Micro learning isn’t a new concept in language teaching however it is taking more and more momentum due to the specialization in learning and the demands of students for a personalized experience. Increasingly, language centers, schools, and institutions segment their courses to achieve more specific objectives. This multiplies the offer and allows students to specialize. The same language training can be divided into several Micro learning modules to make it easier for students to focus on those subjects that are most necessary to them which they consider more interesting or in which they have deficiencies.
What is micro learning
micro learning also called instant learning due to the immediacy of its consumption is what is known in Spanish as micro learning, training pills or knowledge pills. That is short lessons that are used to manage specific knowledge or reinforce knowledge with new exercises.
Characteristics of effective micro learning
Like any other e-learning content language training supported by knowledge pills must have relevant information. However, in the case of micro learning this aspect goes a step further. The curing of contents plays a decisive role in this strategy since its most outstanding feature is the speed with which it is consumed.
#1 Flexibility of consumption: at any time, anywhere
#2 Personalization
The possibility of personalizing the training allows the student to decide on which topics he wishes to study. A modular training allowing to choose between several specific subjects to personalized experience based on their own interests.
#3 “Less is more”
We have already said that curing content is essential for a training based on microlearning. The objective is to condense all the necessary information in the most synthetic way discarding everything that is not relevant and that goes beyond the central theme of the training pill.
#4 Audiovisual relevance
Convenient to access and easy to navigate. These pills should show simple menus and be clear.
What is it used for in language courses?
Although its use is completely polyvalent in the language training microlearning pills are characterized by supporting the classes or allowing students to acquire knowledge within a specific sector. Let’s see three possibilities for this e-learning strategy within the language training:
- Complement to face-to-face classes in the classroom or online
- Reinforcement of the deficiencies that certain students present to help keep them within the class level and that no student will drop
- Sector-specific modules (business, tourism, services, health)