So what is it and what do you need to do differently?
In my first blog on this topic, I introduced you to my definition for bite-sized learning:
A focussed learning intervention (generally no more than 90 minutes) with just enough content and chunked into learning bursts to achieve clear outcomes
I also talked through the first three of our 7 Pearls of Wisdom for Bite-Sized Learning.
In this second blog, I will cover the final four pearls and (for those of you that can’t live without the why) give a little more information on the benefits of bite-sized learning.
Pearl 4 – What and How – Not Why
Did you notice that in the first blog, I didn’t spend any time considering ‘why do we want/need to use bite-sized learning?’ When I was first working on my presentation for World of Learning, my natural instinct was to include some questions like this in the opening discussion.
However, because I had a very bite-sized time with my audience (and indeed a limited number of words in this blog!) I had to assume that you already see the benefit in bite-sized, you already know why it is a good idea, but you need to know what exactly it is and how you do it – hence the title of this blog! I wonder how many of you would really have liked to spend a bit of time on the WHY? Me too if I am honest, but with bite-sized learning this is really not possible – especially as the ‘why conversation’ often takes longer than you expect and eats into valuable time. You need to cut to the chase: do away with the history, background information and theories and go straight to the ‘how to do it’.
So, with bite-sized you either need to pick a topic where there is no why, ensure there is a level of understanding or provide some kind of pre-reading or communication to answer that question in advance. Which brings us on to our next point:
Pearl 5 – Learning is a Process, Not an Event
This is the second pearl in our Fusion Learning methodology – but again, it is even more important here. Just about every piece of research on memory and learning shows that you need to have time for repetition, practice, reflection, review and trying out in the workplace/context. So, as a minimum, we recommend at least one learning burst (see pearl 6 for more on these) before and after the main module (before can be the why if this is not already clear to the participants). This concept is sometimes called the flipped classroom, where the theory is covered in advance to enable the interactive session to focus on exploration and practice. The pre/post activities could include a short video, webinar, podcast, questionnaire etc…
Pearl 6 – Use Chunking and Learning Bursts
Everything today is quick: people want small, easily digestible things. The
attention span of millennials is short, so even 90 minutes needs to be broken down. Think about physical exercise: it is proven that short bursts of high impact exercise tone up your physical muscles far better than endurance training – the same principle applies to our mental muscles.
To help in this regard, we recommend chunking information into short learning bursts, based on the concept of ‘tell first, explore later’:
Each burst is approximately 20-30 mins, so in a 90 minute session, you can generally 3 learning bursts, plus a final 10 minute review.
Pearl 7 – Rapport, Trust and Sensitivity
Interestingly, most of the research I have read around bite-sized learning focussed solely on the design of the material. However, I don’t believe you can have best practice (certainly in a live event) without considering the role of the facilitator in building rapport and trust with their participants.
Even some of the best facilitators can struggle with bite-sized sessions, without the time for lengthy introductions and gradually getting to know the participants it is hard to build rapport. Without telling them your experience and ‘everything you know about the topic’ trust/credibility can take time to develop. But both of these things are essential, as is managing the ‘attention seekers’ and sticking to the ‘mass customisation process’, while still retaining sensitivity within the room.
This is such a huge topic, that it is hard to cover in one blog alone. However, if you would like to know more, then please sign up for our longer purple paper on bite-sized learning or ask about our Learning Facilitator Development Framework.
Finally, for those of you that can’t bear to live without the why, here are a few key reasons:
To finish, I think the most important point is that none of this will work if you don’t get the content right. A rubbish course will still be rubbish whether it is online, bite-sized or spread over 3 days. You still need to apply the principles of accelerated and experiential learning – in other words the core components of our Fusion Learning methodology.
So, these are our 7 Pearls of Wisdom for Successful Bite-Sized Learning. I hope you have found these blogs useful and if you would like to know more, then please email us at [email protected] and ask for further information about:
How Pearlcatchers can help you to deliver in a bite-sized world by:
If you have enjoyed this blog, then keep your eyes peeled for my next blog for the World of Learning on Engaging Line Managers in Learning and Development.
Happy learning, Sharon Young
