With complicated learning units, you burn time and money: If your participants get bored or don't understand the content, you might as well save your effort. That's why Learning Nuggets, based on the principle of Microlearning, are THE method for sustainable learning. Read in the article how to think big in small ways.
What are Learning Nuggets
A Learning Nugget is a small learning unit. The focus is 100% on one topic or message. Similar to an Elevator Pitch, a Learning Nugget should convey a single statement as compactly and understandably as possible. To ensure long-term learning success, a Learning Nugget should also be attractively structured and entice learners for more. (👉 How to create complete online courses from small units)
In summary, a Learning Nugget should be:
a short learning unit
many formats possible (text/image/quiz/video, etc.)
conveys a single statement
is clear and understandable
sparks interest in the topic
ends with a call to action (Call-to-Action)
If you use many Learning Nuggets in succession, you should also pay attention to the following:
Establish a connection to the previous Learning Nugget.
Refer to the next Learning Nugget.
Group related Learning Nuggets into chapters.
Vary the format (text/image/quiz/video).
Why is a learning unit called a Learning Nugget?
In German, we primarily use the term for small chicken parts (Chicken Nuggets). Originally, a nugget is a small lump of pure gold. Either way, a nugget is primarily one thing: Small! For application in e-learning, the analogy to chicken parts fits, as your learning units should be as appealing as possible (to be taken with a wink). And the gold analogy fits in that your learning units contain valuable messages.
This is what we envision when we think of nuggets: chicken parts and gold lumps. Both have one thing in common: They are small parts of a larger whole.
How short can a Learning Nugget be?
In principle, a Learning Nugget should be as short as possible and as long as necessary. In the context of e-learning or blended learning, this means: Each nugget should be grasped in a maximum of 2 minutes.
By the way: The learning platform blink.it consists of individual blinks, which function just like a Learning Nugget. Read more about this in this article: What is a Blink? The 2-Minute Learning Concept
However, you should not focus obsessively on a specific duration. If you want to shorten existing learning content, ask yourself: What is the message you want to convey? Each message should be formulated in one sentence.
Rule of thumb: If you find multiple messages in one learning unit, you can create several Learning Nuggets from them.
A good Learning Nugget could look like this:
(2 sentences) Introduction from previous topic / Learning Nugget
(2 sentences) Description of the problem
(1 sentence) Message
(2 sentences) Importance for learners
(1 sentence) Call to Action: What should the learner do now?
You see: A total of eight sentences probably won't even fill two minutes. Don't orient yourself to the clock, but to introduction – message – call to action. This way, your Learning Nugget will naturally be as short as possible and as long as necessary!
Examples of Learning Nuggets
A Learning Nugget can have many formats. In addition to text or video, a mini-quiz or part of a larger quiz is also possible. Or you let images speak for themselves and simply complement the image with your message along with a short call to action. The rule "Adapt the format to the goal" (and not vice versa) is particularly important for Learning Nuggets.
To give you illustrative examples of Learning Nuggets, I will show you excerpts from the Rocket Pack – the blink.it card game for blended learning. It is based, like Learning Nuggets, on the principle of Microlearning and contains 40 methods on 40 cards.
Example 1: A Learning Nugget as an Image
This is what a Learning Nugget could look like that contains an image as the main content. Think of the components of a Learning Nugget: Introduction – Message – Call to Action.
Example 2: A Learning Nugget as a Quiz
This is what a Learning Nugget could look like that has the quiz format:
Example 3: A Learning Nugget as a Video
Finally, an example of a Learning Nugget with the video format:
YOU design your Learning Nuggets!
Let’s take a small detour on the topic of Learning Nuggets: Do you use X (formerly Twitter)? The microblogging service X is based on the concept of short messages. That means: All messages are limited to 280 characters. Nevertheless, there are successful and unsuccessful tweets.
What I mean is: Shortening alone is not enough. Think about all your "Nugget messages" regarding your audience: What do you want to tell them? How can they understand the message most easily? And how should they handle the message (Call-to-Action)?
3 ultimate tips for using Learning Nuggets
To make this article fit the concept of Learning Nuggets, I would like to end with three concise tips. This is how you will succeed in using Learning Nuggets in training:
The right learning platform
Practice, practice, practice
Seek feedback
Tip 1: The right learning platform for Learning Nuggets
Not every learning platform is suitable for the use of Learning Nuggets. When making your choice, ensure that you can create several short contents in succession. Grouping them into chapters is also very helpful for Learning Nuggets. Last but not least, good customer success will support you in keeping your learning content short and sustainable.
Tip 2: Practice, practice, practice
This tip is so obvious yet particularly important: Creating Learning Nuggets also takes time and practice. Just start shortening your content into messages. Then add the introduction and call to action. After that, occupy yourself with something else for a while. And later, take another look at your Learning Nugget with a fresh mind: Can you shorten it further, is something missing? Plan for several iterations for each Learning Nugget.
And remember: It’s a high art to break down complex content simply!
Tip 3: Seek feedback
In line with the previous tip: Get feedback from colleagues or friends! An outside perspective is enormously helpful. Does your audience understand what you want to say? Do they know what to do next? Especially with your first Learning Nuggets, we advise you to show them to several people before using them in training. Ask specific questions: "What is the message you take away?" or "What would you do immediately next?" – this way, you can test your Learning Nugget on the above points.
Now evaluate your training: Do your contents consist of large, indigestible clumps – or small, tasty nuggets? 😉
We hope that this article has provided you with some useful information and suggestions, and we wish you continued success with your e-learnings!
