Corporate learning: microlearning increases employee engagement

A recent survey by Software Advice reveals interesting insights into how corporate learning programs can strengthen employee engagement.

Among respondents, 58% would like online learning content divided into multiple shorter lessons. 35% want real-life rewards based on learning progress. And 24% prefer social networks in the form of discussion forums. In other words, employees are asking for microlearning, gamification and social learning.

However, they have specific ideas about how these techniques should be integrated into training. Consider what employees really want from corporate training, ensure your programs can effectively support those preferences, and use the requested techniques only where they make educational sense and connect directly to learning objectives.

Corporate learning and microlearning

Most employees surveyed said they would be more willing to participate in online corporate training if content were divided into several five- to seven-minute lessons rather than lasting an hour. 58% said they would be “much more likely” or “somewhat more likely.” Microlearning fits how the human brain prefers to process information: in manageable chunks.

Employees also do not always have the luxury of taking long breaks from work to train. Microlearning requires little time: they get what they need quickly. They can also access short content at the very moment they need it.

Gamification

Gamification uses game elements—rewards, quests, leaderboards and role-playing—and game-design techniques in non-game contexts. Games are fun and can even become addictive, so gamification can make learning addictive. The survey, however, found that 35% of employees preferred real-life rewards for progress in training.

Gamification uses games' motivational power to change behavior patterns. It enables learning through failure, giving employees the freedom to fail and try again.

Social learning

Social learning involves learning through interaction with others. It is collaborative and a form of informal learning. 24% of respondents preferred discussion forums as their way of interacting in social learning. This should not surprise us, since we are social creatures. Indeed, when social interaction is high, online learning experiences lead to greater content retention.