Microlearning is the easiest and most efficient way to train young employees through mobile devices in the food service industry and beyond. Millennials, born around 1980 and later, used computers and books for blended learning throughout their years in school. The desire to always be mobile and preference of digital assets over paper has continuously skyrocketed. Smartphones and tablets are used daily for communications, entertainment, and education. Microlearning targets this generation and their mobile devices.
Microlearning lessons are tailored to mobile device use with:
- Short, crisp segments for limited attention spans
- Engaging visuals and audio presentations similar to the videos viewed online
- Easy access to lessons that can be downloaded and viewed anytime, anywhere
- Shared information
Many young adults and college students work on their feet in restaurants and retail stores. Regardless of industry, new employees need to be trained quickly in dealing with customers and executing operational procedures. Microlearning modules effectively train new employees and bring them up to speed quickly.
Short Lessons
eLearning Industry found the average attention span of the Millennial generation is 90 seconds.
Traditional restaurant training can consist of several days of 7-8 hour training sessions. Microlearning modules are 2 to 6 minutes. This appeals to busy people and the typical short attention span. Each quick lesson deals primarily with a different subject such as how to place an order, prepare a table, or deal with a difficult customer. Most people are accustomed to watching short "how to..." videos online.
Restaurant procedures, dress codes, and other valuable information are offered through these modules. This has the added benefit of saving a significant amount of training time for new employees.
This is a learning strategy that offers one subject in short visual presentations across smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices. The modules are created for people who are on their feet and can access the lessons when it is convenient. This is quick, independent learning. (The lessons can also be constructed for larger laptop/desktop screens.)
Easy Replay Anytime
The person taking the lesson can replay the segment as many times as necessary. This type of A/V learning usually results in 95% retention of the information.
Modules are flexible for people with different roles and learning skills. People preparing food need extensive training. Servers should know how the food is prepared and presented to customers. Everyone in the service areas should know the different procedures for each department.
Servers and people in the food preparation areas must know how to handle emergencies. They must be prepared for the unexpected. These situations can be covered in the short modules and accessed at any time.
Sharing Information
Feedback is important, and employees should share this information. New lesson modules can be easily developed to share solutions to new situations. Each lesson explains an objective and provides a variety of visuals and audio information. Trainees can be quizzed on retention of information as part of the learning process. They can also be asked to give feedback on their experience so microlearning lessons can be continuously evaluated and improved.
PlayerLync continues to modernize training for the hospitality industries. Check out "New Year, New Technology: 7 Ways to Leverage Video for Training and Operations in 2019", our new guide for taking your training program into the new year with you.
