Why is Microlearning the Future for Health & Safety Training?

19 November 2020

An accident at work is defined by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) as ‘An unplanned event resulting in death, or resulting in an injury such as a severe sprain or strain (for example, manual handling injuries), a laceration, a broken bone, concussion or unconsciousness. ‘An employer’s duties under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 includes the requirement for the provision of training. 

Most businesses do have a provision for safety training in place and most employers have (especially given the  current necessity) embraced online learning. This is a current trend. But what’s the trend for the future? 

Long, clunky, eLearning pieces (I’m sure you’ve seen these too!)  can be boring and laborious to employees. This is where microlearning comes into play.

What is Microlearning?

Micro-learning is a modern approach to delivering learning materials in small, bite-sized portions that target specific topics. The conciseness of these materials makes it easier to digest.

• Microlearning is performed in short time bursts.
• It requires little effort from individual sessions.
• It involves simple and/or narrow topics.

Millennials will make up a large part of the future workforce. Traditional models of eLearning just won’t cut it with this demographic, and will naturally be phased out. The popularity of microlearning is on the up as it’s the  ideal way to ensure that learning is received, digested and engaged with.

How to use Microlearning Effectively

The following are some examples of how microlearning can be applied in practice: 

Short and brief tips: When so much information is thrown at workers, the possibility of retaining all of it is very low. For effective transfer of knowledge, the microlearning objective should focus on just one concept.

Use interactive videos: The process of taking in information is better easier with the use of videos rather than bulky materials that cover an excessive amount. Even better if the video contains branching scenarios . 

Use of short quizzes for checking progress: The employees are provided with continuous access to these materials, and as each section is completed, they are required to provide suitable responses to the questions.

Use of gamification: Short games, or some gaming elements within the microlearning can be used by companies to increase interactivity, add an element of competition, the end goal being to help train their staff in health and safety more effectively. 

Shorter, asynchronous,  interactive courses with the above elements can benefit all health and  courses,  from Food Safety (HACCP), COVID-19 Compliance Officer, First Aid, Infection Prevention and control, to name but a few.

If you are looking for an effective way to streamline your safety training needs, Myelearnsafety.com offers a suite of health and safety courses to cover you. We offer a free trial to those who are interested, so you can see the benefits for yourself. 

For a free trial contact cormac@elearn.ie or call direct on 01 278 1938.