Summer Micro-Learning Series: Don’t Miss Out On Video

Micro-Learning is an immensely powerful learning and development tool. If you aren’t already bringing it into your professional development programs, especially paired with mobile learning, summer is the perfect time to try it out. What micro-learning comes down to, is taking a complex skill or lesson and breaking it down into smaller, more consumable pieces. Think about how you can be challenging your team to learn new skills, while at the same time not overloading them with content that eats away at their valuable work time. Micro-learning is easier to create and consume, often with minimal cost involved. One of the most interesting formats of micro-learning is video. Here are a few ideas for you to try out this year.

The Rising Popularity of Video

According to several different reports, video is increasingly becoming the content of choice for app and web users. It makes sense because video activates both the visual and audio senses in a way that copy and images alone simply cannot. YouTube is one of the most visited websites in the world. Facebook and Twitter are both moving fast to make video a foundational content form on their social networks. And it’s not just millennials watching, the popularity of video is multi-generational and crosses several learner demographics. Given the rising popularity of video, it makes so much sense to bring that medium into the forefront when it comes to micro-learning.

Why Videos Work

Videos are engaging and memorable. They can contain smaller chunks of information that are easy to consume. They activate several different learning skills and enhance the story-based lessons that really allow learners to better connect with content. Video lessons invite learners to think and participate in discussions as they analyze what they are watching. They can think critically about how they would respond to a similar scenario in their own experience, connecting the lesson to their real-world experience in real-time.

Creating the Right Video Learning Experience

However, just because a lesson is presented in video format doesn’t mean that it will help land your message. As is true with all other content types, video eLearning succeeds best when you think about your audience as you develop your lesson. Video provides the opportunity to visually represent real world situations that are very powerful. To simply record a talking head is a real miss when it comes to micro-learning. Remember to show – don’t tell. Demonstration videos are very helpful in showing learners how to do a new task. Always show a little context to ground an otherwise unfamiliar or confusing lesson. Use analogies, illustrations, or even learner generated videos to help bring your lesson to life for the viewer. The key is always to put yourself in the learner’s shoes. Are they rushing through an eLearning program because they are strapped for time? Do they not understand the goal of micro-learning? Are they disconnected from the importance of the lessons? Video is a great tool to help you connect better with your audience, just make sure you stay engaged with your audience throughout the learning experience.

Are you looking for more micro-learning development advice?

For more tips on how you can help your team take their next steps in their professional development through learning and development programs, connect with the team at Clarity Consultants today.