Jennie De Gagne, associate professor; Hyeyoung Kate Park, PhD student; Katherine Hall, '17 MSN almuna; Sandra Yamane, DNP student; Sang Suk Kim, former visiting scholar 2017-2018; publish article entitled "Microlearning in Health Professions Education: Scoping Review" in JMIR Medical Education.  Co-authors include Amanda Woodward.

Abstract

Background:

Microlearning, the acquisition of knowledge or skills in the form of small units, is endorsed by health professions educators as a means of facilitating student learning, training, and continuing education, but it is difficult to define in terms of its features and outcomes.

Objective:

The goal of this review was to conduct a systematic search of the literature on microlearning in health professions education to identify key concepts, characterize microlearning as an educational strategy, and evaluate pedagogical outcomes experienced by health professions students.

Methods:

A scoping review was performed in 2018 using the bibliographic databases PubMed (MEDLINE), CINAHL, Education Resources Information Center, Embase, PsycINFO, Education Full Text (H.W. Wilson), and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. A combination of keywords and subject headings related to microlearning, e-learning, or just-in-time learning combined with health professions education were used. No date limits were placed on the search, but inclusion was limited to materials published in English. Pedagogical outcomes were evaluated on the basis of the four-level Kirkpatrick’s model.

Results:

A total of 3,096 references were retrieved, of which 17 articles were selected after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Articles that met the criteria were published between 2011 and 2018, and their authors were from a range of countries including the United States, China, India, Australia, Canada, Iran, Netherlands, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom. The 17 studies reviewed included various health-related disciplines, such as medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, and allied health. While microlearning appeared in a variety of subject areas, different technologies, such as podcast, short messaging service, microblogging, and social networking service, were also used. Based on Buchem and Hamelmann’s 10 microlearning concepts, each study satisfied at least 40% of the characteristics while all studies featured concepts of maximum time spent less than 15 minutes as well as content aggregation. According to our assessment of each article using the Kirkpatrick's model, 16 (94%) assessed student reactions to the microlearning (level 1); 14 (82%) evaluated knowledge or skill acquisition (level 2); 5 (29%) measured the effect of the microlearning on student behavior (level 3), and no studies were found at the highest level.

Conclusions:

Microlearning as an educational strategy has demonstrated a positive effect on the knowledge and confidence of health professions students in performing procedures, retaining medication knowledge, studying, and engaging in collaborative learning. However, downsides to microlearning include pedagogical discomfort, technology inequalities, and privacy concerns. Future research should look at higher-level outcomes including benefits to patients or practice changes. The findings of this scoping review will inform education researchers, faculty, and academic administrators on the application of microlearning, pinpoint gaps in the literature, and help identify opportunities for instructional designers and subject matter experts to improve course content in didactic and clinical settings.