Aalto University Launches Innovative Microlearning Playbook for Enhanced Education
The Aalto University Microlearning Playbook has been published after a collaborative effort between Aalto University and the staff of Aalto University Executive Education and Professional Development (Aalto EE). The playbook aims to assist educators in creating engaging learning experiences by demonstrating the importance of microlearning and presenting a topical pedagogical approach to the Aalto community.
The interdisciplinary team behind the Microlearning Playbook comprises professionals with diverse backgrounds in design, marketing, education, and learning systems. It is part of Aalto University’s internal development under the first Digivisio 2030 pilot that ends in October 2023.
Microlearning briefly
Microlearning can be defined as an approach to learning that provides bite-sized, focused and highly targeted learning modules that learners can easily and quickly access. It allows learners to acquire new skills and knowledge in a short amount of time. Microlearning is gaining popularity due to its convenience, flexibility and effectiveness in enhancing learning outcomes.
Microlearning in lifewide learning
Microlearning is particularly interesting in the context of lifewide learning, as it allows learners to start exploring new topics without the need to take extended periods of time off from their regular work. Additionally, microlearning offers targeted learning opportunities that can be accessed when needed.
“One of the immediate benefits of implementing microlearning is that it grabs learners’ attention and rewards them for completing small modules. It is a nice and engaging way of beginning your learning journey in a new topic,” says Kiti Kainulainen, pilot coordinator in Digivisio’s first pilot.
Moving forward
The team wishes the playbook inspires educators to experiment with microlearning and lifewide learning. While microlearning can spark interest and deliver learning opportunities for new audiences, there are also novel opportunities in credentialing education for lifewide learners, namely microcredentials. As microcredentials are new to the Finnish education scene, the next effort is to share the knowledge about them within the university community.