Lack of engagement is one of the biggest challenges in training programs. Among others, an effective way to overcome this problem is through microlearning. It uses materials in short bursts with the assumption that it will be better in memory retention. Keep on reading and we’ll share some tips on creating short but effective training courses.
- Start with an Assessment of Needs
Effective employee training starts with an assessment of needs. It is crucial to identify the gap that the training wishes to bridge. This will dictate the right approach to achieve the intended goals. If the training is not in line with the needs of the employees and the organization, it might end up being a waste of resources.
2. Use Audio and Visuals
Even if the training materials are short, they can still end up being boring. To avoid this from happening, add audio and visuals, including pictures and videos. This will help to captivate the attention of your audience. This will also be effective in increasing the retention rate.
3. Make it Mobile
Accessibility is another great way to make microlearning more effective. Make the training material mobile-friendly. Create a device-agnostic content, which means that employees must be able to access it through their smartphones, laptops, or tablets. With this, they can learn anytime and anywhere, even in the comfort of their homes.
4. Add Micro-Interactions
Even with short bursts of training materials, it is important to be interactive. Micro-interactions are small and engaging experiences. These are actions that the learner can complete while accessing the training module, such as hitting the like button, rating the material, or taking a short quiz. This will help make them more attentive to the training.
5. Be Straightforward
You only have a few minutes to engage your audience. Within the first few seconds, you must have their full attention. One way to do this is to get straight to the point. Avoid using words that are too technical for your audience. Do not overwhelm the trainers with unnecessary information.
6. Incorporate Gamification
Gamified training can be beneficial even in microlearning. This requires adding gamification elements in the short training materials to engage the audience. This can be in the form of scoreboards, badges, and challenges. Provide incentives to enhance performance during the training. Aside from making learning fun, this is also a great way to promote healthy competition.
7. Let the Pros Handle It
Creating short but effective training courses is not one thing that everyone can do. The best thing to do is to let the experts handle the job for you. Save your time and energy for other important business matters. Companies like True Office Learning can help execute effective microlearning courses.
Training should be short but sweet to be effective. From using audio and visuals to adding micro-interactions, consider our suggestions above to create successful microlearning courses.