We all know that the attention spans of both young individuals and adults are decreasing....

As the volume of learning content continues to rise, our ability to focus diminishes.

However, micro-learning presents a refreshing approach to knowledge acquisition...

And in this episode, we explore how this innovative approach is revolutionizing training and learning,with our special guest, tech start-up rockstar Chris Sterbenc, who has three decades of epic entrepreneurial adventures under his belt; we'll delve into the captivating world of micro-learning.

How Ole Miss Used Microlearning to Go from WORST to BEST Defense in the Country

Chris’ company, Learn to Win, had the opportunity to deploy their micro-learning technology on a crazy experiment: Could micro-learning help a college football team improve their defense strategies?

Ole Miss shifted from traditional methods to using Learn to Win to break down lessons into one to three-minute chunks.

“Rrepetition is a big key piece to this. And also training on one concept at a time,so, you don't train players on four things at once. You break it down into four pieces and you train them in one concept at a time. And people just generally have much better comprehension and retention if you build the training program to be structured that way.” -- Chris Sterbenc

As a result, not only did the players find it more enjoyable, but the comprehension and retention of the material skyrocketed.

The ultimate result? They went from being one of the worst defenses to becoming the top defense in the country.

Chris shared that the key to effective training lies in meeting people where they are comfortable and delivering content in a format that they prefer.

“There's no getting around it. That's the style of interaction that the folks have now. If you try to force them into a format that they're not comfortable with, it's not going to be very effective or they're not going to like it. “--- Chris Sterbenc

Flipped Learning

Flipped learning is an alternative approach that can be utilized alongside micro-learning.

Chris explained that this method flips the traditional order of presenting information, resembling a game of jeopardy.

“In traditional classrooms there's another variant. Which you can take advantage of with micro learning, which is flipped learning, where you present the problem before you explain how afterwards. And you get people's brains engaged and how they might solve the problem before you teach them the backstory behind it.” --- Chris Sterbenc

In flipped learning, the problem or question is presented first, engaging learners' minds in thinking about how they would solve it.

Chris’ Thoughts on the Education System: Active Learning Classrooms

In the realm of education, exciting experimentation is taking place both in universities and high schools.

From active learning classrooms to collaborative sessions, the focus is on hands-on experiences that defy passivity.

As Chris mentioned, “There is now a lot of experimentation going on in higher education, at university level, and you're seeing a little bit of it in the high school level with active learning classrooms... there's hands-on experimenting going on. There are collaboration sessions. It's not passive.”

This shift signifies a powerful transformation, where students are actively engaged in their learning journey, paving the way for dynamic and impactful educational experiences.

Chris’ College Degree

Chris’ journey was far from ordinary.

He discovered his interests and preferences by immersing himself in a business environment and observing daily operations.

“All the skills that I got during that period were not in college... But internship is I think, the answer to that question at the end of the day. Because you can immerse in a business and see what the people's day-to-day jobs are like, what they do, what they do, and don't like.”—Chris Sterbenc

As a dad of two, he emphasizes to them the importance of gaining practical skills and experiences beyond the degree.

“I told them is even whatever degree you pick, pick something that you like because I want you to enjoy it. Engage in and master something, whether it's necessarily going to be your job path, because you may get out and discover.” —Chris Sterbenc

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Listen to the whole podcast to join the conversation.

Meet Chris Sterbenc

Chris Sterbenc is a 30-year serial tech start-up guy! He grew up in Chicago but has been in and around Silicon Valley for most of his career. Having hired more than 400 sales reps over the course of his career, Chris is fascinated by the changes he sees in each new wave of young talent entering the workforce. Seeing the evolution of the way they learn, how they work and what they want from their careers has been an amazing journey!

Chris shared his enthusiasm for Climb Hire, a San Francisco-based business partner specializing in advanced skills training, founded by Nitzan Pelman. Their program, focused on Salesforce CRM Administration, stands out because students are not charged upfront. Instead, they repay a percentage of their first-year income once employed, funding the next cohort. This innovative model has graduated hundreds of non-degree holders into high-paying jobs, boasting an impressive 80% graduation rate and around 75% of certificate holders securing significantly higher incomes. Climb Hire’s microlearning approach has truly transformed careers, making a remarkable impact. Stay tuned for Nitzan’s episode on The Native Digital + Native Analog show, coming this fall!

Mentioned and Links:

Chris Sterbenc | LinkedIn

Chris Sterbenc (@disterbenc) on Instagram

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