Micro-learning is the new rage in the Learning and Development and E-learning world. Although the concept is not new, the widespread adoption of smartphones coupled with the rapidly decreasing attention span of learners has led to an increase in demand for short, crisp and just in time learning nuggets. Videos (both animated and with real people) are ideal candidates for this format. They can be easily deployed to multiple devices, are media rich and are known to have higher consumption rate. So, what are the key things to remember while creating a micro-learning video. Here is what I learnt from these excellent examples.
Video 1 & 2: Investopedia and 60 Seconds Adventures in Thought (Learning a concept)
- Make it fun.
- Add interesting graphics and illustrations.
- Have minimal text on screen with maximum font size.
- Add interesting background music to compliment the pace and context. Ensure that the music does not interfere with the voice over.
- Add professional voice over.
- Brand it consistently. Think of a name like ’60 Second Adventures in Thought’ and build episodes like a television series.
Video 2: Excel Vlookup (Learning how to do something)
- Create something that can be used on the job.
- Avoid (as much as you can) shifting between screens and keep the whole video focused on a single screen.
- Present formulas and shortcuts consistently throughout the video.
- Add crisp, clear narration which is paced just right (not too fast, not too slow)
Video 3: At the Whiteboard (Behavioural training)
- Shoot your videos professionally. Think about lighting, background objects, audio quality and video clarity.
- Script the whole video and scene before shooting. Rehearse before shooting.
- Make it interesting by using props, colours and camera perspectives (for example, the use of post-it notes in this video)
Video 4: Guardian interview (Learning from experts)
- The interview format is great for micro-learning. You can invite experts (inside and outside the organisation) and guest speakers for such interviews.
- Edit the whole interview and cull out the most relevant information. Stick to the 3-5 minutes format.
- You can do the interview in Q&A format. However, you don’t necessarily need to show the anchor (save time) and instead display the questions as text on the screen.
3 Reasons Why Video Is The Best Medium For Microlearning – http://elearningindustry.com/video-best-medium-microlearning
MICROLEARNING TECHNIQUES EBOOK – http://resources.allencomm.com/microlearning-techniques-ebook
MICROLEARNING: BEST PRACTICES FOR CORPORATIONS – http://blog.generalassemb.ly/microlearning-best-practices-corporations/