We hear a lot about Millenials but who are they statistically? According to Pew Research Center, this generation was born between1980 and the early 2000’s. Millennials are now ranging from ages 22 to 37 and they represent more than half the workforce population.
If those numbers made you sit up and take notice then you are well on your way to understanding why it’s important to create training that motivates and engages this generation. (https://www.shiftelearning.com/blog/training-millennials-elearning)
So, the training delivered to this generation should be:
1. Brief and Beautiful
There is more competing for the time and attention of the emerging workforce then ever before. The media Millennials / knowmads consume is bite-sized thus the training they are likely to consume has to be brief and succinct. Millennials/ knowmads also have a high expectation for technology to be simple, intuitive, and beautifully designed. Millennial training has to be beautiful. If the training content doesn't appear to mirror what Millennials / knowmads would consume on a regular basis, they will be less likely to engage and retain the information.
Microlearning requires a shorter attention span so there is less cognitive load on learners and information is easier to absorb, retain, and recall. Microlearning matches human brain processing capabilities (especially Millennials) which makes it a fit for today's fast-paced and hyperconnected workplace.
2. Agile and Accessible
The 21st-century employee is untethered. They are remote workers, bringing their own device or applications to work and finding new ways to execute work and structure their day. Training must be digitally native and mobile in order to be effective for the next generation of learners. It has to be agile and accessible to fit into the active lives of Millennial employees.
Microlearning delivers training in short intervals where learners can easily insert the training in their day to day lives. How and when Millennials / knowmads learn is more important than what they learn because the "what" won't matter if they never have the time or if accessing the training is over-complicated.
3. Instant and Intelligent
Receiving a notification from Google Maps that traffic is heavy before starting your commute is informative and helpful. Information is being delivered instantly and intelligently. Why can't training take a similar form where you receive an intelligent notification about powerful public speaking tips instantly on your phone while walking to a meeting where you'll be presenting to the team.
Millennials / knowmads will turn to their smartphone to find just-in-time answers to unexpected problems. Information and learning is being accessed much differently today than in years past. Deploying intelligent learning via quick how-to articles, videos, or interactive infographics where learners can pull down the content for instant application makes microlearning ideal for Millennial / knowmad training.
4. Collaborative and Communal
A majority of workplace learning happens via on-the-job interactions with teammates, managers, and in-house subject matter experts. Creating communities where Millennials / knowmads can learn from experts, managers, and their peers and also contribute their own experience or expertise is impactful and empowering.
When microlearning offers collaborative technology and a communal environment it helps to build relationships, diminish silos, shrink geographies, enhance personal influence, and promote sharing.
5. Relevant and Relatable
The accelerated change happening at work and in business means everyone needs to commit to continuous learning. This also means that training has to be hyper-relevant to the specific and evolving challenges Millennials / knowmads face at work. If the content isn't relevant and relatable for the learner, retention, and recall of the information will suffer.
The microscopic nature of microlearning content allows for quick creation of content and fast consumption by the learner. Creating training that addresses a relevant need and provides a solution or applications that are relatable for the learner is key for engagement.
6. Blend and Bind
For the digitally dependent Millennial generation, it's imperative that their training merge digital with real-world activities. Offline, in-person, or classroom training remains impactful and transformational in today's digital age. A blended approach to training binds one's learning.
Microlearning platforms, like 21Mill, that prompt, encourage, and reward Millennial learners for real-world interaction and application is extremely effective for binding the learning.
In order to prompt development, sustain engagement, achieve transformation, and improve retention among your Millennial / knowmad workforce, use microlearning.
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