Today, learning and development (L&D) professionals face a unique challenge: how to deliver impactful training that engages learners and supports retention, all while respecting the limited time employees can dedicate to formal learning. Enter microlearning—an approach that delivers concise, focused training in small, digestible units. When paired with a robust Learning Management System (LMS), microlearning transforms traditional training methods into accessible, engaging, and effective learning experiences.
Repurposing existing content for microlearning within an LMS is a smart, cost-effective way to leverage your training materials and maximize their impact. This article explores the benefits of microlearning, best practices for repurposing content, and how to optimize your LMS to deliver bite-sized training.
What is Microlearning?
Microlearning is a training approach that delivers short, focused learning experiences. Each unit typically targets a single learning objective, lasting anywhere from two to 15 minutes. The bite-sized nature of microlearning makes it ideal for just-in-time learning, reinforcing key concepts, or addressing specific skill gaps.
Unlike traditional training methods, which may involve lengthy courses or workshops, microlearning is designed to fit seamlessly into a learner’s day. Examples include short videos, infographics, quick quizzes, or step-by-step guides—all of which can be accessed on-demand.
Why Microlearning Works
The effectiveness of microlearning lies in its alignment with how people learn and retain information. Research suggests that shorter learning sessions:
Enhance Retention: Microlearning combats the forgetting curve by delivering information in small doses, which are easier to recall.
Improve Engagement: The brevity and focus of microlearning keep learners interested and motivated.
Increase Accessibility: Bite-sized content can be consumed on any device, at any time, making learning more convenient.
Support Application: Microlearning often emphasizes practical, actionable knowledge that learners can immediately apply in their roles.
Given these benefits, microlearning has become a cornerstone of modern corporate training programs.
The Case for Repurposing Content
Creating training content from scratch is resource-intensive, often requiring significant time, expertise, and budget. Repurposing existing materials for microlearning offers a practical alternative. It allows you to:
Maximize ROI: Extend the lifecycle of your training investments.
Save Time: Leverage what you already have instead of starting from zero.
Ensure Relevance: Adapt existing content to address current learning objectives or business needs.
Repurposing also enables you to transition legacy materials—such as PowerPoint decks, recorded webinars, or policy documents—into more engaging and effective formats.
Steps to Repurpose Content for Microlearning
1. Audit Your Existing Content
Start by reviewing your current training materials to identify potential assets for microlearning. Look for:
Topics that can be broken down into smaller parts.
Content that addresses specific challenges or skills.
Materials with evergreen value, such as compliance training or soft skills development.
For example, a 60-minute webinar on customer service could be divided into several microlearning modules, each focusing on a distinct aspect like handling difficult customers or improving active listening.
2. Define Learning Objectives
Each microlearning unit should have a clear and specific learning objective. Avoid trying to cover too much in a single module. Instead, focus on delivering one key takeaway per session. For instance:
Broad Objective: “Improve customer service skills.”
Microlearning Objective: “Demonstrate how to respond to customer complaints effectively.”
Clear objectives ensure your microlearning modules are focused and actionable, increasing their impact on learners.
3. Choose the Right Format
Microlearning can take many forms, depending on your audience and objectives. Common formats include:
Videos: Short explainer videos or animations work well for demonstrating processes or conveying complex information.
Quizzes: Interactive assessments can reinforce learning and provide immediate feedback.
Infographics: Visual aids summarize key points and enhance recall.
Job Aids: Checklists, templates, or quick-reference guides are perfect for on-the-job learning.
Scenario-Based Learning: Brief simulations or role-playing scenarios allow learners to practice skills in a safe environment.
Select formats that align with the learning content and your audience’s preferences.
4. Simplify and Streamline Content
Long-form content often needs to be condensed for microlearning. To do this:
Strip away unnecessary details and focus on the essentials.
Use bullet points, concise language, and visuals to make information easier to digest.
Break up complex topics into multiple modules.
For instance, a lengthy onboarding handbook could be transformed into a series of short videos, each highlighting a specific policy or procedure.
5. Design for Engagement
Microlearning thrives on active participation and engagement. Incorporate interactive elements, such as:
Gamification: Add badges, points, or leaderboards to incentivize learning.
Scenarios: Create real-world situations where learners can apply knowledge.
Multimedia: Use images, videos, and animations to keep content dynamic.
An engaging experience not only enhances learning outcomes but also encourages learners to return for more.
Leveraging Your LMS for Microlearning
An LMS is the ideal platform to deliver microlearning. Here’s how to optimize it for bite-sized training:
1. Use Modular Design
Organize microlearning units into standalone modules or playlists. Modular design allows learners to navigate topics in a non-linear fashion, selecting the content most relevant to them.
2. Enable On-Demand Access
Microlearning is most effective when it’s accessible anytime, anywhere. Ensure your LMS supports mobile-friendly content and offline access. Features like search functionality and bookmarking make it easy for learners to find and revisit specific modules.
3. Incorporate Tracking and Analytics
Leverage your LMS’s analytics capabilities to monitor learner progress and assess the effectiveness of your microlearning initiatives. Metrics like completion rates, quiz scores, and time spent on each module provide valuable insights to refine your strategy.
4. Foster Continuous Learning
Use your LMS to create a culture of continuous learning. For example:
Schedule regular microlearning refreshers to reinforce key skills.
Offer curated learning paths tailored to individual roles or goals.
Provide opportunities for peer-to-peer learning through discussion boards or collaborative projects.
A well-integrated LMS transforms microlearning into a continuous, learner-centric experience.
Overcoming Common Challenges
While microlearning offers many advantages, repurposing content and implementing it in your LMS can present challenges. Here’s how to address them:
Challenge: Breaking Down Complex Topics
Solution: Use scaffolding—start with foundational concepts and build upon them with subsequent modules.
Challenge: Maintaining Engagement
Solution: Incorporate multimedia and interactive elements to keep learners engaged and motivated.
Challenge: Ensuring Relevance
Solution: Regularly update microlearning content to reflect changes in policies, technology, or business priorities.
Success Stories: Microlearning in Action
Example 1: Compliance Training
A company with outdated compliance training transformed its hour-long course into a series of microlearning videos. Each video focused on a specific topic, such as data privacy or workplace safety. The result? Higher completion rates and improved retention.
Example 2: Sales Enablement
A sales team struggling with product knowledge adopted microlearning through their LMS. They repurposed product manuals into short quizzes and videos, accessible on mobile devices. The team reported increased confidence and performance in client meetings.
Summary
Microlearning is more than a trend—it’s a proven strategy for delivering impactful training in today’s busy workplace. By repurposing your existing content and leveraging the capabilities of your LMS, you can create a dynamic, learner-centric experience that boosts engagement, retention, and performance.
Start small by auditing your current materials and experimenting with formats. With thoughtful planning and execution, microlearning can become a cornerstone of your L&D strategy, ensuring your workforce remains skilled, informed, and ready to tackle the challenges ahead.
About LMS Portals
At LMS Portals, we provide our clients and partners with a mobile-responsive, SaaS-based, multi-tenant learning management system that allows you to launch a dedicated training environment (a portal) for each of your unique audiences.
The system includes built-in, SCORM-compliant rapid course development software that provides a drag and drop engine to enable most anyone to build engaging courses quickly and easily.
We also offer a complete library of ready-made courses, covering most every aspect of corporate training and employee development.
If you choose to, you can create Learning Paths to deliver courses in a logical progression and add structure to your training program. The system also supports Virtual Instructor-Led Training (VILT) and provides tools for social learning.
Together, these features make LMS Portals the ideal SaaS-based eLearning platform for our clients and our Reseller partners.
Contact us today to get started or visit our Partner Program pages
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