Hungry for more learning? Bite sized PD can whet the appetite

The Australian Government has recently announced a significant investment into microcredentials – ‘bite sized’ ways of learning which satisfy not only the need to upskill the workforce, but also the appetite of professionals in all sectors and industries who are keen to learn more and grow in their careers. 

While the desire to learn more is strong, time can be poor, particularly in sectors such as early childhood education and care, where the need for hands-on and hyper focused attention is high. 

Enter microcredentials. 

Employees want to learn more, employers want highly skilled people, however there is no way to manufacture more time. More than half of the overall workforce in the UK, for example, recently said their jobs have gotten more intense and demanding with the passing of time, and feedback in the US is similar, with 40 per cent of Americans saying their roles leave them with little time for training and education. 

Keeping in mind that many of these respondents worked in roles where they had the capacity to block off sections of time, or to have a sustained focus on a task, one can only imagine the statistics which would come from surveying those in ‘high touch’ sectors such as ECEC. 

Decreased capacity, increased novelty 

As a society, the way we learn, and the way we consume information, is changing. People’s capacity to have sustained attention on one task is diminishing, and users of professional development are typically both busy and distracted. 

Speaking in Fast Company, leading analyst Josh Bersin said it is now imperative for those delivering professional learning to “teach in the way people learn.” 

“People want engaging, bite-size learning that is integrated into everyday work,” he said. 

“Twenty minutes feels too long in this day and age. Focus on content that is two to seven minutes long.” 

Modern learners often struggle with ‘traditional’ professional learning, and there may be instances where breaking down larger modules into five to seven minute lessons is more supportive. 

Often these options are created in such a way that they are accessible again on the job. If someone is wanting to boost their skills in First Aid, for example, they may watch only the module on making a sling, revisiting it to watch again when they need to use it in practice, and a third time to consolidate their knowledge. 

The act of going back and retrieving the material can make it easier to recall its contents later down the line. 

While it’s doubtful that the longer forms of professional development will be erased any time soon, it can be a useful critical reflection point to consider how and where ‘bite sized’ learning may be a better fit. 

This piece was based on the work of Neena Newberry, as shared with Fast Company. Find the original here.