What is Microlearning?
Technology has evolved rather rapidly in the last five years or so, and with these advancements, new helpful tools have emerged for education. One such “tool” is microlearning. Microlearning is a teaching and studying method that encompasses a variety of effective short-form mediums used at the learner’s convenience that takes into account short attention spans.[1] These bursts of information tend to stick in your brain and are becoming an important and effective tool to compliment other studying methods.
How does it work?
To understand how microlearning operates, look no further than its name: “micro-learning.” Essentially, educational content is broken down into smaller sections which allow for the learner to access the information in a way that is easily digestible and memorable. Microlearning often uses game-based learning, which combines aspects of games with educational material to engage the user and measure their progress.[2] The game is the lesson plan, and the goal is to learn it. Due to the smaller amounts of information and the game-based nature of many of the platforms that employ microlearning, the lessons are not only easy to absorb, but they also allow for information to be continually reinforced as you move from one stage to another. This is often done with checkpoints that range from comprehensive questions to simple flash cards summarizing what you learned.[3]
The retention of information is part of what makes microlearning so appealing. These platforms help with active recall. Articles that discuss this topic often refer to the “Ebbinghaus forgetting curve” as something that short bursts of knowledge and repetition can combat.[4] In fact, a study was published by the International Journal of Educational Research Review, which indicated that microlearning improved knowledge retention by 18% in primary school students.[1] Another important aspect is that it uses your attention span to the fullest, as the lessons are targeted and tend to exclude superfluous information that would be skimmed over in any other form. In a year-long study from Southampton Solent University in the UK, researchers found that for lecture videos, the optimal length is 5–8 minutes.[5] That is to say that beyond the 12-minute mark, students’ confidence in their understanding of the material dropped significantly.
This is all without mentioning how convenient and flexible microlearning is. It is easily accessible through cell phones, tablets or laptops; the length of the lessons can easily fit into the 6 minutes it takes to soft boil an egg. Lastly, they aim to teach a wide range of subjects and can be used at any time of the day.
Challenges
Despite all these benefits, microlearning does have its downsides. The primary concern is that it is not effective in teaching complex topics or in-depth learning. Additionally, microlearning depends on the consistency and frequency of its user, and it can affect how well someone understands a subject. You may be able to absorb and register what something is, but you may not be able to explain anything else about it or obtain context for it.[6] Also, it cannot be used to teach “behaviors or skills.”[7] This means that something like solving derivational equations is better left to old-school learning.
Conclusion
This is not to imply that it is not a helpful tool. Rather, it is important to know when it is appropriate to use. For example, while it may be ineffective to teach everything there is to know about molecular biology, it can certainly be used to cement crucial terminology and diagrams in student’s minds. Instead of replacing standard learning practices, what it can really help do is target and reinforce gaps in learning.
PSG
Publishing Solutions Group is committed to helping students achieve academic success. Understanding the evolution of learning practices such as Microlearning allows PSG to support their clients by creating effective and engaging content for use in the K-12 classroom.
[1] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/324552176_The_Effectiveness_of_Microlearning_to_Improve_Students’_Learning_Ability
[2] https://blog.mindresearch.org/blog/game-based-learning-vs-gamification
[3] https://elearningindustry.com/what-is-microlearning-benefits-best-practices
[4] https://www.shiftelearning.com/blog/numbers-dont-lie-why-bite-sized-learning-is-better-for-your-learners-and-you-too
[5] https://journal.alt.ac.uk/index.php/rlt/article/view/2680/2917
[6] https://elmlearning.com/blog/microlearning-pros-and-cons/
[7] https://www.bookwidgets.com/blog/2017/02/microlearning-a-new-way-of-teaching-without-losing-attention
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