With long periods of quarantine, closed offices, and work disruptions, online education has experienced an unprecedented surge. One of the key learning trends of 2020 is microlearning.

Microlearning involves learning through small units of knowledge, providing specific information to achieve a small learning objective. Its advantages undoubtedly keep it on the popularity list, especially in the corporate learning space.

This is because microlearning fits into both informal discussions and segments of structured eLearning courses or even performance support capsules. Regardless of where and how it is implemented, what it has in common is brevity, which defines it, and a “single idea,” meaning the content is limited to a single theme, idea, or specific concept.

Microlearning, social learning, and gamification

Microlearning can be delivered in various forms, but it is through mobile devices that it has the greatest impact. Mobile access anywhere and anytime allows for greater accessibility and ease of learning on the go. This seems almost self-evident, as the mobile device has become an indispensable element for everyone: we live with our mobile phones from waking up to its alarm in the morning to going to bed. In this way, microlearning is ideal for learning a new concept or skill while waiting in traffic or standing in line at the supermarket.

If mobile microlearning also incorporates social learning, it enhances the learning experience by deepening and enriching it through interaction and collaboration. The same applies if it incorporates tools like gamification, turning it into a fun and engaging experience. Moreover, by including data analysis, it allows companies to keep a comprehensive record of knowledge gaps and the practical application of acquired knowledge and habits.

In some ways, companies will increasingly explore microlearning to train their employees, becoming a powerful method for real-world training without the difficulties or limitations of more traditional methodologies.