What is Microlearning Anyway?

So, go on, what do we mean when we talk about ‘bite-sized’ courses, or Microlearning?? Well, it’s a really useful, and effective solution for many of your training needs. Hours-long, bland courses just don’t cut it. Particularly when you’ve forgotten what you’ve learned by the time you’ve finished. Smaller bursts of learning simply work better, in many instances. 

In this blog, you’ll find out exactly what Microlearning is, why it’s so popular and how companies use it. When I applied for my position here at iAM, I wasn’t quite sure that this Bite-Size stuff even existed for adults. Of course, now I'm a bit of an expert, so, I’m going to answer some of the questions I had when I first began.

What is Microlearning?

An easy one to start, eh? It’s learning that is delivered in small chunks. You know, 5–15-minute courses, ideally. Brilliant for planning ‘many and often’ training sessions around your regular workflow. Like those TED talks you see all across LinkedIn, Microlearning courses are concise. The only waffling going on here is in the oven with some fish fingers.

What does Microlearning look like in the day-to-day?

Quite simply, it’s bloody useful. You might be thinking ‘Well, if it’s short, it won’t have all the facts in’. Uh-uh. As stated, it’s concise. You, as a learner, only have to absorb a little at a time. We’ve found that courses under 15 minutes work best. 

Humans forget up to 50% of new information within a day of learning it. That rises to 90% within 7 days. This is massively improved if the training is engaging - people remember how they felt when they learned the information, which leads to better retention. 

We always say to our writers ‘Let the learning guide the length’. What we mean is, if, after research is done, the script is still too big, or there’s just way too much to adequately cover in a quick course, we may take the decision to split it into more manageable chunks. See our GDPR collection for an example of that. Whew, it was a BEAST. 

Why is Microlearning so popular?

Cos it’s got tonnes of benefits. Smaller courses mean increased engagement and knowledge retention. Nice and easy to digest and absorb, right? You aren’t falling asleep at such a short course (especially with our fun storytelling style). Also, it makes your learning more accessible – you can take it on your own terms. On a break? Commuting? Microlearning is flexible, so if you have a role that is incompatible with formal learning, you can STILL upskill. It also allows you to take targeted and personalised content. You can learn the skills you want when you want them.

How are companies using Microlearning?

Same as us, I guess. We use Microlearning to keep everyone engaged, primarily. But it also allows us to create personalised learning paths tailored to people's specific goals and training needs. A sprinkle of sales, a dusting of soft skills, a pinch of marketing, etc. Fast-paced sectors, such as retail, hospitality and manufacturing, for example, simply don’t have time for hours-long training. Microlearning reduces the time they are taken off the shop/factory floor but still allows them to continually learn. The short-form nature of microlearning allows us to use gamification techniques to make that learning experience more fun. Points, badges, quizzes, you know the drill. It motivates people to continue their engagement.

What are 5 Microlearning examples? 

1. Short videos that explain problems and solutions. This is our bag.

2. Quizzes and flashcards – these help reinforce memory, just like when we were kids.

3. Scenario-based learning or case studies help learners make decisions or problem-solve, great for critical thinking.

4. Infographics and visual summaries – They make complicated things easier to understand. Very useful for explaining processes and stats.

5. Mini Simulations – putting learners in the place of someone with a problem that needs solving. ‘You’re in the environment, this is going on, what do you do’ sorta thing.

So, yeah. That’s microlearning. We’re pretty confident that once you’ve tried it, you’ll never go back to more traditional learning. Why would you? You don’t have time to sit through hours of training at once, do ya? Let us take care of your upskilling. We know it inside-out!

Save time and start getting engaged with bite-size content today.

If you're keen to know more about microlearning, why not check out our bitesized eLearning content, covering everything from leadership and people management to health & safety and compliance! Get in touch with us today or sign up for a FREE 7 day trial to try iAM Learning for yourself.

Dani Maguire, Marketing Copywriter