
MANAGING MICROLEARNING IN THE WORKPLACE: HOW COMPANIES ARE CHANGING THE GAME
The average attention span has decreased from 12 seconds to 8 seconds since 2000, which can present a major challenge when it comes to engaging employees in learning. Traditional handbooks, manuals and extensive training sessions may no longer align with employee mindsets, but microlearning does.
Microlearning consists of short, focused training that runs 2 to 6 minutes in length. Rather than trying to cover a huge span of information, microlearning homes in on specific action-oriented behaviors or takeaways employees need to retain from each session. Employees are typically able to access sessions as desired or needed on any type of device, with the ability to review or repeat them at any given time.
Microlearning is available in a wide scope of options, letting companies select the style that works best with their employees and culture. Microlearning styles include:
As one of the largest distribution networks for millions of products across the world, Walmart wanted a way to decrease the risk of accidents and injuries while promoting a culture of safety. It turned to a microlearning platform that uses gamification.
The voluntary participation rate for the platform averages 91 percent, and the company has seen a 54 percent reduction in recordable distribution center safety incidents as well as a 15 percent rise in employee safety knowledge.
The home décor retailer At Home likewise increased employee safety with microlearning, while also using it for compliance, onboarding, leadership and other training needs. The company has since seen a 36 percent decrease in safety incidents and a 90 percent decrease in onboarding time for new employees.
With more than 100 newspapers under its control, Berkshire Hathaway Media Group needed an effective means of offering onboard training to the sales teams for its more than 100 newspaper across the nation. Microlearning provided it, along with a 98 percent satisfaction rate from participating employees who said the content was both useful and immediately applicable to their daily work.
Convenient, fast and aligned with today’s microscopic attention span, microlearning is producing notable results across a variety of industries. Not only are employees highly satisfied with the easy, engaging manner of learning, but management and executives are highly satisfied with its effect on the company’s bottom line.