Turning Coffee Time into Teaching Moments Through Bite-Sized Learning for Adult Learners

Abstract

The increasing number of adult learners in higher education is a trend that has been observed in recent years. An impetus for this trend is the need for upskilling and re-skilling in order to stay relevant and employable in today’s world of globalised knowledge. However, finding uninterrupted blocks of time to study in adult learners’ busy schedules may be challenging because of their many other commitments and responsibilities. Bite-sized learning, through the utilisation of micro-learning activities that learners can access anytime and anywhere on their mobile devices, is one method of helping adult learners better manage their studies and learn more effectively. Before adult educators put in the resources to develop bite-sized learning activities, it is nonetheless important to ascertain that adult learners would indeed utilise such provisions. This article discusses the results of a study conducted to investigate the utilisation of bite-sized learning by adult learners enrolled in a part-time undergraduate degree programme. Specifically, the study examined whether adult learners utilised bite-sized learning activities during pockets of “down time” in their busy schedules, especially during the daytime, since adult learners tend to study at night after work or over the weekends. The results showed that adult learners were keen to learn from bite-sized learning activities during these pockets of down time. Implications of the results and directions for future investigation, including the aptness of bite-sized learning in today’s COVID-19 situation, are also discussed.

Keywords:

• Bite-sized learning
• adult learners
• micro-learning
• higher education

Acknowledgement

We would like to extend our appreciation to the Teaching & Learning Centre and the Psychology programme of Singapore University of Social Sciences for the support received in the development and implementation of this study.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Ministry of Education Singapore Tertiary Education Research Fund under Grant MOE2017-TRF-007.

Notes on contributors

Yan Yin Ho

Yan Yin Ho is a Senior Lecturer at the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS). She teaches a postgraduate course on engaging adults for learning. Besides an interest in adult learning and bite-sized learning, she is also interested in academic coaching to develop adult learners’ academic skills.

Eun-Young Yeo

Eun-Young Yeo is a Senior Lecturer at the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) and has been teaching Cognitive Psychology since 2003. Her research interest is in adult learning and educational technology, particularly in the areas of adaptive learning and bite-sized learning for working adults.

Dhaniah Suhana Binte Mohammad Wijaya

Dhaniah Suhana Binte Mohammad Wijaya is completing her postgraduate degree in Counselling Psychology at Adler University. She has had years of professional experience in various fields such as education and media. She also runs an interfaith organization that focuses on community building and social justice issues.