You won’t learn anything about bitesize learning in this blog. Well, not till you’ve read it all the way through, anyway. And what you do learn, you may not like. That’s ok – like any other company, some of you won’t like us. At least, not yet.
Similarly, we don’t like boring, bland content. So, we do our best to stand out from the pack. Not to be contrary, but because we think it’s better to be fun and have a superb visual impact. Learning SHOULD be fun, after all. But it’s our approach to learning that really sets us apart. We’re big believers in bite-sized, or microlearning.
What’s that? It’s learning but chunked up into delicious, easy-to-digest pieces. The vast majority of our courses can be done in just 5 to 15 minutes, and there are many good reasons for this, which we’ll outline below. Now? Oh, go on then!
Higher retention rates – Because the learning is done in smaller, more digestible pieces, there’s no risk of cognitive overload. It’s a lot easier to take it all in and remember what you’ve learned. Research indicates that humans have quite a limited attention span and memory capacity, so are susceptible to forgetting a lot of information. In fact, our attention span is probably getting shorter. That’s why Insta, TikTok and other socials all have short videos, we simply switch off. But is this issue because of socials in the first place? You decide. You’ll probably have noticed that when you’ve received complex instructions, you might have to ask again. Learning a small amount at a time helps your brain absorb it all better.
It's time-saving – We know how busy you are because we’re the same. There’s no room for twiddling thumbs in our hectic schedules. If content is bite-sized, it’s much easier to fit around busy schedules. No more long hours in stifling training rooms – you can take courses at your desk, on the bus, wherever. That means you can access new skills at the point of need or freshen up on older skills without having to take an afternoon off. There are obvious cost-saving benefits there for managers, and your L&D team – ideal when budgets are being squeezed already.
Enhanced engagement – Generally speaking, the shorter the training, the more engaged people will be. You’ll know that if you were sat in a training room for 8 hours, you’d be dozing off before the end. You just want it over and done with! Longer form training is more likely to disengage you and lower morale. Plus, how are you supposed to remember all that when you struggle to remember to get the sausages out of the freezer?
It’s a replacement for long-form training (in appropriate circumstances) – Look, we’re not saying our training can completely replace in-person training. Indeed, there are times when that would be inappropriate to do. For example, when learning First Aid. We can give you the basics, but you’re better off taking a course and then refreshing your skills with bite-sized courses. But complex subjects, like sales skills for example, which have many facets, are better broken down into individual bite-size chunks. And for fire safety, manual handling, slips, trips and falls and all those other H&S courses you’re made to do – well, they are ready and waiting. And they’re much more fun than your normal training, too.
Better flexibility – We’ve touched on this already, but being able to control what you learn and when you learn it gives you greater flexibility. You can fit short courses around your schedule. Got a few minutes while waiting for a client to reply to an email? Learn about spoofing attacks. Awaiting a printer paper jam fix? Learn about time management. You can dip in and out of it as you need to. It’s especially perfect for refresher training – topping up those skills you already have that you don’t use often. You know, ladder safety, fire warden awareness, stuff like that.
Bite-sized learning is suitable for all sectors – You might be thinking, “Yeah, sounds good, but I bet you can’t use it in manufacturing” or something like that. Well, you can. We have sector-specific subjects, from healthcare and technology to construction and retail. There are also general topics that most sectors share, such as health and safety. And there are short courses that help you with a career change when you’ve had just about enough of your sector. Many sectors are fast-paced and have time constraints, so bite-sized learning is perfect for them.
Increased motivation – The thought of having to tackle another massive training course is about as appealing as an out-of-town shopping trip in the rain with 3 grumbling kiddos. But bite-sized learning that only takes a few minutes? That’s like popping a lovely chocolate in your mouth. Sweet, satisfying and leaving you wanting more. Without the calories, of course. Because when you complete a course, you’ll get a little brain rush. A tick of accomplishment. And because it’s easy to do, you’ll want another. And another. Before you know it, you’ve had a lovely feast of knowledge. They’re like the learning equivalent of binge-watching a boxset: “Just one more!”. Except these will actually make you smarter and more motivated.
In summary, bite-sized learning is very useful, in most circumstances. Of course, there will be times when a full training course, complete with bells, whistles and/or other props, is more suitable. But really, imagine learning a new skill in the time it takes to microwave a sad-looking ready meal for lunch. Or when you’re feeling spirited on the train to work, and you want to crush it today. A few taps and you’re adding another skill to your arsenal.
Don’t forget that bite-sized learning helps you avoid information overload. Instead, these tasty morsels of knowledge stay firmly lodged in your brain. So, no more zoning out during those dreary half-day training snoozefests.
And the best part is that you’re in control here. You can learn what you want, when you want with iAM Learning’s short courses. Fancy a few courses in a row? All yours. It’s like Netflix for your career, albeit without that ‘are you still watching’ shame spiral.
So, if you’re ready to supercharge your skills without sacrificing your sanity (or your time), bite-sized learning is the one. How do you like us now?
Looking to know more about Bite-sized eLearning?
If you're keen to know more about learning new skills with Bite-Sized Learning, why not check out our bite-sized eLearning content, covering everything from leadership and people management to health & safety and compliance? Download our free microlearning toolkit to support your business. Try iAM Learning for yourself - get started today!