free.
Limitations of Microlearning
- Microlearning takes time to do. Because you take in smaller amounts of information, it requires you to study the topic over longer periods of time.
- Microlearning can feel frustrating for some people who want to have more time to study a topic.
- You can’t use microlearning for every topic. Some topics require much more time to dive into the complexities to understand it better.
Microlearning Best Practices
There’s no single, right way to learn new information. Everyone learns differently, even through microlearning. But here are some general best practices to keep in mind:
- Use visual aids. Studies show that video is a highly effective tool for learning. People are 95 percent more likely to retain information that’s presented to them in video format.
- Talent development professionals generally say that 13 minutes is the maximum amount of time you can spend on something for it to be considered microlearning.
- The ideal length of a microlearning segment is considered to be 10 minutes. Segments spaced between two and five minutes are deemed the most effective.
Who Can Benefit From Microlearning?
Anyone can benefit from microlearning. It’s a tool that’s used in schools and in the workforce.
Whether you’re studying something in school, trying to learn a new language or working on developing a new skill at work, microlearning can be a useful practice.
How Can Dorothy Help with Microlearning?
Dorothy is your snack buddy when it comes to microlearning. The app can predict what your brain will do—and when it’s about to do it. Like, you know, forget those class notes.
To use Dorothy, all you have to do is start by asking the app a question. If you’re studying a specific topic, like for the Bar exam, you can ask Dorothy about it. Dorothy will quiz you on the day you’re likely to forget the answer to your question.
These pings come at optimally timed intervals so you retain more, and it only takes a few minutes to review the material each time.
Microlearning is that simple. And Dorothy makes it even easier.