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How to Create Content for Microlearning: Best Practices, Tools & Templates

Olujinmi Oluwatoni
Written by Olujinmi Oluwatoni
Published at Apr 21, 2023
How to Create Content for Microlearning: Best Practices, Tools & Templates

In today's age of instant gratification, we crave quick, snappy information. And let's face it; nobody wants to sit through never-ending boring employee training sessions that feel like they go on for days. That's where microlearning comes in, delivering bite-sized and engaging content that'll have your employees retaining information faster.

According to Software Advice, microlearning improves engagement by up to 50%.

If your employees are getting bored with long, stressful training sessions, microlearning might just be the fix to bring life and efficiency to your training.

In this article, we'll go over everything you need to know about developing a microlearning program to meet your organizational objectives and how Visme can help facilitate that process.

 

Table of Contents

 

  

Quick Read

  • Microlearning is an approach to learning that delivers lessons in concise and bite-sized modules.
  • Microlearning increases productivity and performance, helps in onboarding new employees, facilitates just-in-time learning and reinforces longer-form training.
  • There are a few drawbacks with microlearning: It can be challenging to design, scale personalized content and it isn't well-suited to comprehensive learning.
  • Microcopy, microlearning videos, infographics, microlearning challenges, games and applications are all excellent examples of microlearning.
  • Get the best out of microlearning content by incorporating video and visual content, gamification, integrating accountability, using a conversational tone and incorporating spaced repetition.
  • Visme has a rich library of professionally designed templates and unique features which allows you to create branded, interactive and engaging microlearning content.

 

What is Microlearning?

Microlearning is a learning approach that delivers lessons in concise and bite-sized modules. It often takes advantage of modern technological resources like learning management systems (LMS), mobile devices, artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality and gamification.

Although microlearning seems to be the natural evolution of the e-learning movement, the two should not be confused. As a matter of fact, microlearning is not entirely limited to electronic media or the internet. It may involve some physical exercises, especially for employees engaged in hands-on activities, like in the case of healthcare and construction workers.

The training could take any form, from physical exercises to text-based content to fully interactive multimedia, but the common denominator is its brevity. Each microlearning segment would ideally cover just one learning objective and could span anywhere from just under one minute in length to at most 10 minutes.

 

What is the Purpose Of Microlearning

It is very important for an organization or the official in charge of creating and curating the corporate training module for an organization to determine the purpose and objective of the learning experience before setting out.

This is because it would help in deciding certain features like the LMS platform to deploy on, the format to use and the tactics to employ when developing the program. An organization may set up a microlearning program for one of the following purposes:

Increasing Productivity and Performance

Depending on the organization's goals, microlearning can be used to boost productivity and performance in a variety of contexts.

For instance, time management, leadership development, sales, compliance, technical, customer service and relations are all areas where microlearning can help improve productivity and performance.

Onboarding New Employees

Microlearning can serve as a valuable tool in the onboarding process. By providing new recruits with bite-sized, easily consumable information that they're able to access learning material as needed.

The microlearning approach allows new employees to learn at their own pace and review knowledge as frequently as they need to feel confident in their new position.

Talking about onboarding, Visme has tons of resources to help make your process seamless. Without prior design experience, you can create onboarding materials like

  • Presentations
  • Onboarding guides
  • Onboarding plans
  • Onboarding checklists
  • Evaluation reports
  • Worksheets and more

Provide microlearning experiences for new hires with this onboarding presentation template below.

Customize this template and make it your own! Edit and Download

Just-In-Time (JIT) Learning

Just-In-Time learning are created for employees to quickly access specific relevant information right when they need it on the job, rather than having to attend lengthy training sessions. This learning system is a very efficient way to dispense the required knowledge to personnel, especially in a workplace where they’re required to learn new skills quickly to keep up with their job demands.

Reinforce Longer-form Training

This can be one of two types: one could be as pre-work to prepare the workers for an upcoming longer learning experience which could be live or digital, like a virtual instructor-led training. The other is done as a reminder or refresher course to reinforce previous longer learning experiences.

Keep your training materials
on-brand and engaging

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Keep your training materials on-brand and engaging

 

Examples Of Microlearning

Microlearning can take various forms. Here are some examples:

Microcopy

Microcopy generally refers to the small amount of content on websites, apps and products. They can be applied to instruct a learner on what to do, address user issues and give context to a situation.

Microcopy can be in the form of error messages or confirmation messages. It could also be a short physical or digital handbook, manual or set of flashcards.

Microlearning Video

These are sort of like the Tiktok length of videos spanning anywhere from 30 seconds to a maximum of 10 minutes. They could be in the form of micro-lectures, screencasts, snippets from longer podcasts, whiteboard animations or kinetic typography animations.

Also, interactive videos with clickable hotspots, quizzes and branching scenarios are a pretty intuitive way to deliver video content for microlearning purposes. With Visme's interactivity tools, you can bring more life to your content.

Check out this cool video from Visme’s TikTok page showing users how to design ebooks in minutes.

@vismeapp Visme’s easy ebook creator helps me turn blogs into #ebooks in minutes. I can make it interactive and clickable, and even track views and analytics! Publishing your own ebook is a great #marketing tactic for your business or blog. With the Visme ebook maker, you can create a multi-page ebook ready to share online or sell on Amazon. Use one of Visme’s templates to set up your content along with images and illustrations. Download your ebook as a PDF or publish online and share as a link! #CapCut #ebooktiktok #ebookdesign #marketingtools #leadmagnet #documentdesign #Visme ♬ original sound - Speed Audios .:・°☆

Infographics

They are visual and graphical illustrations that can be used to portray data, provide instructions, visualize workflows/procedures or highlight key points in a memorable and engaging way.

This infographic below is a great example.

Audience Journey Map Infographic
Customize this template and make it your own! Edit and Download

Microchallenges and Games

Microchallenges are small, focused tasks or exercises in the form of short puzzles or games that are designed to reinforce a specific skill or concept. This can be particularly useful for professions like software development where problem-solving skills are highly sought after.

Traditional quizzes like multiple choice and true/false questions can also be an effective addition to a microlearning module. It can assess the understanding and knowledge retained by the learners and enable you to track the ROI on the resources invested in developing the microlearning platform.

What Codecademy does with its coding exercises is a perfect instance of how micro-challenges can be adopted into the learning experience.

Microlearning Applications

These include web and software applications like YouTube, the TED mobile app, LinkedIn Learning, Quizlet (used for creating digital flashcards), Khan Academy and Duolingo (the language learning app).

 

Challenges of Microlearning

Microlearning is not a one-size-fits-all solution to learning. Hence, below are some of the limitations you’d run into with adopting a microlearning instructional module.

Challenging to Create

Microlearning can be challenging to create because complex concepts have to be stripped down to the simplest form possible while still passing across all the "need-to-knows" and eliminating the "nice-to-knows" or fluff.

Making sure that each session stands on its own and makes sense when combined with the bigger, sequential part of the curriculum might also be challenging. In some instances, this might necessitate that the organization bring in outside help, such as a learning consultant.

In addition, microlearning requires extensive knowledge of content authoring tools. However, creating content for microlearning can be a walk in the park thanks to Visme's easy-to-use content authoring tool.

Difficult to Scale Personalized Content

Personalized learning pathways from microlearning programs can be very effective and efficient. However, they constitute an operational nightmare for learning experience designers, especially when scaling for a large organization with numerous employees.

Not Suited For Comprehensive Learning

Microlearning might not be the best approach to have a holistic perspective of a subject matter and weave together its various facets into a unified narrative.

For instance, a mechanical engineer can adopt a microlearning course to learn how to use a new 3D modeling software efficiently.

However, if he is trying to design a complex HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) system for a large commercial building, microlearning would not be suitable. This requires knowledge of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, heat transfer principles and operation of the various HVAC components.

Sometimes spending countless hours slowly sifting through extensive learning material (text or multimedia) is exactly what is needed to be qualified enough to get the job done.

 

Best Practices for Creating Content for Microlearning

Made with Visme Infographic Maker

Take Advantage of Gamification

This can be done by implementing streaks, integrating storytelling elements, displaying progress bars, rewarding points and issuing digital badges. Applying gamification tactics is important because they leverage the brain's dopaminergic reward system, which is usually activated by gaming activities, to create a feeling of satisfaction.

They can also create a sense of urgency and healthy competition. These elements motivate learners to engage in learning and significantly increase the average completion rate.

Use Video And Visual Content

Incorporating videos or other forms of visual content into your microlearning module is a no-brainer if you want to boost interactivity and retention.

Videos can provide a dynamic way to demonstrate complex concepts, break down tasks into manageable steps and give real-world examples of how information can be applied.

Scientific studies have shown that the human brain processes visual data 60,000 times faster than text-based information. This means that learners are more likely to assimilate information presented in a visual format.

Also, according to an Insivia report, learners were more likely to recall 95% of the information they received from watching a video than 10% from reading a text. By including videos in your microlearning courses, you can help learners to better understand and retain the information presented to them.

Check out this short video from Visme’s YouTube page on how to create an employee training program employees will love.

Build in Accountability

Built-in accountability is an essential component of microlearning programs to help learners stay on track and achieve their learning objectives.

One way to implement accountability is by setting clear goals and expectations for learners at the outset of the program. For example, learners can be given specific targets for completing each module or quiz, with progress tracked through a dashboard or progress bar.

Additionally, providing regular feedback and performance metrics can help learners understand their progress and where they need to focus their efforts. This can be done through automated feedback or regular check-ins with a coach or mentor.

Another way to bake accountability into microlearning coursework is through social learning and collaborative learning. Learners are encouraged to work together, holding each other accountable for progress and completion. This can be achieved through assigning group activities or projects or through online communities and discussion forums.

Use A Conversational Tone

Using a conversational tone is an excellent system when content authoring microlearning courses because it makes the information more engaging and easier to understand. It feels less like a lecture, less preachy or condescending and more like a conversation, which can help learners stay focused and interested.

It presents the study material in a more relatable and approachable manner, establishing a connection between the learner and the content.

Make It Compatible With Mobile Devices

Studies have shown that the use of mobile devices to browse the internet has grown to surpass the use of desktop and laptop computers in recent years. It is no news that many people, especially Millennials and Gen Zers, who are just joining the workforce, rely on their phones to access information and learning materials.

Designing mobile-optimized microlearning programs makes it convenient and accessible for learners to engage with the content anytime, anywhere.

If a major appeal of microlearning is its flexibility and availability on demand, then it makes sense to publish it on a mobile-friendly microlearning platform.

Incorporate Spaced Repetition

Incorporating spaced repetition is a highly effective practice to consider when designing a microlearning program.

According to Ebbinghaus' Forgetting Curve, the average learner would forget about 90% of what they learned in the first month.

However, the scientist Hermann Ebbinghaus after whom the forgetting curve is named, went on to show that by revisiting that information through spaced repetition over time, we are able to retain it for much longer.

By implementing spaced repetition in your microlearning program, you can ensure that learners retain the information they learn and that the knowledge they gain is more likely to be applied on the job.

 

10 Best Templates for Microlearning

With the help of Visme's unique features and extensive collection of professionally created templates, you can easily make your own branded, interactive and engaging microlearning content.

Now, let's jump right into the templates.

Employee Handbook Presentation Template

Make sure everyone on your team is on the same page with this modern and sleek presentation. This template is a user-friendly and effective way to communicate the organization's policies and procedures to new and existing employees.

You can use this sample to brief your team on your organization's new goals, values, or protocols.

The interactive features of the template allow users to click on each section to view more detailed information about each policy or benefit. The template also includes icons, images, charts, graphs and other data visualization tools to help illustrate key points and make the presentation more visually appealing.

Customize this template and make it your own! Edit and Download

Workplace Safety Presentation Template

Use this eye-catching safety presentation to get the word out about the value of safety in the workplace or any other important information. Your presentation will stand out and be more engaging thanks to the use of neon blue elements in the design. The presentation is also neatly structured to accommodate all relevant information.

Customize this template and make it your own! Edit and Download

You can customize this template with your brand colors, fonts and other elements to fit your needs. Bring more fun into your presentation design by adding Visme's animation and interactivity elements such as clickable menus, hover effects, pop-ups, animated icons, illustrations and special effects.

hover effects and interactive pop-ups in Visme

 

FastChat Employee Handbook Template

New employees are likely to have questions. The most frequent ones can be answered with this Fastchat employee handbook template to clear up any confusion and speed up the process.

The fantastic pre-designed pages of the template will help you emphasize any subjects you need to address with new hires on their first day, such as company policies, the company's journey, future plans and core values.

Take it to another level by using Visme's flipbook effect to make a compelling read.

Customize this template and make it your own! Edit and Download

Employee Engagement Presentation

If you want to get the most out of your employee onboarding process, this employee handbook template is the way to go.

This stunning employee handbook presentation is a great way to officially welcome new staff members in a formal and efficient manner. Use the beautiful layout to highlight the events they'll be participating in, the contacts they'll make and the results they'll be expected to provide.

With Visme's dynamic fields, it's simple to keep this employee training program updated and ready to be shared with your trainee in a matter of seconds.

Customize this template and make it your own! Edit and Download

Communication Skills Training Template

This beautiful keynote presentation template can be used to talk about the importance of communication in the workplace and other ideals in the workplace. Engage your staff by including icons, stock photos and videos from our extensive collection.

Visme's Brand Wizard makes it easy to apply your brand's colors, text and logo to this template in minutes rather than spending hours on the design process.

Customize this template and make it your own! Edit and Download

Customer Journey Map Template

Convey your customer's journey to the customer care team, the design team and the board of directors using this mind map.

The interconnected circles from this template and the central circle, which represents the topic at hand will help to effectively convey your message. Visme allows you to choose from a variety of attractive and modern typefaces to set the tone of your informative visual.

Customize this template and make it your own! Edit and Download

SEO Executive Training Manual

Use this beautiful training manual template to onboard new staff in a systematic and efficient manner. With this template, you can make a great first impression on new hires and provide them with important information about the firm and the position.

Get your hands on a ton of different interactive elements, videos, 3D illustrations, shapes or GIFs on Visme's editor to spice up your training content.

Customize this template and make it your own! Edit and Download

MarketingHub Employee Handbook

Use this inspiring employee handbook sample right away to rally your staff in the greatest way possible. This stunning employee handbook template may be used to provide new workers with a road map to success.

It has a beautiful color scheme, high-quality stock pictures, contemporary icons and forms and everything else you might want in a comprehensive employee handbook template.

Customize this template and make it your own! Edit and Download

Corporate Ethics Training Manual

Every organization has ethics and code of conduct. It's important to make sure that all of your team members are on the same page with the company's policies and ethics. Use this simple but sleek employee handbook template to put together a corporate ethics resource that'll guide your new hires and existing team members.

Customize this template and make it your own! Edit and Download

You can download in formats such as SCORM, xAPI and HTML5 that are compatible with many LMS and microlearning platforms.

how to download in SCORM and xAPI format in Visme

Virtual Administrator Training

Use the detailed Visme training manual template to onboard your new virtual administrators. Its beautiful color scheme, unique icons and forms and cutting-edge typography make it a great fit for a wide range of organizations.

You can enhance the document's visual appeal and readability by incorporating interactivity anywhere you see fit. You can incorporate pop-ups, hover effects, animated icons, link slides or content boxes to objects on your canvas for an immersive experience.

You can create this faster with Visme's shortcut feature which helps you to add things quickly. Just click on the slash icon on your keyboard to find what you need.

Customize this template and make it your own! Edit and Download

 

Create Successful Training Material & Courses with Visme

In conclusion, microlearning is a proven method for improving knowledge retention and boosting engagement among learners.

Incorporating visual elements and interactive features in microlearning modules can further enhance the learning experience and Visme is an excellent tool for fulfilling just that.

With its easy-to-use content authoring platform features, anyone can create visually appealing training materials and courses that produce effective learning outcomes.

Additionally, Visme gives users the ability to download their creations in various formats (SCORM, xAPI and HTML5) that are compatible with many LMS and microlearning platforms.

Don't miss out on the opportunity to create impactful microlearning content. Sign up for Visme today and take your employee training to the next level.

Olujinmi Oluwatoni
Written by Olujinmi Oluwatoni

Olujinmi is passionate about helping B2B and SaaS brands with great products tell their stories. She creates data-driven content that’s helpful, inspires brand trust and drives engagement. When she’s not writing, she enjoys composing songs or trying out new recipes. Connect with her on LinkedIn.

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