Using a micro-learning approach to develop RLOs
For teaching and professional development
The i3HS Hub is a multidisciplinary project to promote teaching and research across disciplines for population health benefit through data sciences. Within the Hub, our aim is to create innovative, interdisciplinary, reusable learning objects (RLOs) for teaching and professional development. A RLO is a small, self-contained, digital resource that addresses a specific learning objective and can be reused in a variety of contexts and learning situations.
One strand of RLOs are micro-learning materials in the style of #1minuteCPD. #1minuteCPD is a blog that uses a micro-learning technique to deliver short (1 minute or less) videos on digital literacies aimed at staff in the education sector. You can read more about how the idea came about here. The Hub is using this approach to create high quality micro-learning resources that are reusable, innovative, learner-centric and multi-disciplinary in design. In general, the smaller or more granular a resource, the greater the possibility of it being reused in another context and the greater its capacity to support flexible, lifelong learning. This approach can also help target the development of digital literacies among the health and social care workforce in response to the big healthcare challenges raised by the Topol Report on preparing the healthcare workforce to deliver the digital future.
Why 1 minute?
On its own, a minute is a fraction of time that we often don’t pay much attention to. However, a collection of minutes can start adding up to something substantial. For busy academics and professionals, a minute may not be much on its own, but it can add up to a significant amount of learning over time. It’s harder to justify not being able to spare a minute to dedicate to learning compared to physically attending a half day training session, for example. Therefore, by using technology to create chunks of 1 minute learning, we can reduce time and location barriers for learners. For those developing 1minuteCPDs, creating chunks of learning in 1 minute segments is quicker to develop and easier to update.
How to create a 1minuteCPD
To support the creation of 1minuteCPDs, the Hub have created an open, online short course. The short course guides you through each step of the 5D learning design model that we use here at the Hub (Define-Design-Develop-Deploy-Deliver) to provide a framework for the development of RLOs using a micro-learning approach.
Define
Microlearning removes the main barrier to staff engagement with training: time. Learn about why you should be creating and implementing 1minuteCPD into your learning materials.
Design
Narrow your focus to concentrate on one Intended Learning Outcome, and decide which tool is right for your learning material.
The guide looks at the planning, practicalities and tools you can use when creating your 1minuteCPD. It has lots of advice on determining your content and designing for reusability, as well as providing practical guidance on the different tools that you can use.
Develop
Use the curated list of support and resources for developing your 1minuteCPD. Learn how to source and attribute images, and find inspiration for your own learning materials.
Deploy
Where will you host your 1minuteCPD for maximum impact?
Deliver
When you have designed, developed and deployed your 1minuteCPD, you can embed it into your teaching materials. You will also learn how to use other people’s 1minuteCPDs.
Online Design Tool
Use the online design tool to help design your 1minuteCPD. As you work through the open, online short course, this tool will help you to develop your own microlearning resource to include in your teaching materials.
Access the ‘How to create a 1minuteCPD’ short course here, and turn your ideas into quick, high-quality and innovative teaching resources.
For more information on the i3HS Hub, visit the website or email us at i3hs@manchester.ac.uk
