Elevate your Workplace Training with Microlearning Platforms
Has your organization already adopted the innovative microlearning approach for training your employees? If not, then it is high time to do so. Online microlearning platforms are not just transforming K-12 education, but also making a profound impact on the corporate workplace. In fact, the global market for microlearning is projected to reach $2.7 billion by the year 2024.
The growing and changing demands of the modern workplace are making it challenging for organizations to conduct traditional classroom-based training. In fact, traditional workforce training methods do not help engage employees anymore – nor do they aid in retaining information. According to the Cognitive Load Theory, an average person's memory can only hold the information about a maximum of 9 objects (at any given time) before becoming overloaded. Which is why, microlearning is the need of the day.
So, how exactly does microlearning work? How can it help in meeting the above challenges and elevating workplace training? Let us discuss this in the following sections.
How does microlearning work?
In simple language, microlearning is an approach that is based on the idea of breaking ‘larger’ learning components into ‘smaller’ and manageable chunks (or modules) that are easier to learn. Although there is no thumb rule on how long a microlearning module should last, it is typically around 5-10 minutes in duration.
To facilitate easier learning, microlearning authoring tools support a wider variety of content formats including a mobile learning app for employees, digital flashcards, and gamification.
Next, let us look at five instances when microlearning can be used to improve workforce training.
Employee onboarding High employee turnover can be a major cost factor for employers. As per industry statistics, 20% of newly hired employees leave the company in just 45 days. A measly 12% of employees believe that their companies are onboarding new hires efficiently – while efficient onboarding can reduce employee turnover by 25%. With the millennial and Generation Z forming a major portion of the modern workforce, shorter content formats are more suited to their learning preferences. For instance, microlearning can help in assigning shorter chunks of information during new hire onboarding, making it easier to consume and retain for the modern workforce.
Distributed workforce training As an aftermath of the 2020 global pandemic, we are seeing more companies working with a remote or distributed workforce. Recent statistics reveal that 90% of remote workers are planning to work remotely permanently – while over 50% of managers say companies are hiring a distributed workforce. Microlearning platforms for businesses are more suited for a distributed workforce, as they can reduce employee training costs for organizations – and can personalize the content based on individual needs and preferences.
Blended learning Effectively, microlearning can complement the classroom training sessions, and not replace them completely. Employers can design a blended learning strategy that can include both microlearning and classroom training methods. Recent research studies have shown that blended learning can improve learning engagement and help in efficient knowledge retention.
Sales or Product training For improving sales, organizations must train their sales executives on newly launched products (or added product features). With sales professionals constantly on the move, it is challenging for them to invest most of their time into classroom-based training schedules. Through its short and interactive mode, mobile phone-based microlearning platforms can deliver product knowledge to sales professionals efficiently by walking them through a stepwise product demo. Also, this is way more engaging than reading ‘boring’ product manuals.
Technical or software training Increasingly, more organizations are automating their operations using software applications including HR and CRM tools. Traditional software training programs and sessions can be overwhelming for most employees due to their technical complexity and information overload. Through its bite-sized learning approach, microlearning can help in simplifying complex technical learning programs into smaller modules (with a single learning objective). Further, software simulation videos can provide hands-on training of the software product through a stepwise feature demo.
Conclusion
With more and more employees working remotely and the expectations of new hires changing every day, using microlearning platforms is imperative for workplace training. As more companies switch to this mode of employee training, we are witnessing the emergence of the best microlearning platforms that can facilitate the transition from classroom to online learning.
Among leading microlearning platforms, Oust Labs, a part of BetterPlace, has automated the processes of remote employee training and development, virtual onboarding, and the use of gamification in employee engagement and recognition. Our microlearning platform can be customized based on your unique employee training needs and requirements.
Do you want to elevate your workplace training using our microlearning platform? Help us know you better by booking our free demo today!