Enough about Microlearning, Already!

I am extremely frustrated by the constant exhortation about the virtues of microlearning. I wrote an article about it just about a month ago on LinkedIn (Microlearning: Accessing Information or True Learning?). The main points I make are: 1) microlearning is about accessing information, not necessarily retaining it or skill building, 2) it's not a new concept and has specific business applications (not a software app) much like EPSS, and 3) attention and retention are functions of one's interest in a topic.

Still, I read about how people are building "learning" programs around microlearning. It seems that people are afraid to devote more than 3 minutes to teaching something for fear that someone's attention might wander. Sorry, that's just stupid. Paying attention is not a measure of knowledge acquisition. Just because I watched a 3-minute You Tube video on how to prepare a souffle doesn't mean I can do it. I've tried. I can't!

Here's a bit of reality for you... How many "how-to" videos have you watched straight through without stopping rewinding and replaying for clarification? I subscribe to Lynda.com. I'm forever stopping and rewinding. Maybe I'm just not very smart? But, I'd like to think I'm at least of average intelligence. And, armed with average intelligence, my routine is "watch-try-rewatch-and-retry when viewing how-to videos. Short, micro-bursts of learning content does not make for retention or skill building. Instruction, questioning, corrective feedback, and repetition make for skill acquisition.

Back to Building Training Courses

I think those of us who design and deliver learning and skill building content agree that a robust blended learning program, supplemented with coaching and a viable EPSS is what works. Training courses are built around the complexity of the subject being taught, not the technology to teach it.

So please, enough of the wonders of microlearning. It's a pretty cool iteration of a 20+ year old training technology. Nothing more.