How social media has influenced the way we learn
Microlearning has grown in popularity in recent years thanks to the fact that you can break down complex ideas and concepts into small pieces that are easy to consume and remember. This makes it a perfect match for social media. Learners can now access documents on the go and collaborate with their peers for remote support. However, why is the social media and microlearning combo so popular? Has our attention span diminished so much that we can’t focus on a full lesson, or is there more to it?
Short Attention Span and the Rise of Microlearning
Social media platforms are designed to be engaging and addictive, with brain-boosting features like notifications, likes, and comments. As a result, we keep coming back to apps and getting distracted more easily than ever. Search by Microsoft showed that our attention span is only eight seconds. This means that as humans, we look for short, easy-to-digest content because we are often unable to focus on anything for long periods of time. Social media promotes micro-learning by offering short information tailored to our needs at the time. Additionally, the rise of mobile devices has led us to increasingly access our social media platforms through our smartphones and tablets.
Tips to increase our attention span during microlearning sessions
1. Set learning goals
Before starting a microlearning session, identify your learning goals and objectives. For example, why do you need to watch this specific video? What do you aspire to learn? This will help you stay focused on the specific information you need to learn and prevent you from being distracted by other topics.
2. Eliminate distractions
Our phones are probably the most distracting thing in modern life. This can happen even if we use them for micro-learning or other educational activities. For starters, eliminate distractions by turning off your phone’s notifications and finding a quiet space where you can focus on the content. A good tip is to use headphones to immerse yourself if you’re watching videos.
3. Take breaks
Short breaks can help refresh your mind and increase your ability to focus on content. You can also set a timer for your learning session. Additionally, do mindfulness practices, such as deep breathing or meditation. You can even do them ahead of time to get you in the right frame of mind for your studies.
4. Active learning techniques and activities
Engage in more active learning practices, such as taking notes or summarizing content in your own words. This will keep you engaged and help with information retention. You can also do complementary activities. For example, if you watched a short video on a topic, try reading a related article or an interactive quiz to better grasp the information and stay focused.
The Benefits of Microlearning
Flexibility
Microlearning allows people to learn at a pace that suits them. That is why it is more flexible than traditional forms of education. Additionally, microlearning is accessible anytime, from anywhere in the world and on a variety of devices. This is ideal for people with busy schedules who cannot attend traditional educational institutions. Finally, it is also flexible in terms of content since people can choose from a variety of media, like videos, infographics, articles, podcasts, etc.
Retention
Microlearning content allows people to quickly assimilate key concepts and take away the most important information without becoming overwhelmed or bored. They don’t have to worry about cognitive overload creeping in and making them forget their newfound knowledge minutes after their workout.
Usability
Microlearning resources are often presented in an easily accessible and shareable format on social media platforms. Users can easily navigate content using apps they already know instead of having to learn new software.
Micro-learning via social media platforms
Video sharing platforms
Video-sharing platforms, like YouTube and TikTok, have become a hub for micro-learning. This is because they host millions of videos covering a wide range of topics. These platforms also allow for short videos, up to three minutes, that are easy to consume and share. Videos usually feature attractive graphics, animations, and special effects that capture the viewer’s attention. Importantly, these platforms promote user-generated content, encouraging viewers to not only consume the videos but also create their own. Finally, it’s easy to find information on virtually any topic in seconds thanks to advanced search algorithms.
Photo sharing platforms
Photo-based platforms, like Instagram and Pinterest, share some of the same capabilities as the platforms mentioned above. Their visual content consists mainly of photos and infographics. However, some of them have adopted short videos. They are a great option for knowledge refreshers, such as compliance checklists. One of the benefits is that content can be easily organized, as these platforms use boards and collections to help users organize micro-learning resources and refer to them whenever the need arises. actually feel.
Networking platforms
Facebook and LinkedIn are some examples of networking platforms where people create groups and networks to connect with others and share similar interests and ideas. They also have newsfeeds that allow users to easily access and consume microlearning content shared by other users or organizations, such as articles, videos, and guides. These types of social media are generally perceived to be more professional than their social media counterparts. For example, LinkedIn is usually a go-to resource if you want to learn from industry experts.
Microblogging platforms
Microblogging platforms, like Twitter, tend to have a character limit for posts, which makes them excellent for sharing short bursts of information. Their real-time nature also means users can quickly and easily share updates and breaking news on a particular topic. Additionally, users can create a series of connected tweets on a particular topic.
What will happen to microlearning in the future?
More and more people are likely to turn to these platforms for their learning needs. After all, many of us have resorted to a video tutorial on how to complete a task rather than reading a manual. Technological advances, such as Virtual Reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), will also enhance the micro-learning experience, allowing users to engage with learning materials in innovative ways. Finally, the future undoubtedly holds more opinion leaders on social networks. This could lead to the development of more specialized communities that focus on specific topics or interests, professional roles or industries.
Conclusion
Social media platforms aren’t always the bad guys. They have played an important role in shortening our attention span. However, at the same time, they have contributed to the popularity of microlearning and allowed more people to access educational resources. Visit our list of best content providers for microlearning to evaluate outsourcing solutions and see which company has the qualifications you are looking for.