Probably everyone has been in some sort of meeting or training class that seemed to go on and on and when it was over, you couldn’t recall a bit of what was said.

With today’s evolving technology, the ability to train employees through micro-learning is becoming more popular. eLearning has emerged as an ideal tool in delivering this necessary training to farm employees.

However, the structure of these lessons is just as important as their content.

There’s a compelling case for keeping eLearning lessons under 10 minutes, particularly when it comes to employee training. Short, concise lessons offer several advantages that align with the needs and challenges of modern farming.

Let’s explore why keeping training lessons short is not just an idea, but a proven one.

Improving Employee Engagement

Employee engagement is critical to the learning process.

Shorter lessons are more likely to keep employees engaged from start to finish, ensuring that the key concepts are communicated effectively.

This approach respects the limited time employees have to spare during their workday, making them more likely to start—and probably more importantly, complete—their training.

Improving Knowledge Retention

The cognitive load theory suggests that everyone has a limited amount of information they can process at any given time. For farm employees, who often need to juggle various tasks and responsibilities, shorter training lessons can help improve the retention of new information.

This ensures that training on critical topics, such as safety protocols, SOP’s, or biosecurity, is absorbed and remembered.

Flexible Learning Schedules

One of the significant benefits of eLearning is the flexibility it offers, allowing employees to learn at their own pace and on their own time.

Keeping lessons short further enhances this flexibility, making it easier for employees to fit learning into their busy schedules.

Whether it’s during a break in their workday, in between tasks, or at home, shorter lessons can seamlessly integrate into the daily routines of farm employees.

Mobile Learning

With the increasing reliance on smartphones and tablets for accessing information, eLearning content must be optimized for mobile devices.

Short lessons are inherently more mobile-friendly, allowing employees to access training at any time, as most people always have their smart phone with them.

This accessibility is ideal for ensuring that all employees, regardless of their location or role on the farm, have equal opportunities for learning and development.

Encouraging Continuous Professional Development

Short lessons encourage a habit of continuous learning among employees.

In the ever-evolving field of agriculture, staying updated with the latest practices, trends, and scientific advancements is crucial.

By breaking down training into manageable, bite-sized pieces, employees are more likely to regularly engage with new content, fostering a culture of professional growth and innovation.

Attention span

A common challenge in online training is encouraging employees to complete their courses.

Shorter lessons can lead to higher completion rates by making the process feel less daunting and more achievable.

This is particularly important in agriculture, where ongoing training and upskilling are vital for adapting to new challenges, technologies, and regulations.

Interesting Attention Facts:

Social Media on attention Span

• 91% of social media users access it through mobile devices, which can lead to a shorter attention span.
• A study conducted by Microsoft found that the average human attention span has decreased by 4 seconds since 2000, and social media is one of the primary drivers of this trend.
• According to research by Common Sense Media, teenagers spend an average of 7.5 hours per day using electronic devices, contributing to a decrease in their attention span.

Attention Span Affects Learning and Education

• According to a study by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, students’ attention span decreases significantly after just 10 minutes of lecture time.
• In a survey conducted by the University of California, students reported being distracted during class for an average of 20% of the time, which can negatively impact their learning and retention.

Conclusion

Training is essential in keeping farm operations profitable and competitive.

Keeping eLearning lessons under 10 minutes offers numerous benefits for farm employees, from improving engagement and retention to supporting flexible, mobile-friendly learning.

In the agriculture sector, where efficiency, adaptability, and continuous improvement are key, the adoption of concise, focused training modules can significantly enhance the effectiveness of employee training programs.

By keeping training lessons short, farms can improve their employees learning and comprehension.

Sources

• https://www.goldenstepsaba.com/resources/average-attention-span
• https://www.forbes.com/sites/shanesnow/2023/01/16/
• https://www.bbc.com/news/health-38896790
• https://edition.cnn.com/2023/01/11/health/short-attention-span-wellness/index.html
• https://www.brainbalancecenters.com/blog/normal-attention-span-expectations-by-age
• https://www.wyzowl.com/human-attention-span/