Attention spans are decreasing and the workforce is increasingly dominated by Gen Z and Millennials, traditional learning methods are facing new challenges. Fortunately, microlearning has emerged as a powerful solution to address these issues. With higher completion and retention rates compared to traditional learning, microlearning offers organizations an effective tool to upskill employees, enhance onboarding processes, and ensure compliance. In this blog post, we will explore what microlearning is, its relevance in the modern workplace, and how leveraging employee-created microlearning videos can accelerate knowledge sharing and foster transparency within organizations.
What is Microlearning?
Microlearning refers to the delivery of small, bite-sized chunks of information or learning content that are easily consumable and accessible. These short and focused learning modules typically last for a few minutes and are designed to meet specific learning objectives. By breaking down complex topics into smaller, more manageable units, microlearning promotes engagement, knowledge retention, and application of learned skills.
The Declining Attention Span and the Rise of Gen Z and Millennials
With the rapid advancement of technology, our attention spans have become shorter than ever. Gen Z and Millennials, who are now dominating the workforce, are accustomed to consuming information quickly and prefer bite-sized content that can be accessed on-demand. Traditional lengthy training programs often fail to capture and retain their attention. Microlearning, with its concise and easily digestible format, aligns perfectly with the preferences and learning styles of these generations.
The Forgetting Curve and the 70-20-10 Model
The forgetting curve, proposed by German psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus, highlights the rapid decay of information retention over time. According to the curve, learners forget a significant portion of what they’ve learned unless it is reinforced. This is where microlearning shines, as it provides frequent reinforcement opportunities by delivering information in bite-sized increments.
The 70-20-10 model further emphasizes the importance of microlearning. This model suggests that 70% of learning comes from on-the-job experiences, 20% from interactions with others, and 10% from formal training. Microlearning aligns with the 70-20-10 model by supporting continuous learning on the job and facilitating interactions among employees. By empowering employees to create microlearning videos, organizations tap into the 20% aspect, promoting collaboration and knowledge sharing among peers.
Accelerating Knowledge Sharing and Transparency
Employee-created microlearning video screencasts offer a powerful tool for accelerating knowledge sharing and fostering transparency within organizations. Here’s how:
- Upskilling: By allowing employees to create microlearning videos, organizations tap into the collective knowledge of their workforce. Subject matter experts can share their expertise, insights, and best practices, empowering others to learn from their experiences. This approach enhances employee skills and contributes to a culture of continuous learning.
- Onboarding: Microlearning is particularly effective for onboarding new hires. Instead of overwhelming them with lengthy training sessions, organizations can provide bite-sized modules that introduce key concepts, processes, and tools. These videos can be accessed as and when needed, ensuring a smooth and efficient onboarding experience.
- Compliance: Compliance training is a critical aspect of many industries. However, it is often viewed as monotonous and time-consuming. Microlearning videos offer a more engaging and interactive approach to deliver compliance training, increasing knowledge retention and ensuring regulatory requirements are met.
As attention spans continue to decline and the workforce is increasingly dominated by Gen Z and Millennials, traditional learning methods are becoming less effective. Microlearning provides a solution that aligns with the preferences of these generations and offers numerous benefits, including higher completion and retention rates, cost-effectiveness, and improved knowledge sharing. By leveraging employee-created microlearning your can reduce training costs and drive learner engagement.
Watch and Learn is a versatile platform that empowers organizations to create microlearning videos using a screen recorder and provides a platform for seamless content sharing. With its user-friendly interface and intuitive screen recording capabilities, Watch and Learn allows employees to capture their expertise, workflows, and knowledge in a visual format. The screen recorder enables employees to demonstrate processes, software usage, and problem-solving techniques effectively. Once recorded, the videos can be easily uploaded and shared within the organization, fostering knowledge sharing and transparency. Whether it’s upskilling, onboarding, or compliance training, Watch and Learn provides a streamlined solution for creating, sharing, and consuming microlearning content, ultimately enhancing learning outcomes and driving organizational success.