BY ROWENA CROSBIE, president, Tero International

Millennials and Gen Z employees prefer microlearning because it aligns with their values and expertise. Employers like it because it keeps their employees engaged, informed and proficient. What is it? It’s microlearning.

Microlearning’s origin can be traced to prehistoric times when brief and targeted knowledge was passed orally from one generation to the next. But microlearning’s hyperbolic growth and popularity are a recent phenomenon.

The prime catalyst for its growth was the creation of the World Wide Web and later the release of smartphones and tablets.

Microlearning delivers short, focused content in two to 10 minutes. Nano learning offers even shorter segments.

The popularity of microlearning can be attributed to its foundation in behavioral and psychological principles and learning theories. The spaced repetition principle, also referred to as the spacing effect, suggests that regularly reviewing information at spaced intervals enhances retention and recollection in learners. In behavioral psychology, it is known as interval reinforcement.

Microlearning has limitations. Due to its limited depth, microlearning may not be suitable for teaching complex concepts. Microlearning can lead to short-term retention only as learners seek quick and short answers. It has emerged as a popular and practical tool in corporate training. You’ve just participated in a microlearning experience. For more, visit Tero’s YouTube channel for hundreds of microlearning and Nano learning modules, all accessible on your favorite device.

View Rowena’s bio here