Free whitepaper explains innovative learning methods

Microlearning as an effective approach to user acceptance of new software roll-out programmes

When new software is introduced into a company and business processes are redefined, this normally leads to major adjustments for the affected employees:  they must learn to operate the new systems and internalise the procedures. What seemed perfectly reasonable during software training suddenly becomes a stumbling block during the actual application! The acquired knowledge has dissipated. So-called microlearning counteracts this effect. IMC AG, Europe’s leading provider of learning, talent and content solutions has now published a free whitepaper on this subject.

“What was that again – which button do I have to click on next?” Users ask themselves these and similar questions over and over again when they are confronted with the system following the launch of new software and when the knowledge from their initial training seems to have vanished almost completely. Research shows that users can only reproduce around 30% of the learned material 24 hours after software training. An additional factor is that, in practice, new questions will emerge that have not previously been addressed. Frequently, the consequence is a very time-consuming search for solutions: both the Internet and thick manuals are sifted through, colleagues are consulted for advice or trial-and-error methods are applied.

The alternative to such - clearly less profitable - training methods is bite-size learning: microlearning provides the user with context-related information during the actual application of the software. This type of informal learning is highly effective as precisely those problems are solved which the user is currently grappling with in his work. Electronic Performance Support Systems (EPSS) implement microlearning in a practical way and draw upon the most varied internal and external sources of information.

The whitepaper entitled "Electronic Performance Support - Microlearning as an effective approach to user acceptance of new software roll-out programmes ", which IMC AG has made available for a free download, illustrates how informal learning leads to more successful learning in practice and identifies, amongst other things, which criteria are decisive for companies when selecting a performance support system.

The whitepaper can be downloaded for free here.
Also, a demo video of the Electronic Performance Support System LIVECONTEXT is available on YouTube.