Are you tired of traditional training programs that seem to go on forever, only to leave you with little long-term retention of the content? It's time to consider micro-learning courses, which offer bite-sized chunks of information that can be easily digested via mobile then retained and recalled later. In this blog, we'll explore the latest statistics on micro-learning, and how this approach to learning can benefit both learners and organisations.
Micro-learning Enables Learners to Retain More Knowledge
Did you know that "micro-learning improves focus and supports long-term retention by up to 80%”?1 This is because micro-learning offers smaller, shorter learning experiences that can be easily remembered by employees and applied. In contrast, traditional training can overwhelm learners as the brain can only process a limited amount of information at once. By breaking training into bite-sized pieces and making it more focused, learners can better engage with the material and retain it over time.
Why On-the-go Learning is Preferred Over Traditional Training
It’s not just about retention; it’s also about choice. 57% of employees would rather on-the-go access to training modules2 such as on a device, not just a desk-bound computer. This suggests learners value the flexibility and convenience of on-the-go learning, and are more likely to engage with training that fits into their busy schedules.
The Rise of Mobile Learning: Statistics and Trends
Speaking of on-the-go, mobile learning has become increasingly popular, and for good reason. Lynda.com states a survey by Merrill Lynch for their GoLearn initiative saw smartphone users complete courses 45% faster than on desktop — with no degradation of learning effectiveness.3 In addition, the “GoLearn experiment produced an estimated 4,270 hours of extra productivity by providing training on mobile devices”.3 The mobile-first trend is expected to continue, with the global market for mobile learning projected to reach $42 billion by 2024, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 18.5% from 2020 to 2025.4
How Micro-learning Can Reduce Development Costs by 50%
It’s not just individual learners who benefit from micro-learning — organisations can too, particularly in terms of cost savings. By breaking training into smaller, more manageable pieces, organisations can cut development costs by up to 50%, while increasing the speed of development by 300%.5 This is because micro-learning requires less time and resources than traditional training, making it more cost-effective.
Micro-learning Improves Learner Completion Rates
One of the key challenges with traditional training, and even e-learning, is low completion rates. According to corporate learning and development (L&D) provider Dashe & Thomson, a micro-learning course of 10 minutes’ length has an average completion rate of 83%, versus a typical e-learning course, which has an average completion of 20-30%6. And given what we know about micro-learning’s superior capabilities for knowledge retention, its completion rate definitely bumps bite-sized mobile learning to the top of the training list.
Micro-learning Statistics: Conclusion
Micro-learning courses offer a number of benefits for learners and organisations. By enabling learners to complete on-the-go training with mobile devices, micro-learning boosts completion rates and long-term knowledge retention and recall — and don’t forget the benefits to organisations in cutting development costs. All of these things combined make micro-learning an excellent approach to modern training, offering organisations a unique opportunity to improve education programs while achieving far better results.
If you're interested in implementing micro-learning in your organisation e.g. product training, get in touch to learn more about maximising results for your frontline workers.
Sources
Raytheon Professional Services (2021). Micro-Learning: Digital Learning Strategy Development. Retrieved 13 April 2023 from https://web.archive.org/web/20210728203239/https://www.raytheon.com/ourcompany/rps/micro-learning
Docebo. (2020). E-Learning Trends 2020 — A New Era of Learning. Retrieved 13 April 2023 from https://www.docebo.com/resource/elearning-trends-2020-docebo-report/
Lynda.com. (n.d.). Benefits of Mobile Learning. Retrieved 13 April 2023 from http://cdn.lynda.com/cms/asset/text/lyndacom-whitepaper-mobile-learning-benefits-20151245042329.pdf
Markets Insider (2020). Global Mobile Learning Revenues Spike to $42 Billion by 2025. Retrieved 13 April 2023 from https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/global-mobile-learning-revenues-spike-to-42-billion-by-2025-1028882674
Growth Engineering (n.d.). 55 Stats That Show the Power of Online Learning. Retrieved 13 April 2023 from https://www.growthengineering.co.uk/55-online-learning-statistics/
EdApp. (2019). Micro-learning Infographic 2019. Retrieved 13 April 2023 from https://www.edapp.com/microlearning/microlearning-infographic-2019.jpg
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