Are you looking to use microlearning for your continuing education or are you already using it? Then you should know the biggest challenges! In the last article of the mini-series, we take a look at why a new learning culture is so important for microlearning and how you can support it.
Reading tip: An overview of all articles in the series "Challenges in Microlearning":
Update your content
Provide content for everyone
Establish fixed learning times
Create a learning culture (here)
If you regularly update your microlearning, provide content that is easily accessible, and have created a schedule with appropriate learning times for your learners, there is hardly anything standing in the way of your effective microlearning. However, it is precisely the last challenge that determines sustainable learning success: The learning culture within the company.
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Learning Culture in Companies
Update in January 2021: Are you more interested in the topic of learning culture in companies? Then get our free E-Book now and take the quick check to see how you can sustainably improve your learning culture.
Potential: Microlearning helps the new learning culture
A modern learning culture is important for every type of learning, including continuing education. Companies must first make their learning culture visible in order to subsequently change it. While learning culture is also a matter of framework conditions, it is primarily a question of mindset:
"Learning culture (is) the expression of the status that learning has in the company." – (HR-Lexicon)
This is evident in different moments: Where and why is learning taking place? Why is learning happening at all? And how high is the priority of learning in daily work life?
Microlearning is on one hand dependent on the existing learning culture. On the other hand, microlearning can be a means to change the learning culture: Microlearning enables employees to learn, for example, on their way to work or to make good use of “downtime” between meetings. It thus helps to integrate learning into everyday work.
Risk: Poor learning culture can block microlearning
However, a poor learning culture can also block microlearning. For example, microlearning is popular in the area of SMEs and production to train employees directly at the workplace. According to corporate culture expert Stefan Enzler, the mindset often prevails: "If I just look at the computer, I'm not productive!"
Microlearning enables perfect "learning on the job", provided that the learning culture allows it.
Additionally, smartphones are often banned at the workplace, and computers are only available to managers. They are often also more negatively inclined towards "unproductive learning phases" during work hours. All these factors lead to a difficult learning culture for microlearning, especially in smaller companies.
3 Tips for a Better Learning Culture for Microlearning
Involve the leaders! Especially in smaller or very traditionally run companies, leaders must take on a role model function.
Utilize motivated learners! In every company there are employees who are enthusiastic about new (learning) methods. Let such employees create learning content themselves to personally reach their colleagues and lower barriers.
Reward engaged learners! Playful incentives in the sense of gamification or open praise, preferably from the leader, maintain motivation and help to solidify the new culture in the long term.
Whether as a trainer or HR developer: If you plan microlearnings for a company, you can initiate a long-term better learning culture with these three proven tips.
With that, we have reached the end of our microlearning mini-series. Use our tips to master all challenges of microlearning.
Update August 2022: Are you even more interested in the topic of learning bites? Then read the article about Learning Nuggets (Definition + Examples) in our blog now!
Is microlearning the first e-learning method in your company? Then download the free checklist "Successfully start e-learning in companies" now, which guides you systematically and clearly through all the important steps for getting started.
