Agenda- and Activity-Based Triggers for Microlearning

Abstract

The ubiquity of mobile devices has fueled the popularity of microlearning, namely informal self-directed learning during brief personal downtime. However, learner engagement is challenging to maintain, and microlearning habits are hard to establish. Scheduled reminders are ineffective as they do not match the users' variable schedules and their intention or capacity to engage. In this paper, we propose a schedule-based and an activity-based trigger for microlearning. The first trigger is sensitive to the learners' agenda and device status and includes a snooze mechanism. A four-week study (n=10) showed slightly lower response times when compared to triggers scheduled at a fixed time but did not improve learner engagement. The second trigger initiates audio-based microlearning when plugging in headphones. Thus, we minimize the access to personal data and capture a moment where learners engage with their device for a listening activity. In an exploratory user study (n=10), the plugin trigger achieved high compliance rates and was less likely to induce annoyance in users than lock screen notifications. We conclude that intelligent reminders with simple interaction options can contribute to learner engagement.