Finding the Power in Mini: Rethinking Library Tutorials with Microlearning

Abstract

We have all been there where we create tutorials in a variety of formats (e.g., videos,
LibWizard Tutorials, embedded tutorials) and students simply do not engage with
them. This is where the University of Wyoming (UW) Libraries was in spring 2024, asking
ourselves how we could better engage and support students with our tutorials and
guides. While attending an Open Educational Resources Conference in Cork, Ireland, we
learned about microlearning—the idea of bite-sized tutorials rather than typical tutorials
or short courses. When we turned to the library literature for guidance, we found very
little information about microlearning courses. We have all heard the statistics of videos
eight to ten minutes or less —and one Microsoft study even claims humans pay attention
for only eight seconds.