Microlearning

Imagine you recently moved house, and your partner has been nagging you for
weeks to gradually clear out all the boxes and clutter in the garage.
But the thought of it absolutely terrifies you. To say the garage is a complete mess
would be putting it kindly. You’ve got a real job on your hands if you’re ever going to
get it done.
However, bit by bit (or box by box) you slowly but surely start to make headway.
There’s nearly a bit of space to move around in and before long, a tidy and
organized garage stands before you.
Microlearning is this “box-by-box” approach to studying/learning.
At first glance, the concept might seem far too complex to fully understand, let alone
recall from memory. But, after breaking it down into bite-size pieces learned at
regular intervals, what once seemed a complex idea suddenly becomes clear.
These short, bite-sized pieces can be studied in almost any format, from
infographics, short videos, audio snippets, tests, quizzes, etc. The important
underlying component is their brevity – they should be delivered in activities
somewhere between 10-15 minutes in duration.
This is effective, because Microlearning reduces the effects of mental fatigue
associated with long study sessions – especially those that creep into the early hours
of the morning.
By studying in shorter bursts, students can better grasp important concepts, take a
break, and refresh their memory before moving on to the next point.
Combined with spaced learning and the retrieval method (we’ll get to those shortly)
microlearning can be a great study technique for passing information from your
short-term memory to long-term memory bank and truly getting it to stick!

Spaced Repetition
As you can probably guess by its name, spaced repetition is a study method based
on “spacing” out short sessions over a set period of time before “repeating” them
again. This helps keep your on-going study sessions engaging and ensures what’s
learned is committed to your long-term memory.
1st repetition – 1 day
2nd repetition – 10 days
3rd repetition – 30 days
4th repetition – 60 days
Another benefit of the spaced repetition method is that each time
the material is reviewed, it requires less study time before it’s
 committed to memory. To defeat the forgetting curve and ensure the
material learned sticks, try applying combination of both spaced
repetition and microlearning. While spaced repetition provides a
timeframe for your ongoing study routine, microlearning doers a
great delivery method of short, bite-sized nuggets of content.

Retrieval Method
Another one of the best study methods students should consider is the
retrieval method.

This technique requires students to dig deep into the memory bank to
“retrieve” previously learned information, without additional cues. This
could be something watched in an online class, read in a textbook, or
notes taken from a lecture.

The key to the retrieval method is allowing a little time for forgetting the
information before trying to retrieve it.

Immediately reciting whatever you’ve read/heard defeats the purpose of

The more times you dive down, the stronger your memory of that
information will be.

Before you start, put all your notes and sketchbooks away. Remember this exercise
is all about forced retrieval of information,
Now go ahead and do a brain dump. Grab a piece of paper, a pen (perhaps even
Sharpies if you’ve got some on hand!) and write everything down (that you can think
of) related to the topic you’ve studied.
This can be done in the form of a mind map, brainstorm, or even just free-writing
onto the page.
When you’ve finished, cross-check what you’ve written against your notes. You’ll
then be able to identify which areas you’re perhaps less familiar with, which can then
be targeted in later study sessions.
If you’re studying for an upcoming exam, then by far and away the best study
method is complete practice exams. Take as many of them as you can bear. If you
have access to previous papers from the examination board, great, get a hold of
them. If not, try brainstorming potential questions that could arise (or ask someone to
do so for you) and attempt to answer them.
Improvement comes with practice. If you want to get better at recalling information in
exams then you should be practicing it beforehand! Not waiting until you’re in the
exam hall to find out whether you’ve learned it or not.

STUDY TIPS
1. GET ORGANISED
Taking the time to get organised will set you up well and help you achieve your
learning goals.
Top study tips:
▸ Invest in a diary, and use it to keep track of current assignment deadlines.
▸ Bring all the material and devices you need to class, so you can participate. You
may find it helpful to pack your bag the night before, so youʼre ready to go first thing
in the morning.
2. DON’T SKIP CLASS!
Skipping class can be detrimental to your learning and achieving your study goals. It
leaves gaping holes in your notes – and in your subject knowledge.
Remember to practise active listening by focusing on what your teachers are saying
in class and taking notes as needed.
3. TAKE NOTES
To keep your brain engaged during class, take notes, which you can refer to later, as
you refine your study techniques.
Notes can help store information in your long-term memory, right there in class.
These notes will be important for reviewing when you’re completing assessments
and assignments.
You might find it handy to condense your notes a er class, so theyʼre clear and easy
to read. Underline or highlight key points. If anything doesn’t make sense, you can
seek clarification from your teacher.
You can also create visual aids like flow charts and mind maps to help simplify
information. For some students, these visual aids help them remember complex
information and study more e ectively.
If you do miss a class, ask a study buddy or classmate if you can refer to their notes.
This will ensure there are no holes in your own notetaking.
4. TALK TO YOUR TEACHER & ASK QUESTIONS
Your teacher is, in a way, a resource who is there to be used!
You can take advantage of this interactive learning environment by asking questions
during or after class, where you can get fast feedback.
Teachers can further clarify any topics you find confusing. You may even be able to
get a little direction on assignments before submitting.
Your teacher will no doubt be impressed with your initiative and happy to help.
5. SPACE OUT YOUR STUDYING
One of the most effective ways of studying is to space out your learning sessions.
If you break up your study load over several days, you’ll retain information far more
readily than if you crammed in one long session.
This can help deeply ingrain information, allowing you to retain it for the long term.
You’ll find you achieve much better results for it.
6. CREATE A STUDY PLAN – & STICK TO IT
One top study tip is to create a schedule or plan.
This is incredibly helpful for time management and can help you reach your learning
goals.
A study plan will:
▸ motivate you to study, as you’ll have time dedicated to learning
▸ keep you organised around work, hobbies and other commitments, as you can
plan ahead
▸ break your study load into manageable blocks
▸ give you time to complete your assignments, ensuring they’re not rushed or last-
minute.
7. DON’T JUST RE-READ BUT STUDY
When you are reading and re-reading texts and notes, you’re not studying. This is
because you’re not engaging with the material.
You’ll discover that you have trouble remembering class notes if you’re not using
active studying techniques.
Instead of reading, try:
▸ creating concept maps and diagrams
▸ explaining concepts to yourself step by step
▸ formulating questions and problems that you can come back to and solve,
effectively creating a quiz for yourself
▸ becoming a teacher or tutor to your study group or partner and learning the course
material by explaining concepts to them.
8. SET UP A QUIET STUDY SPACE
It is important to have a designated study area that is free from distraction and will
allow you to study effectively.
When you settle into your study area, you will know you are there to learn. This
mindset will help with your overall motivation to study.
Choose a study space that is quiet, well-lit and in a low-tra ic area. Donʼt, say, study
at a dining table when you’re going to be constantly distracted by housemates or
family members moving in and out of the kitchen!
If there’s nowhere suitable for study at home, try your local or university library.
Libraries are naturally quiet, and many have designated areas for study.
9. TEST YOURSELF
Getting someone to quiz you – or quizzing yourself – is great retrieval practice. This
learning technique helps you commit information to your long-term memory and
easily retrieve it when needed.
Recalling an answer to a question improves learning, as does writing down that
answer – you’re committing it to memory.
You might find it helpful to create flash cards each time you learn a new topic. Flash
cards can have questions on them or have a prompt that triggers the recall of
relevant information. Ask a parent, friend, housemate or study buddy to quiz you,
using your flash cards. The act of creating them alone will help you better retain
information and is an effective study technique.
10. FIND A STUDY BUDDY OR JOIN A STUDY GROUP
One of the best ways to study is to share the experience with another person.
It can be beneficial to find a study buddy – or even form a study group with like-
minded students.
Your study buddy/group can:
▸ keep you motivated
▸ help you stay accountable
▸ quiz and test you on course material
▸ read over your work to give advice.
Recalling an answer to a question improves learning, as does writing down that
answer – you’re committing it to memory.
You might find it helpful to create flash cards each time you learn a new topic. Flash
cards can have questions on them or have a prompt that triggers the recall of
relevant information. Ask a parent, friend, housemate or study buddy to quiz you,
using your flash cards. The act of creating them alone will help you better retain
information and is an effective study technique.