In a world full of deadlines, distractions and disruption, microlearning gives us hope! Learn how to break your online training into bite-sized chunks that can be accessed whenever, wherever.
How To Make The Most Of Your Existing Microlearning Online Training Assets
What if you could deliver online training in fast, manageable pieces? Nuggets of essential information or knowledge transfer that wouldn’t require a significant break from the usual running order? Think of microlearning as a short burst of content that delivers on impact. If you think that sounds too expensive to deliver because you haven’t got it in your arsenal already, don’t be afraid. You probably already have all the resources you need sitting right in front of you. You just need to learn how to make the most of your existing online training assets by turning them into microlearning.
Taking Your Online Training Assets To The Next Level
Microlearning is a vital resource in your L&D strategy. Not only can you reach your target audience without long development lead times, but also you can engage them more effectively. Microlearning gives you the opportunity to highlight your most important online training content in a fresh, stimulating way. It can be used to “tease” an upcoming online training course or to boost uptake for current online training. You can even use microlearning to replace a traditional online training course if you have a straightforward message to deliver. Focus on impact (graphic, audio, video) and get your online training content tight. Deliver it microlearning format, and corporate learners will feel inspired and informed at the same time. Here are 7 of the most effective microlearning online training assets that can help you develop attention-grabbing online training.
- Rapid eLearning Authoring Tool
One of the most important microlearning online training assets is a rapid eLearning authoring tool that allows you to transform existing content. If you’ve been following the latest design trends, then you’ve probably already invested in a rapid eLearning authoring toolset. Make use of all the built-in assets to speed up the development of microlearning online training modules. Check out what’s available so that you can always create bite-sized online training. Use your video or audio editing platforms, templates, themes and images to the best effect in microlearning.
- Archived Online Training Materials
Look carefully into the wealth of content you already hold in your LMS. For example, a 30-minute webinar could easily be broken down into micromodules. Those micromodules could be delivered all at once or at timed intervals, whatever suits your project. Selected highlights of an investor presentation could be used to disseminate strategy across the company in video form. Take a fresh look at what you already have and how it can be delivered differently. You can even combine existing text, graphics and images into infographics, that are easy-to-digest summaries of information. Think how much more impact sales statistics or progress against targets would look as a one-page infographic. Easy to absorb and disseminate, infographics are among the vital microlearning online training assets.
- Pre-Recorded Events
We all have access to low-cost recording and editing software. Free or low-cost apps allow us all to become in-house video specialists. Especially if you already have pre-recorded events at your disposal. Creating short senior leader interviews or demonstrations using video is an ideal way to deliver microlearning. You’ll get the added benefit of displaying the commitment to the project of the leader you have interviewed. Videos can be watched more informally and encourage discussion.
- Simulations And Branching Scenarios
Quick games are a great way to temporarily immerse your corporate learners in your subject matter! So why not transform your simulation or branching scenario into a bite-sized serious game. Choose a section of your online training content with a real-world application and use a game to train up your corporate learners on a specific skill. For example, an online training simulation becomes a micro-game that involves different levels that tie into steps or related skill sets.
- Social Media Pages/Groups
You already have a platform for social learning. Why not add a social element to your microlearning module to embed the knowledge? Social learning creates a buzz about training, which is especially useful if the online training module is part of a more comprehensive online course. Post a tip every day or invite corporate learners to share their own microlearning links for the benefit of their peers. You can even host impromptu microlearning events, such as five-minute live events that address specific online training topics or issues.
- Lectures And Audio Books
You may have recorded lectures, audio presentations, or even audio books that you own the rights to. In which case, you have all the online training material you need to produce a podcast series. Break the audio content into smaller sections and add background music, sound effects, and a brief intro. Ensure that each podcast focuses on a single issue or online training challenge to avoid cognitive overload.
- Blog Posts
If you have a corporate eLearning blog, why not convert the posts into microlearning online training assets. Start by evaluating training gaps and objectives. Then determine which archived posts align with your needs. You can narrate relevant posts to produce podcasts or compile posts to create an FAQ. For example, 7 blog entries all tie into various aspects of the sales process. So, whittle the content down to the essentials and put it into a FAQ format. You may need to formulate questions to frame the blog posts responses. But this requires much less time than developing an FAQ guide from scratch.
Think differently about your online training approach. Don’t be afraid to use microlearning widely, and often. Every corporate learner can benefit from a well-crafted, short burst of content to refresh or improve their skills. This doesn’t need to be a costly exercise. Use the microlearning online training assets you already have, such as presentations, video editing software or rapid eLearning authoring tools. Just take a fresh look at how you deliver your online training course. Not every piece of online training needs to replace a classroom environment. Online training can represent something new and fresh, that the corporate learner isn’t expecting. Microlearning is a way of promoting personal development without disrupting the working day.
Are you ready to step into the future and incorporate innovative AR/VR microlearning activities into your online training? Read the article 10 AR/VR Activities For Microlearning To Add In Your Online Training Library to discover 10 great AR/VR activities for microlearning to provide your corporate learners with an immersive online training experience.
If you have any specific queries, do contact me or leave a comment below.
Read More:
- 15 Types Of Microlearning For Formal And Informal Learning In The Workplace
- Why You Should Adopt The Combination Of Microlearning And Mobile Learning In 2018
- Gamification And Microlearning: A Dynamite Combination
- 6 Amazing Examples – How Can You Use Microlearning Videos in Your Training
- Virtual Reality In eLearning – Using VR As A Microlearning Nugget For Induction And Onboarding
- Free eBook: 12 Examples That Prove Mobile Learning And Microlearning Is An Essential Combination To Meet Your Learning Mandate
