Higher Education

Developments such as accessing content and materials on mobile technology, the availability of online courses, and the emergence of numerous tools require today’s learners to develop an entirely different skill set from the 20th century. In order to ensure students are technologically savvy, students should be activity engaging with their learning, collaborating with peers, and adapting to a changing world. Specific topics addressed in this section include background information on the changes in higher education, the impact of technology on educational resources, the potential of microlearning to deliver an effective product for addressing the learning needs of college and university students, and specific changes to expect on the horizon within higher education. Above all else, microlearning holds the potential to meet the academic needs of a diverse group of students in an increasingly complex world.

Higher education is in a constant state of adaptation due to a wide variety of changing societal conditions and technological innovations. Factors such as the changing demographics of learners, the rise in enrollment, increasing tuitions, and the demands for an educated workforce are transforming approaches to learning in college and university settings. Above all else, the percentage of students today who are “nontraditional” is approximately 70 percent. The majority of students in pursuit of an advanced degree are not 18-22 years old and are more diverse than ever before in every way possible (Walton et al., 2015). In order to address the needs of learners and cultivate skills for success, institutions of higher education must understand the impact of technology on the needs of education. Examples of technology transforming education are already underway, such as the consistently increasing number of students enrolling in online classes (Lederman, 2018). As a curricular approach, microlearning provides countless opportunities to provide more effective education to an increasingly diverse group of learners.

One of the most popular recent topics in higher education is microlearning. This topic is emerging as an important trend in eLearning with the potential to transform learning in higher education settings. Despite the fact that Microlearning is an old strategy apparent in practices such as making “flash cards”, technology allows for expanded opportunities to implement it in learning settings (Bogardus Cortez, 2018). Technology such as online learning through the use of mobile devices allows students to access information in short, microlearning increments at their own pace without being confined to a physical classroom. Much like using flash cards, students can access educational materials in formats such as videos or even posts on social media outlets (Trowbridge et al., 2017). Although the concept of learning in segmented “bites” is nothing new, technology allows educators to create asynchronous learning materials that foster this type of learning beyond analog flash cards.

Microlearning provides an ideal amount of information for learners to process without surpassing cognitive load, empowers learners through its accessibility, and allows the learner to apply the information to the world surrounding them with an emphasis on real-world relevance (Major & Calandrino, 2018). Structuring course content into smaller segments makes for a less stressful and more effective learning experience. Students are often juggling several different responsibilities and this will allow them to absorb information more effectively. It helps students to avoid “burnout” by presenting information for incremental access (Bogardus Cortez, 2018). By having students access information in small increments and create similarly formatted assignments, “Microlearning pulls together the overarching picture of the learning concept, providing contextual factors, and allowing the student to reflect on how the knowledge fits into the world,” (Major & Calandrino, 2018, p. 28). It empowers the learner to access, absorb, and utilize relevant information outside the classroom.

As students use the information they learn outside the classroom, it also allows for instant and significant feedback (Bair & Bair, 2018). Learners receive feedback through the effectiveness of their usage of content. As a means of preparing students for professional success, microlearning is the perfect strategy for preparing students by accommodating the “just-in-time performance-based learning requirements of today’s workforce,” (Singh, 2014). It provides learners with the opportunity to better prepare for professional success. Since contemporary workplaces approach employee development in a “learn as needed “ format in which workers absorb “bite-sized” information as it applies to their tasks, students will have exposure to this beforehand. In addition to these benefits of microlearning, the impact of this approach to education on social learning is apparent. Using mobile technology and connecting with peers via social media (examples of microlearning) enhances the presence of social learning which results in better retention of information (Trowbridge et al., 2017). These advantages reveal that, despite not being a new concept, microlearning makes for a superior learning experience and is enhanced by technological innovations. As technology continues to transform the world, it allows educators to cultivate and explore new methods of effective education.

Microlearning is an excellent strategy that holds enormous implications for institutions of higher learning to deliver a high quality educational experience to a diverse population for success in a complex world. By organizing content into smaller increments and providing students with easy access to information with real-world relevance, educators can empower more students than ever. Instead of conforming to an outdated approach to learning, learners can take charge of their education and chart their own course. Applying microlearning to college and university courses will provide students with the tools necessary for success.