Microlearning: An Up-and-Coming Trend for a New Generation of Learners
Does your child struggle to complete a task from start to finish? Do they watch a few minutes of a YouTube video before rapidly choosing the next one? This generation of kids has unprecedented access to the internet, bringing exponentially more opportunities to learn and grow - but with that much access, who can blame kids for being eager to jump from one thing to the next?
A growing concern among parents and educators is when the eagerness turns to boredom. When kids are scrolling through short, rapid videos and consuming media at an alarming rate, they are not engaged. They’re not focused. And these short attention spans are trickling into the classroom. Microlearning - a shortened version of traditional, longform classroom techniques - is emerging as an answer to meet our children’s learning needs.
What is happening to our kids’ attention spans?
In a world filled with distractions, it is no wonder that our attention spans have exponentially decreased over the years. According to Dr Gloria Mark, our attention spans have reduced down to an average of 47 seconds. Caused by a world of constant notifications, advertisements, short-form videos, and more, this, in culmination with the up to 5 hours of screen time school-aged children are racking up each day, is leading to a generation of children that struggle with traditional classroom learning.
Why should we be concerned?
A short attention span can easily lead to:
Lower grades in school
Inability to complete tasks
“Zoning out” or missing crucial details in class
Difficulty in communicating with peers
Inability to adhere to healthy routines and habits
What is “microlearning” and how can it help?
Microlearning is defined as: “an educational strategy that refines complex concepts into compact, digestible knowledge.” As opposed to presenting an hour-long documentary on a topic, some educators are embracing “microlearning” in the classroom and providing short intervals of lecture interspersed with hands-on activities. Not only does microlearning address concerns of shortening attention spans, it is also suggested that learning in short, frequent intervals can help improve retention, attention, and motivation.
Microlearning also helps children to take control of their education and embrace their individual learning styles. Perhaps one child would prefer to focus on a longer activity while another might prefer several smaller, repetitive activities. While teachers are not always able to cater to each individual students’ needs in ever-growing classroom sizes, the adaptation of microlearning allows them to make necessary adjustments to keep students on track and engaged. Instead of forcing students to learn in a more “traditional” way, the evolution of microlearning allows students to feel seen and validated in their changing needs.
How can you incorporate microlearning at home?
As parents, it can be challenging to keep up with ever-changing trends when it comes to your children. Making small adjustments to your already existing routines can help incorporate microlearning without making it feel like “school” for your kiddos.
Add “fun facts” of learning to your already existing daily routine
During your morning routine, you could add an extra 1-2 minutes to discuss fun facts about how toothpaste is made, where your child’s clothing was produced, or how the school bus gets from your home to the school. It is beneficial to utilize an already-existing routine to help with memorization and retention. Don’t forget to repeat the facts over multiple days - or even better, have your child repeat back to you!
Learn through play
Embrace your child’s competitive side and play educational games together. From trivia to math, there is a game (or an app) out there for everything. Get the whole family involved, keep a running score of your “wins” and see who can get the most points in a week. Not only does healthy competition encourage your children to learn more, they also receive the positive reinforcement of winning (even if you have to let them score a few against you!)
Encourage educational social media accounts
If your children are using social media, it may be beneficial to suggest a few educational content creators to sprinkle in amongst their other favourites as a way to encourage them to embrace education outside of the classroom. Make sure you vet their content however, as some subjects may not be suitable for your child’s age group!
How does Tutor Teach embrace microlearning?
Through our Mindful Matching process, we seek to understand your child’s learning needs and match them with an instructor that can provide material in easy-to-digest chunks that suit your child. A 60 minute session can easily be broken down into 3 or 4 micro sessions that allow for your child to practice comprehension, retention, focus, and attention. See the results for yourself and start embracing your child’s needs today!
References:
Speaking of Psychology: Why our attention spans are shrinking, with Gloria Mark, PhD
What Are the Causes of a Short Attention Span, and How Can I Improve It?
Exploring microlearning examples, benefits, and drawbacks
5 tips on how you can integrate microlearning into your everyday life
Digital Pedagogy - A Guide for Librarians, Faculty, and Students
