Our world is rapidly changing; technology is advancing at exponential rates; time has become increasingly scheduled and the expansion of social media has led to shorter attention spans and the constant overload of information. Educational models need to be developed to prepare students to succeed within this increasingly demanding world. In the school classroom, students are given dense bodies of text to read in silence or they will listen to hour long lectures from their teachers. In this style of teaching, distractions and lack of focus are inevitable consequences. What we need then, is a style of learning that fits into busy schedules, explains concepts concisely and keeps students focused on the task at hand. Welcome to the concept of bite-sized learning.

What is bite-sized learning?

Bite-sized learning is where learning modules are divided into shorter, well-planned segments of 15-30 minutes that make it easier for comprehension. Over the past ten years, a number of studies have revealed that students find it easier to retain and understand information if it is taught in smaller, condensed chunks. Bite-sized learning is basically the theory that education should be structured and facilitated in a way that increases concentration and memorisation. Say, for instance a topic covered three pages of the textbook. In the traditional style of learning taught in schools, these pages would be delivered in a 1-hour class and it would be hoped that the students would retain as much of that information as possible. The students overwhelmed by the dense material would in reality only retain a small proportion of that information, the rest being forgotten. Conversely, in the bite-sized learning model, these textbook pages would be divided into smaller, laser-focused sections that would be delivered over shorter classes of only 15 minutes. By delivering more relevant and concise content, bite-sized learning motivates the student to absorb knowledge more efficiently without being over-burdened by dense amounts of information. Bite-sized learning allows time for interactive activities to consolidate understanding and moves information into the learner’s long-term memory.

What are the benefits of bite-sized learning?

• Improves memorisation and understanding: We live in a world of surplus information and distractions. Bite-sized learning divides content into sub-topics and it makes it easier for the student to digest information. Refreshing knowledge also helps students to consolidate their understanding and gamified activities interspaced throughout each lesson encourages engagement and practice.

• Increases concentration and focus: The short time-span of each lesson gives students the incentive to remain focused throughout the class without becoming mentally burnt-out.

• Encourages precision: The short lesson times mean that each activity has a time-limit. These time-limits ensure that students write concise, to-the-point and well-focused answers that directly respond to the question at hand. This develops time-management skills that are essential for school examinations and future careers.

• Makes learning more interesting and engaging: The bite-sized learning model treats every second of the class as valuable learning time. Therefore, the content needs to be delivered in a way that is succinct, memorable and entertaining. Each instrucko lesson, for instance, involves a diverse range of content all designed to increase student engagement, this includes: starter activities, games, videos, questions, quizzes, creative tasks and gamified simulations.

While bite-sized learning has become a popular model for university courses and higher education structures, the concept is still relatively inaccessible for younger age-groups. At instrucko, we believe that the skills developed in bite-sized learning should be established from a young age to prepare students for future careers and academia. We seek, therefore, to provide bite-sized learning to our students across all our courses. Our classes are specifically designed to maximise learning, engagement and focus.

So, how does instrucko do bite-sized learning?

For each lesson, we have three-central aims:

- To have clear, focused learning goals

- To break down content into digestible, smaller units

- To keep the lesson short and concise

The 30–45-minute class time provides ample time for explaining concepts, answering questions, completing worksheets and consolidating understanding. Teaching and thinking go side-by-side in instrucko courses. Each of our lessons expertly balances reading, writing and problem solving alongside interactive and inquiry-based activities that gives students the freedom to practice the skills that they have just learnt. Our learning goals are achieved through mini-class activities and regular testing that ensures that gaps in understanding are immediately addressed. The benefits of bite-sized learning for the student are considerable, it is only right therefore, that students are given opportunity to engage in this style of learning which is sure to be the future of education.