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As organizations strive to improve employee development, corporate training methods are evolving. Traditional training programs, characterized by lengthy sessions, are being replaced by a more agile and efficient approach. This approach, which breaks learning into digestible chunks aka bite sized learning, offers numerous advantages over conventional training. In this blog, we will explore the key differences between these two approaches and why bite-sized learning is becoming the preferred method for upskilling employees.
The Traditional Training Model: A Long-Standing Approach
Traditional training has long been a cornerstone of employee development. However, it often involves multi-day seminars, workshops, or hours of e-learning courses. These programs typically cover extensive content, which can be overwhelming and difficult for employees to retain over time.
Some of the challenges associated with traditional training include:
- Time-Consuming: Traditional training takes employees away from their daily tasks for extended periods.
- Low Retention Rates: Employees may struggle to retain large amounts of information presented in one sitting.
- High Costs: Long training sessions often require more resources, including facilitators, materials, and venues.
While traditional training can be effective in certain contexts, it is often seen as inefficient, particularly in today's fast-paced business environment where time is a critical resource.
Bite-Sized Learning: The Agile Alternative
Bite-sized learning, often referred to as microlearning, addresses many of the challenges posed by traditional training. This approach involves delivering information in short, focused lessons typically between 2 to 5 minutes long which allows employees to learn at their own pace. According to a research on bite sized guide, microlearning can reduce training time by up to 60-80% and improve learner performance by 17%.
Here are some of the key benefits of bite-sized learning:
- Efficient Use of Time: Bite-sized lessons allow employees to learn during breaks or downtime, reducing the need for lengthy training sessions. Employees can fit learning into their day without disrupting their workflow.
- Higher Retention Rates: Bite-sized learning leverages spaced repetition, where information is repeated over time, increasing retention. Studies show that learners retain more when training is delivered in small chunks.
- Flexibility and Accessibility: Bite-sized lessons can be accessed anytime, anywhere. This flexibility is particularly beneficial for remote and hybrid workers, who may need to learn across different time zones.
- Cost-Effective: Short lessons require fewer resources to develop and deliver. Companies can save money on facilitators and materials while delivering targeted, effective training.
- Increased Engagement: Short, focused lessons help keep learners engaged. Microlearning platforms, such as 5Mins, incorporate elements like gamification to further enhance engagement through streaks, quizzes, and leaderboards.
Comparing the Traditional Training and Bite-Sized Learning :
| Aspect | Traditional Training | Bite-Sized Learning |
| Duration | Multi-day seminars or hours-long courses | 2-5 minute lessons |
| Time Commitment | High (requires employees to step away) | Low (integrates into daily workflow) |
| Engagement | Often declines over time | High engagement with short, focused tasks |
| Retention | Lower retention due to content overload | High retention through spaced learning |
| Cost | High (venues, facilitators, materials) | Lower (fewer resources required) |
| Flexibility | Requires scheduling in advance | On-demand, anytime, anywhere |
Why Bite-Sized Learning is the Future of Workplace Training
The rise of bite-sized learning is not just a trend but a response to the evolving needs of modern learners. With the growing influence of social media platforms like TikTok and YouTube, employees are becoming accustomed to consuming content in short bursts. This shift has permeated into the corporate training landscape, making microlearning the perfect solution for the Gen Z and Millennial workforce.
Moreover, the increasing need for remote and hybrid learning environments has made traditional training models less feasible.
Bite-sized learning allows organizations to provide targeted, role-specific training that can be accessed at the learner’s convenience. This not only improves engagement but also accelerates the learning curve, allowing employees to apply new skills faster.
5Mins.ai is a bite-sized platform with the market’s largest bite-sized library of over 20,000 lessons covering 200+ skills. If you’d like to check it out click on the button below to get a free trial.
