How Social Media is Reshaping Microlearning Experiences
Studies show that short 10-minute microlearning courses have an impressive 83% completion rate(i).
Microlearning is all about breaking down educational content into bite-sized, easy-to-digest pieces.
It allows learners to engage in online training sessions during brief intervals throughout the day, catering to the constraints of busy schedules. These succinct modules are crafted to deliver specific, actionable information that can be promptly consumed and applied.
Furthermore, microlearning has proven to enhance retention rates by 25% to 60%(ii).
However, with people having shorter attention spans nowadays, companies are looking for new and creative ways to keep their audience engaged.
That’s where social media comes in!
With over 4.95 billion users globally, social media has become a powerful tool for grabbing people’s attention(iii).
Social media not only provides a platform to share microlearning content but also fosters interaction and discussion among learners. This enhances the learning experience by creating a sense of community and collaboration, making the educational journey more enjoyable and effective.
In this article, we’ll explore how combining microlearning with social media can make learning more engaging and effective for businesses.
Harnessing Social Media for Microlearning
Typically presented within a 2 to 10-minute timeframe, microlearning incorporates various mediums such as text, images, videos, audio, quizzes, and games to captivate learners.
Now, let’s delve into several social media platforms that enable the widespread delivery of microlearning.
Video-Sharing Platforms: YouTube & TikTok
YouTube and TikTok play host to a myriad of concise videos that are effortlessly consumed and shared. These videos typically showcase captivating graphics, animations, and special effects designed to seize the viewer’s attention. Fostering a culture of user-generated content, these platforms not only encourage viewers to watch existing videos but also motivate them to craft their own creations.
Photo-Sharing Platforms: Instagram and Pinterest
Instagram and Pinterest predominantly feature photos and infographics, with short-form videos. Organizing content on these platforms is a breeze, as they leverage boards and collections to assist users in curating microlearning resources for future reference. To facilitate easy exploration and initiate discussions, you can use hashtags, mentions, and people tags within the text.
Networking Platforms: Facebook & LinkedIn
Facebook and LinkedIn empower individuals to form groups and networks, fostering connections with others who share similar interests and insights. These platforms also offer news feeds that grant users convenient access to microlearning content shared by fellow users or organizations, spanning articles, videos, and guides. Typically perceived as more professionally oriented than their social media counterparts, platforms like LinkedIn are often the preferred choice for those seeking insights from industry experts.
Microblogging Platforms: Twitter
Twitter imposes character limits on posts, rendering them ideal for disseminating brief snippets of information. Their real-time nature facilitates the swift sharing of updates and breaking news on specific topics. Additionally, users can string together a series of connected tweets on a particular subject. The incorporation of hashtags ensures that conversations remain searchable and easy to follow, irrespective of the mutual following status between users.
How Social Media Enhances Microlearning
Microlearning adds value to corporate training and helps people learn about the brand easily. When you use social media, you can share this information at scale.
Now, let’s explore the reasons why using social media for microlearning can be good for your business.
On-Demand Learning
Social media platforms facilitate microlearning by providing a flexible environment where individuals can learn at their own pace. Learners are not bound by rigid schedules, enabling them to access microlearning content whenever it suits them. Moreover, learners can access educational content from anywhere in the world, eliminating the need to be physically present in a traditional educational setting.
Focus-Oriented Material
Microlearning content on social media platforms is designed to be concise and focused. This ensures that learners quickly grasp key concepts without feeling overwhelmed. Social media’s format encourages the delivery of bite-sized information, making it easier for individuals to retain important tidbits without succumbing to cognitive overload. Moreover, learners can actively participate in discussions, ask questions, and share their insights, comment on posts reinforcing their understanding of the microlearning content.
Accessible Learning Formats
Microlearning resources are often presented in formats suitable for sharing on social media platforms, such as short-form videos, infographics, articles, and podcasts. These formats align with the preferences of social media users, making the content easily consumable and shareable. Social media platforms offer a familiar and user-friendly interface. Microlearning content can be seamlessly integrated into these platforms, allowing learners to navigate through the material using apps they are already accustomed to.
Engaging Learning Experiences
Social media platforms offer features like quizzes and polls, which can be integrated into microlearning content. This interactivity not only keeps learners engaged but also provides immediate feedback, reinforcing the learning process. Learners can test their understanding in real time and revisit the content if needed.
Individualized Learning Paths
Social media platforms leverage algorithms to analyze user preferences and behaviors. This enables them to provide personalized content recommendations, ensuring that learners receive material tailored to their interests and learning objectives. Personalization enhances engagement and the relevance of microlearning content.
Real-Time Information
Social media serves as a dynamic platform for real-time information sharing. Microlearning content can include updates on industry trends, news, and emerging practices. This ensures that learners stay aligned with the latest developments, making their learning experience more practical and applicable to real-world scenarios.
Achievement-Based Learning
Social media platforms often incorporate gamification elements, such as achievements and badges. Microlearning content can include gamified features to motivate learners. Recognizing and rewarding accomplishments through social media can enhance engagement and encourage a sense of achievement in the learning process.
Conclusion: The Future of Microlearning
The impact of social media on microlearning is undeniably transformative, shaping the future landscape of eLearning and skill acquisition. While it has made people’s attention spans shorter, it has also made learning easier for many by giving access to short and interesting lessons.
In the coming years, an increasing number of individuals are likely to turn to social media for eLearning. Emerging technologies such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) will enhance the learning experience, making it more enjoyable and interactive. Moreover, social media’s capacity for real-time communication, user-generated content, and collaborative learning environments will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of microlearning.
Statistics References:
(i) Nikolaroza
(ii) Nikolaroza
(iii) Kepios