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Designing effective training programs is a key strategy to replicate success within your organization. This approach allows you to avoid reinventing the wheel every time you need to train new employees or update existing staff. Training should be viewed as an ongoing process of continuous improvement, which can be greatly enhanced through the use of technology and digital tools.
As the landscape of online education evolves, so do the features offered by various online course platforms. Understanding the benefits and drawbacks of online learning is crucial for making a well-informed decision on which platform best suits your needs.
It’s also important to recognize that a specialized subset of learning management systems (LMS) exists, focusing specifically on microlearning platforms. These tools are tailored for delivering short, targeted training content. They are ideal for employees who already have some familiarity with a subject and need a quick refresher, or for newcomers who need to establish foundational knowledge without diving too deeply into complex topics. Essentially, microlearning platforms serve shorter, more focused training modules, unlike more comprehensive LMS options.
In this article, I will review some of the leading microlearning platforms, highlighting their main features. This will help you identify which platform aligns best with your organization’s goals.
Let’s explore this subject further.
What Are The Top Microlearning Platforms?
Here are some of the best options to consider.
1. Tovuti
Best Overall Microlearning Platform.
Tovuti provides a user-friendly platform for delivering online training sessions to your team. Its clean and intuitive interface makes it accessible even for users with limited technical skills. The platform offers a suite of features, including custom course creation, progress tracking, and certification issuance. If you need to deploy training programs rapidly, Tovuti allows you to launch courses within days rather than months, utilizing your existing assets to develop cloud-based content or import pre-existing eLearning materials such as PDFs, videos, slide decks, or SCORM packages. Additionally, Tovuti’s marketplace hosts approximately 7,000 ready-made courses you can immediately offer to your learners. With comprehensive tracking and reporting tools, you can evaluate the effectiveness of your training and make adjustments in real-time.
Key Features:
- SCORM compliance ensures your content meets industry standards.
- The PowerPoint Importer feature enables quick conversion of your presentations into courses.
- The Media Library provides easy access to all media files associated with your courses.
- An integrated Course Content Library consolidates all your course materials in one place.
- Lessons and classes can be created and modified seamlessly within the platform.
User Experience:
You can easily create micro-courses within Tovuti using its built-in media library and content marketplace. There is also a community aspect, where users can exchange ideas and support through forums, fostering a sense of shared learning and collaboration.
Tovuti provides several subscription options based on the number of users: a plan for 50 users costs $775 per month with an initial setup fee of $2,500; for 250 users, it’s $945 monthly plus a $3,000 setup fee; a plan for 500 users is $1,325/month with a $3,500 setup fee; and for 1,500 users, the cost is $1,925 monthly with a $4,000 setup fee. If you need more users, their team is available for custom arrangements.
Pros and Cons of Tovuti
Advantages:
- The collaboration features are useful for team projects and interactive learning.
- The platform offers straightforward reporting and analytics, helping you easily identify what’s working and where improvements are needed.
Disadvantages:
- Virtual classroom sessions may experience buffering issues when many participants are engaged simultaneously.
Recent Product Enhancements:
- The introduction of learning paths allows you to guide learners through a series of courses, ensuring they achieve specific learning outcomes.
2. EdApp
Ideal for Quick Learning Sessions
EdApp excels at simplifying complex topics into brief, manageable microlearning modules that users can complete in minutes. This approach is perfect for employees who need quick access to new information and lack time for lengthy training sessions, increasing retention and practical application in the workplace. EdApp also includes an integrated authoring tool, social learning features, and various analytics to monitor learner progress and engagement. With mobile compatibility on iOS and Android, employees can learn anytime, anywhere, at their own pace. The platform also integrates with tools like Canva, enabling easy creation of visual content for courses.
Key Features:
- The mobile learning setup allows learners to access content from virtually anywhere
- Canva integration simplifies visual content creation for courses
- A free library of courses covers various topics for all needs
- Converting PowerPoint presentations into courses enables quick content creation
User Experience:
EdApp makes it simple to deliver courses quickly to users on both desktop and mobile devices, with a user-friendly interface that allows content creation without requiring advanced technical skills.Pricing Options:
- EdApp Free: Free of charge
- EdApp Growth: $1.95 for each active user per month
- EdApp Plus: $2.95 for each active user per month
Pros and Cons of EdApp
Advantages: The pricing is quite affordable, especially given how quick it is to develop courses from scratch. The platform’s authoring tools are intuitive and do not require programming skills, making content creation straightforward. Disadvantages: Having more advanced coding options would enhance its flexibility for experienced users.
Latest Product Features:
Users can now invite learners via QR codes or simple links, enabling immediate access to courses without hassle.
3. Gnowbe
Best Suited For Engaging Learning Experiences
Gnowbe is perfect when creating immersive, interactive learning experiences that allow you to teach, guide, and connect with your audience seamlessly. This microlearning platform supports content for live, virtual, or hybrid sessions. It features simple content creation tools that do not require a steep learning curve, and you can easily send push notifications to learners for updates or reminders. The platform also provides real-time engagement metrics so you can monitor progress and adjust your approach instantly.
Key Features:
- Creating content is straightforward and quick, with intuitive tools that minimize setup time
- Integrations with other systems facilitate a smooth workflow
- You can produce content adaptable for various platforms and devices
- Pricing options are flexible, allowing you to choose a plan that fits your needs
- Tracking key metrics helps assess learner engagement and progress effectively
User Experience:
Learners will find the platform engaging thanks to various quizzes and games designed to make learning enjoyable. Its seamless tool integration also makes it compatible with your existing systems, ensuring a smooth user experience.
The available pricing options for Gnowbe include: a free plan for up to 20 users at no cost, a starter plan for up to 100 users costing $26.1 per month per creator, a pro plan suitable for up to 500 users—requiring contact with their sales team—and an enterprise plan with unlimited users, which also involves reaching out to the sales team for details.
What I Like/Dislike About Gnowbe
Like:
Gnowbe has an attractive interface and is intuitive for employees to navigate comfortably. Setting up and creating microlearning content is straightforward, making it simple for new users to get started quickly.
Dislike:
Some reporting features can be a bit tricky to locate and utilize effectively.
Product Updates: Recently, guided tours were added to help new users quickly learn how to use Gnowbe and get the most out of its features.
What makes Gnowbe stand out is its focus on engaging employee experience with a user-friendly design and simple onboarding improvements.
Spekit provides an easy-to-understand pricing plan that simplifies the process of teaching and eliminates any billing complications. This straightforward approach allows for simple budgeting without the need for long-term commitments. The cost structure is set at $20 per user each month.
What I Like/Dislike About Spekit
Like:
– Spekit integrates seamlessly within Salesforce, making it always accessible and quick to find the information you need.
– Its simplicity makes delivering information to your team effortless and highly effective.
Dislike:
– Syncing the platform with various other systems can sometimes be challenging when trying to access your Spekit content across different applications.
Product Updates:
New features include Spekit Flows, which guide employees step-by-step, making it faster and easier for them to get up to speed with processes.
5. LearnUpon
Best for Scaling Training Programs
LearnUpon is a platform designed to help businesses expand and manage their learning initiatives efficiently. It is a microlearning platform that simplifies the deployment and administration of training programs for employees, partners, and customers. Providing consistent and personalized learning experiences is straightforward with LearnUpon’s comprehensive set of tools and features.
With a strategic approach to training, the platform offers transparency into employees’ progress and training requirements. It supports numerous integrations with common tools, allowing learning activities to be incorporated smoothly into daily workflows. Focused on user management, LearnUpon makes assigning courses and tracking progress easy for administrators.
Key Features:
– Course creation tools that facilitate quick development using a built-in content library or your own materials.
– Delivery options like automated enrollment, scheduled courses, and email alerts to keep learners engaged.
– Engagement features such as social learning and gamification to make the training process more enjoyable.
– Dedicated portals where learners can access all their learning resources in one place.
– Advanced reporting capabilities that offer insights into learner performance and progress.
– Compatibility with popular tools, ensuring easy integration into existing systems.
User Experience:
LearnUpon is designed to be extremely user-friendly, enabling learners and administrators alike to navigate and utilize the platform efficiently. Its intuitive interface, combined with straightforward features, enhances the overall learning experience.
To view all the necessary information, including your enrolled courses, upcoming live sessions, and the ability to start or stop classes whenever you like, simply log in to your account.
Pricing:
Schedule a live demo to discover how LearnUpon can benefit your organization.
My Likes and Dislikes About LearnUpon
What I Like:
- LearnUpon is highly customizable for microlearning, making it easy to create training programs tailored to your company’s needs.
- The platform offers detailed reports on learner engagement and progress, giving you full control over the training experience.
What I Dislike:
- Sometimes, especially in single, isolated cases, the platform can run a bit slower than normal.
Product Updates:
LearnUpon now supports over 20 languages around the world, making it easier to train employees in their native language.
6. 7taps Microlearning
Ideal for Various Training Sharing Methods
Visit 7taps Microlearning for a fast way to create and share microlearning content.
This platform allows you to quickly build courses either using the built-in content library or your own files. Designed from a mobile-first perspective, 7taps makes creating and consuming content on the go simple for both instructors and learners. Its tools improve the content creation process and how training is delivered, making your microlearning programs engaging and effective. Sharing options include HTML embeds, email, direct links, SMS, and more, so learners can access training anytime and anywhere.
Key Features:
- Reinforce learning sessions to maximize understanding and retention.
- Support performance by providing immediate access to relevant information and assistance.
- Quickly prototype eLearning content to gather early feedback and improve ideas.
- Introduce new skills or concepts through microlearning, allowing learners to build on knowledge over time.
Pricing Options:
The available subscription plans are:
- Free: $0 per month
- Starter: $20 per month
- Pro: $84 per month
All plans are billed annually, with the option for manual billing at a higher rate. An Enterprise plan is also available at $496 per month, but only billed annually.
7. Axonify
Best For Delivering Live Updates Quickly
Axonify takes the idea of Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) to the next level with its innovative microlearning platform.
This solution is designed to work seamlessly on smartphones, tablets, and laptops, making it simple to distribute and control training content using Axonify’s robust features and tools.
Employees can acquire new skills and knowledge without interrupting their daily routines, as the training fits naturally into their workflow.
The platform provides comprehensive analytics to help optimize your training programs, making it ideal for managers who want to closely monitor employee progress.
Additionally, you can send real-time updates from a centralized system to ensure everyone stays informed with the latest information updates.
Key Features:
- Reinforce core concepts to maximize learning retention and effectiveness.
- Streamline onboarding processes for new hires with a platform that integrates smoothly into their tasks.
- Maintain effective communication through real-time updates sent directly from a single source.
- Use built-in compliance tools to track progress and verify that employees meet all necessary standards.
- Customize content easily to align with your organization’s specific needs.
- Leverage onboarding tools to familiarize new employees with your company’s policies and procedures efficiently.
Pricing:
Schedule a consultation with their team to discuss your training requirements and get a personalized quote.
Other microlearning platforms not highlighted here include TalentCards, eduMe, and iSpring.
What Are Microlearning Platforms?
Microlearning tools are powerful solutions that help improve employee performance across various industries and businesses. They include diverse training resources that support creating engaging courses about app development, remote learning, or interactive modules that can be completed in just minutes. These platforms streamline the management and development of training content through built-in libraries and authoring tools, making courses more interactive and captivating.
Many platforms also incorporate features such as social learning, assessment tools, and mobile compatibility, all designed to create effective training that meets employee needs. Equipped with these tools, organizations can easily develop targeted training programs for different topics, enhancing workforce skills and knowledge.
The Benefits Of Online Training
Delivering microlearning content online offers a distinct advantage over traditional classroom-based training. Microlearning is highly focused and results-oriented, making it highly effective in helping departments meet their objectives. Whether you need to educate sales teams about new product features or update customer service staff on procedural changes, microlearning ensures that training is engaging, interactive, and easily accessible.
This approach offers several key benefits. Firstly, it increases learner engagement by allowing the incorporation of diverse media types like videos, infographics, and audio to enrich the learning experience. It also makes training more accessible, as small pieces of digestible information are easier for employees to focus on and retain. Additionally, microlearning is more cost-effective and saves time compared to traditional methods; employees can complete bite-sized courses at their own pace and convenience. Furthermore, microlearning caters to various learning styles by offering courses in formats such as video, audio, and text, enabling employees to choose their preferred method. Training can also be tailored to a variety of topics, from customer service to product knowledge, providing versatility and comprehensive skill development.
Features to Consider When Choosing a Microlearning Platform
Gamification
One of the key attractions of microlearning platforms is gamification, a feature that makes learning more engaging by incorporating game-like elements. This can include leaderboards showcasing learners’ progress and awarding points for task completion, which helps motivate employees to finish their courses and encourages a friendly competitive spirit.
Quizzes And Assessments
Most microlearning systems include built-in quizzes and assessments, such as flashcards or fill-in-the-blank questions, to evaluate how well employees are understanding the material. These tools are essential for checking comprehension and ensuring that learners retain information through short, focused tests.
Templates
Starting from scratch can be time-consuming and inefficient. A good microlearning platform should offer pre-designed templates, allowing you to quickly create courses without worrying about formatting or design details, thereby saving time and effort.
API Integration
Connecting your microlearning platform with other software tools enhances its functionality. While initial setup may require technical expertise, integrating with external systems enables features like social learning, enabling the sharing of training content across multiple platforms and adding a new dimension to your courses.
Mobile Apps
Accessing training materials on mobile devices is crucial, whether learners are on Android or iOS. A mobile-compatible platform ensures that employees can engage with their training anytime and anywhere, especially when they’re away from a computer.
Building Case Studies
Incorporating case studies into your courses allows learners to relate concepts to real-world situations, enhancing understanding. If practical application is important in your training approach, choose a platform that supports the creation and integration of case studies into your content.
On-Demand Training
Providing on-demand courses enables employees to learn at their convenience. They can focus on areas where they need more help and select courses that suit their individual learning pace, making training more flexible and personalized.
Ease of Use
Avoid platforms that are overly complicated or difficult to navigate. A user-friendly interface ensures employees can easily find and access the courses they need without frustration, maximizing engagement and learning efficiency.
Conclusion
Choosing the right microlearning platform makes it easier to achieve your training objectives and keep employees aligned with organizational goals. It also spares you from the effort of designing courses from scratch and makes learning accessible to all types of learners. By carefully selecting a platform that fits your needs from the features listed above, you set yourself up for successful training outcomes. Share your experiences with microtraining and tell us which platforms you’ve found most useful.
Further reading on StepThroughThePortal.com:
Choosing a learning management system isn’t always straightforward. Whether you want to create an online course or manage employee training, it’s important to ensure the LMS offers the features you require. With many employees preferring self-paced learning, selecting a system with on-demand training capabilities is essential.