The 4 Primary Tools Humans Use to Package Information

Humans are tribal, survival has meant sharing our Talents with each other.  We learn from others… AND we learn BY TEACHING others .. over thousands of years we developed four primary tools to package information as micro learning, summarizing  learning that can be shared simply with each other.  BY 6300 BC people were creating Visual MAPS to share info about the world;  they learned through Stories since at least 2700 BC, were writing out Recipes in 1700 BC… by the 1950’s Bullet Points were being used as tools of micro-learning, in the 1980’s researchers documented that retention of data presented with bullet points was 50% and without bullet points was 10%…  engagement and learning increased 5 TIMES with the use of micro learning.  Survival depends on sharing made simple…  our brain uses 25% of our body’s energy  … our ability to make fast decisions is what’s kept us alive. the brain likes decisions that are SIMPLE.  Thinking exacts a cost. But Simple is NOT Easy to Build it takes time and effort…  BECAUSE Someone’s brain has to do the work… 

People LOVE Shortcuts that Signal that SOMEBODY ELSE HAS DONE THE WORK.  Pascal wrote in 1657 : “I would have written a shorter letter, but I did not have the time.” This reflects both the value and the challenge of making something simple. To build micro learning start with the question: What works? Summarize those things. Sequence and Simplify them. Make it easier for others to apply them using  Visual Models, Metaphors, Step by Step Methods and yes Checklists.  Research suggests the ideal length for an info video to be 2.7 minutes…  for data retention the Magic number is 5 plus or minus 2… meaning that 3 Bullet Points are better than 5, but 8 is no bueno  Scientists clock attention span between 6 seconds and 6 hours depending on how useful and fun the audience finds the thing to be

Micro learning allows us to Give Information as a mentor would: useful and easy. AND there is a reciprocal benefit to mentorship– … we learn from others… and BY TEACHING others.  Take this tip and REMIND yourself … somebody’s brain has to do the work.  Be the Solution: GIVE INFORMATION as micro learning.