One of the wonderful things about the Articulate 360 suite is that it’s constantly being updated with new features. With Rise 360, you don’t even need to install new updates, they’re just there the next time you open it! One of the most recent additions to Rise 360 is a “Microlearning” feature that allows for quick and easy course creation…because sometimes less is more. Continue reading as we put the spotlight on this “as heard in training” question: “How does the Rise 360 Microlearning feature differ from Rise 360 courses?”
The Microlearning feature is perfect for bite-sized content that’s focused on a single learning objective for quick, in-the-moment performance support, training reinforcement, and knowledge retention. The list of potential ideas for microlearning is limitless, but a few examples come to mind including:
- Safety checklists
- Top 5 lists
- Scenario-based application of new skills
- System or software changes
- Executive and company updates
- Important reminders for open enrollment
- Employee mental health or stretching breaks
- FAQs
… and so many more!
Developing microlearning in Rise 360 is very similar to creating a course. However, there are a few differences. Today, we’ll explore those differences, so you know what to keep in mind as you get started.
Ready to Create Microlearning?
To get started, select the Create button at the top of your Rise 360 dashboard. Now, instead of just starting a blank course, you have two options: Course and Microlearning. Select Microlearning.
As with Courses, you can now create a microlearning course from scratch, or select and use a pre-built Microlearning Template or Real Content.
- Select Blank Microlearning to create a microlearning course from scratch.
- Select a Microlearning Template to use placeholder headings and writing prompts as a guide for a new course.
- Select a Real Content course for ready-to-use microlearning with relevant content built-in.
For our microlearning example, we’ve created a short monthly “calendar” that lists each team member’s anniversary with the company, as well as a few of their favorite things in case coworkers want to send a personalized gift.
You can view the example by selecting the image below.
Want to see how we did it? Read on!
First, Add and Combine Blocks
As you start adding blocks to your new Microlearning in Rise 360, you’ll notice that you have the option to Connect or Disconnect blocks. This is a Navigation setting option available for Microlearning only.
By default, new Microlearnings use an unnumbered Stepped navigation, which appears as selectable dots on the right side when previewing your course. So, in Stepped navigation, you use the Connect option to select which blocks to combine and display as a single “step” or “click” in the navigation pane.
Let’s review these navigation options, as well as a few other differences.
Set Navigation and Theme Options
To open the Navigation options, select the Theme option in the upper-right corner of your new Microlearning. The first thing you may notice is that you no longer have the option to customize Lesson Headers as an option in your Theme. That’s because Microlearning only has one lesson! 😊
You also can’t add a logo to Microlearning, which is a bit different. Since there is no course description in Microlearning, there is no need for the logo panel. If you feel the need to have your logo available, no worries! Simply add it as an Image block in the first block of content you create.
Tip: The Image and Text block would work really well for this purpose.
The main differences in the Theme options, however, are in the Navigation area.
Here you can select your preferred navigation mode. As we mentioned earlier, new Microlearnings default to a Stepped navigation with dots. The other options are a Stepped navigation with Numbers, or a Continuous vertical scroll (which mimics most websites).
In our example, we used a Stepped | Numbers navigation to flow like a calendar (where each number represents a month).
Great! What Else Is Different?
- Collaboration: You can collaborate with peers in Microlearning, just like in Rise 360 courses. However, because Microlearning is only one lesson, only one person can work in a Microlearning course at a time.
- Quiz Scores Aren’t Reported: Microlearning courses don’t have a Quiz lesson type, so scores can’t be reported back to an LMS (only a completion status is sent). You can ask knowledge check questions, however, using the standard Knowledge Check block type…they just aren’t graded.
As the saying goes … “good things come in small packages.” And that can certainly be true of microlearning. Sometimes something small is all you need!
Have you used the Microlearning feature in Rise 360? If so, let us know! We’d love to hear from you!
Want More on Microlearning in Rise 360?
Check out the following posts from Articulate and The Articulate Trainer blog for more about microlearning in Rise 360:
3 Things You’ll Love About the New Microlearning Feature in Rise 360
8 Business Use Cases for Microlearning
Rise 360: Create New Microlearning
Rise 360: Use Microlearning Content Templates
Can I Create Templates in Rise 360?
How Can I Spice Up My Rise 360 Courses?
Happy Articulating!
~ Brooke
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