The microlearning – from business to education: A promising direction for the development of didactics

Introduction. Microlearning is one of the modern trends in education, providing high motivation and involvement of students, fast and solid assimilation of the specified educational results, the connection of theory and practice, accessibility and flexibility of learning. At the same time, microlearning also has a number of serious drawbacks, primarily related to its content limitations, fragmentation and unsystematic nature, which prevents its widespread use at various levels of education. According to the authors of the article, these shortcomings are due to the peculiarities of a specific organisational and didactic model of microlearning used in corporate education. Attempts to directly transfer this approach to the system of general, secondary vocational, higher education are unproductive. The authors believe that it is necessary to develop a different didactic model of microlearning, adequate to the goals and approaches of the education system. The article presents a range of issues that are subject to priority resolution for the development of the theory of education, didactics and methodology in the context of the idea of microlearning.
Aim. The present research aims to present a scientific approach to assess the possibilities of adapting the accumulated experience of using microlearning in mass educational practice.
Methodology and research methods. The current research is based on methodological approaches of foreign and Russian scientists to the problems of digital transformation of education, primarily based on the idea of counter transformation of the educational process and digital tools, cultivation of systematic didactic knowledge. The leading method is the generalisation of scientific provisions, the analysis of practical experience and the creation of prerequisites for the creation of new knowledge.
Results and scientific novelty. As a result of the research, the key directions of pedagogical scientific research are identified, ensuring continuity in the development of microlearning during its transfer from corporate education to use in mass educational practice. The novelty of the research is determined by the high demand for the development of didactic tools for organising the educational process, selecting and structuring the content of education.
Practical significance. The research results can be applied in the process of training teachers for the broad implementation of microlearning during the digital transformation of education, as well as directly in the design of new digital tools.

1. Zolotukhin S. A. Microlearning as the central concept of e-learning. Uchenye zapiski. Elektronnyi nauchnii zhurnal Kurskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta = Scientific Notes. Electronic Scientific Journal of Kursk State University [Internet]. 2020 Dec 26 [cited 2022 June 01]. 4 (56): 246–250. Available from: https://www.elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=44450398 (In Russ.)

2. Kramarenko N. S., Kryukov E. V. Microlearning in teacher lifelong education in the VUCA world. Vestnik Moskovskogo gosudarstvennogo oblastnogo universiteta = Bulletin of Moscow State Regional University. 2021; 4: 156–167. (In Russ.)

3. Monahova G. A. Methods of designing microcourses in the context of digital transformation of education. In: Konferetsium ASOU: sbornik nauchnikh trudov i materialov nauchno-practicheskikh konferentsii = ASOU Conferences: Collection of Scientific Works and Materials of Scientific and Practical Conferences. 2020. Vol. 3. p. 47. (In Russ.)

4. Dwight W. A. Shkoly novogo veka: konservativnyj podhod k radikal’noj shkol’noj reforme = Schools for a New Century: a Conservative Approach to Radical School Reform [Internet]. 1992 [cited 2022 June 01]. p. 22. Available from: https://translated.turbopages.org/proxy_u/en-ru.ru.9b9a22b3-634fe7ec-871b890c-74722d776562/https/www.overdrive.com/media/358417/schools-for-a-new-century (In Russ.)

5. Gassler G., Hug T., Glahn C. Integrated micro learning – An outline of the basic method and first results. In: M. E. Auer, U. Auer (Eds.). International Conference on Interactive Computer Aided Learning; Villach. Villach: Kassel University Press; 2004. p. 1–7.

6. Chulanova O. L., Khisamutdinova A. A. Microlearning as a technology for improving the training of the organization’s personnel in order to obtain targeted knowledge. Materialy Afanas’evskikh chtenii = Materials of the Afanasiev Readings. 2020; 2 (31): 5–18. (In Russ.)

7. Vlasova E. Z. Microlearning is an effective e-learning format. Izvestiya Baltiyskoi gosudarstvennoi akademii rybopromyslovogo flota: psikhologo-pedagogicheskie nauki = Proceedings of the Baltic State Academy of the Fishing Fleet: Psychological and Pedagogical Sciences. 2021; 1 (55): 11–13. (In Russ.)

8. Matveeva K. Yu. Micro-education: Method of development of the education system in modern conditions. Informatsionnye tekhnologii. Problemy i resheniya = Information Technology. Problems and Solutions. 2019; 1 (6): 93–98. (In Russ.)

9. Nikulina N. L. Microlearning and bite-sized learning in the era of distance education. In: Sovremennye problemy nauki i obrazovaniya. Sovremennye problemy nauki i obrazovanija. Materialy Mezhdunarodnoj zaochnoj nauchno-prakticheskoj konferencii = Modern Problems of Science and Education. Materials of the International Absentee Scientific and Practical Conference; 2021 Aug 21; Neftekamsk. Neftekamsk: Scientific and Publishing Center “Mir nauki”; 2021. p. 200–204. (In Russ.)

10. Drugova E. A., Zhuravleva I. I. Development of students’ universal competencies with microlearning: The case of Tomsk state university. In: Nauka. Informatizatsiya. Tekhnologii. Obrazovanie. Materialy XIV mezhdunarodnoi nauchno-prakticheskoj konferencii = Science. Informatisation. Technologies. Education. Materials of the XIV International Scientific and Practical Conference; 2021 Mar 01–05; Ekaterinburg. Ekaterinburg: Russian State Vocational Pedagogical University, 2021. p. 67–74. (In Russ.)

11. Dumanishheva K. M. Analysis of trends in the global digital education market in the digital economy. In: Ekonomika predpriyatii, regionov, stran: aktualnye voprosy i sovremennye aspekty. Sbornik statej IV mezhdunarodnoi nauchno-prakticheskoj konferencii = Economy of Enterprises, Regions, Countries: Current Issues and Modern Aspects. Proceedings of the IV International Scientific and Practical Conference; 2021 June 05; Penza. Penza: Science Publishing House Nauka i Prosveshhenie; 2021. p. 311–316. (In Russ.)

12. Labutina V. A., Labutin V. B. Microlearning in the context of continuous improvement of pedagogical skills. In: Konferetsium ASOU: sbornik nauchnikh trudov i materialov nauchno-practicheskikh konferentsii = ASOU Conferences: Collection of Scientific Works and Materials of Scientific and Practical Conferences. 2019. Vol. 4–2. p. 181–198. (In Russ.)

13. Basovskaya N. S. Microlearning as a way of staff development. In: Student i nauka (gumanitarnii tsikl) – 2019. Materialy mezhdunarodnoj studencheskoj nauchno-prakticheskoj konferentsii = Student and Science (Humanities Cycle) – 2019. Materials of the International Student Scientific and Practical Conference; 2019; Magnitogorsk. Magnitogorsk: Nosov Magnitogorck State Technical University; 2019. p. 1263–1266. (In Russ.)

14. Berko N. M. Techniques of using the mixed learning method and micro learning modules as an effective tool of the digital educational environment. In: Shamovskie pedagogicheskie chteniya nauchnoi shkoly upravleniya obrazovatel’nymi sistemami. Sbornik statej XIII Mezhdunarodnoj nauchno-prakticheskoj konferentsii v 2-h chastjah = Shamov Pedagogical Readings of the Scientific School of Educational Systems Management. Proceedings of the XIII International Scientific and Practical Conference in 2 volumes; 2021 Jan 23-Feb 01; Moscow. Vol. 2. Moscow: International Academy of Sciences of Pedagogical Education, Publishing House 5 za znanija; 2021. p. 464–468. (In Russ.)

15. Rogovaya Yu. Yu. Microlearning as a synergy of education and modern information technologies. In: Innovatsionnye tendentsii razvitiya sistemy obrazovaniya. Sbornik materialov VIII Mezhdunarodnoj nauchno-prakticheskoj konferentsii = Innovative Trends in the Development of the Education System. Proceedings of the VIII International Scientific and Practical Conference; 2017 Oct 01; Cheboksary. Cheboksary: Publishing House OOO CNS Interaktivpljus; 2017. p. 47–49. (In Russ.)

16. Koroleva A. S. Microlearning as a way of presenting the material in the modern world of mobile learning. In: Obrazovatel’nye tekhnologii v sovremennom uchebno-vospitatelnom prostranstve. Sbornik statej III Vserosijskoj metodiko-prakticheskoj konferencii = Educational Technologies in the Modern Educational Space. Proceedings of the III All-Russian Methodological and Practical Conferences; 2021 June 24; Petrozavodsk. Petrozavodsk: International Center for Scientific Partnership “Novaja nauka”; 2021. p. 44–47. (In Russ.)

17. Rogovaya Yu. Yu. Microlearning as a new educational technology. Nauchnoe mnenie = Scientific Opinion. 2017; 7–8: 147–151. (In Russ.)

18. Soldatova G. U., Voiskounsky A. E. Socio-cognitive concept of digital socialization: А new ecosystem and social evolution of the mind. Psikhologiya. Zhurnal Vysshey Shkoly ekonomiki = Psychology. Journal of Higher School of Economics. 2021; 18 (3): 431–450. (In Russ.)

19. Miloserdova E. E., Kayurova O. V. Clip thinking in teaching speaking. In: Yazyk I deystvitelnost. Nauchnye chteniya na kafedre pomanskikh yazykov im. V. G. Gaka. Sbornik statej V mezhdunarodnoj konferentsii = Language and Reality. Scientific Readings at the Department of Romance Languages named after V. G. Gak. Proceedings of the V International Conference; 2020 Mar 25–27; Moscow. Moscow: Publishing House “Sputnik+”; 2020. p. 255–260. (In Russ.)

20. Fedoseev A. A. What is behind the concept of “knowledge in small packages”. Informatika i ee primenenie = Informatics and Applications. 2016; 10 (3): 105–110. (In Russ.)

21. Gagne R. M. The conditions of learning and theory of instruction. Wadsworth Pub Co.; 1985. 352 p.

22. Lisitsyna L. S. Pedagogicheskij dizajn jelektronnyh kursov = Pedagogical design of electronic courses. Saint Petersburg: ITMO University; 2018. 67 p. (In Russ.)

23. Monahova G. A., Monahov D. N., Pronchev G. B. Micro-education as a phenomenon of digital transformation of education. Obrazovanie i pravo = Education and Law. 2020; 6: 299–304. (In Russ.)

24. Barkhatova D. A., Simonova A. L., Lomasko P. S., Khegay L. B. Features of “inverted” educational resources for distance learning of pupils. Otkrytoe obrazovanie = Open Education. 2021; 25 (4): 4–12. (In Russ.)

25. Blinov V. I., Bilenko P. N., et al. Pedagogicheskaya kontseptsiya tsifrovogo professional’nogo obrazovaniya i obucheniya = Pedagogical concept of digital vocational education and training. Moscow: Publishing House “Delo” RANEPA; 2020. 112 p. (In Russ.)

26. Chulanova O. L., Khorobrykh O. A. Transformation of training of personnel of organizations: Development of a program for the introduction of microlearning technology in the conditions of remote work of personnel caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Vestnik evraziiskoi nauki = Bulletin of Eurasian Science. 2020; 12 (3): 62. (In Russ.)

27. Blinov V. I., Esenina E. Yu., Sergeev I. S. Models of blended learning: Organizational and didactic typology. Vysshee obrazovanie v Rossii = Higher Education in RUSSIA. 2021; 30 (5): 44–64. (In Russ.)

28. Gorchakov D. Microlearning – the education system of the future. Layfkhaker = Lifehacker [Internet]. 2015 Nov 09 [cited 2022 Mar 08]. Available from: https://lifehacker.ru/microlearning (In Russ.)