Microlearning allows kids and young adults to learn bite-sized chunks of information at a time. The idea is for new information to be simple, meaningful, and concise. In turn, microlearning techniques can strengthen understanding of the topics and improve long-term retention.
Whether you are an educator, a parent, or a student, the idea of microlearning just makes sense. We learn best when we are introduced to small pieces of information and build that knowledge over time.
But microlearning isn’t just a common sense strategy; it’s an evidence-based approach for instruction. According to Marzano (2017), students can only hold so much information in their brains at once, making it best to provide small chunks of content to learners at a time.
At the same time, executive functioning skills are imperative skills for success. As educators, we know that time is short in the classroom, which is another reason that microlearning can be a solution to integrating these skills in a way that makes sense for today’s classroom. Using microlearning to teach executive functioning skills can be the bridge that helps learners build their abilities to plan, organize, manage their time, and meet individual goals.
Below you will find seven microlearning strategies you can apply to teach and strengthen executive functioning skills for teens and young adults.
Word of the Day
Introducing a new executive functioning word of the day keeps learning focused, simple and streamlined. Post and read the word of the day, discussing what it means and why it is important. After a quick discussion, you can keep the word visible for the remainder of the day, allowing learners to think about times they’re using that skill throughout the day.
For example, if the word of the day is “self-directed,” encourage students to think about times they are being self-directed, such as getting materials for an activity entirely on their own.
Some words to start off with include planning, prioritizing, self-directed, organized, focus, and perseverance.
If you love this strategy, I’ve developed a set of executive functioning words and phrases for the whole year that you can use in your classroom right away.
Strategy Share
A strategy share is a time when learners explain to others how they have worked through a problem. Ultimately, this allows students to learn from one another and consider different ways of working through a challenge that they might not have considered.
One of the best parts about strategy shares is that they can be seamlessly integrated into any content area.
In math, you might partner students up to share the steps on how they’ve worked through a multi-step problem. In science, you might ask a volunteer to explain where they found the evidence for a lab question.
Question of the Day
Build skills by discussing one targeted executive functioning question of the day. You can opt to choose questions in order (starting with planning), or choose the areas that your students are most struggling with at the moment (such as attention or managing time well).
A few different ways to use a question of the day include:
- Write or post a question of the day on the board for students to discuss with a partner as a “do now.”
- Use as a journal writing activity.
- Hold a short conversation for the first 3-5 minutes of class.
- Hold a short conversation for the last few minutes of class.
- Discuss the question in between tasks as a brain break.
Come up with your own questions of the day or grab this full executive functioning set of task cards and discussion starters.
Consider the Quote
Quotes are a simple way to integrate skills from planning to perseverance. These can be posted each morning as a “do now” for students to discuss with a partner or write in a journal before a deeper group discussion. Some quotes to start with include:
- “Every failure is a new opportunity to get back up and try again in a new way.” (flexibility, perseverance)
- “People don’t climb mountains because it’s easy; they climb because they want to see the view at the top.” (perseverance, goal setting).
- “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” (planning, goal setting)
Once learners have some practice with this, they can even share their own quotes.
Focus of the Week
Begin your week focused on one executive functioning skill at a time. On Monday, discuss the skill and use some targeted questions. Throughout the week, continue focusing on that skill by highlight it when you see it in action. An example of this might be planning when writing in a homework log and planning to write an essay. To get started, use this free list of brain-boosting questions to target 10 different executive functioning skills.
End of the Day Reflection
At the end of the day, build executive functioning skills by reflecting on what skills you have used. Learners can reflect orally as part of a group discussion or in writing with quick exit tickets. Some reflection questions to help target executive functioning skills include:
- Which executive functioning skills did you use today?
- How did you use planning skills today?
- How did you manage your time well today?
- What strategies did you use to build your focus and attention?
- What challenges did you persevere through today?
- How did you stay organized today?
- What new concepts or strategies did you learn today?
Real-World Examples
Use real-world examples of executive functioning skills in action, asking students to consider what they would do in that situation.
Example: You have an essay due tomorrow, but a friend texts you asking you to go see a movie with them. What do you do?
This scenario involves students to use skills like planning, self-control, problem-solving.
One of the best parts of group discussions with problem-solving scenarios is that students often learn best from other students. Group conversations provide students with many opportunities to grow their skills just by listening to how their peers would work through a situation.
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