Bigger is seen to be better. In our personal lives we want bigger things. A bigger house, bigger boat, and a bigger pay packet. In business, we also want bigger things. Bigger group of customers or clients, bigger volume of sales, bigger profits, a bigger return on investment. But bigger is not better when it comes to learning. Bite-sized is better. Bite-sized learning (or microlearning) means we are focusing on less information, but getting better learning, better outcomes and better returns.
Microlearning is part of the solution.
Our world is changing. Technology is rapidly changing. We have greater access to information as we need it. How we are consuming information is changing. We have more interruptions/distractions affecting how much information we learn and retain. Learners can be easily overwhelmed by the volume of content pushed at them in training.
Microlearning allows for better learning. It allows us to provide the core information that is needed to fill the performance gap, to focus on the essential information needed to perform a task without the distraction of other less relevant (and often irrelevant) content. Learners will have greater retention, application and transfer of learning. This will result in better outcomes. It is also cheaper to develop, which with the better outcomes, will result in a better ROI.

Microlearning means we are focusing on less information, but getting better learning, better outcomes and better returns.
The benefits of microlearning
There are numerous benefits to implementing a microlearning strategy, including:
Reduces cognitive load
Brain based study has shown that “physiologically, your neurons are keen and alert for no more than 20 consecutive minutes. At the end of those 20 minutes, your neurons have gone from full-fledged alert to total collapse” (Abreena Tompkins). A microlearning approach means less content is delivered, eliminating the issue of cognitive overload.
Pulled not pushed
Microlearning allows for learners to pull the pieces of content they need. Not have content pushed at them. This provides greater opportunity for personalisation.
Focus on the core
The Pareto Principle or the 80/20 rule applies equally as well in learning. 20% of the learning provides 80% of the results. By stripping away the excess, we can focus on the core information that will be retained, applied and impact on business performance.
What is microlearning?
Microlearning incorporates small bite-sized learning. It is learning that is targeted to a specific learning objective, includes a focused learning activity and is part of a larger strategy.
An effective microlearning strategy will be made up of:
- Microcontent – small bites (up to 7 minutes in length) of easily consumed content.
- Microactivities – structured activities that allow the learner to apply the knowledge
- Micromedia – tools such as twitter, vine, yammer to allow social interaction

Microlearning is made up of microcontent, microactivities and micromedia.
Implementing microlearning
Microlearning is not a single learning event. It’s not simply compressing a full day workshop into 90 minutes, or converting an hour long online training piece into a 5 minute video. Microlearning is a strategy, a process for short bursts of easily consumed (and retained) content to be provided to learners.
It includes:
- Engage – take steps to prepare the learner and engage them in the content.
- Consume – where learners consume the content.
- Action – where a microlearning activity takes place.
“Not that the story need be long, but it will take a long while to make it short.” Henry David Thoreau, 1857.
Microlearning is an effective tool for greater retention, application and transfer of learning. But it’s not a simple quick fix. Building quality bite-sized content can take more time than traditonal elearning, but will have a greater impact.
The following seven step process can be applied to implementing a microlearning strategy:
- Evaluate
Determine what courses and content you want to convert to microlearning. Analyse the organisation’s needs and determine the behaviour that needs to be changed. - Prepare the learner
Prepare the learner for a different style of learning. Engage them and get them motivated. - Identify the application points
Determine the key pieces of content that learners will need to know and the key activities they will perform to meet the performance objectives - Identify the organics
These are the stories and other elements that give life to the content. The elements that give the content some context. - Identify the extras
This might be job aids or any otther extra information that learners could link to. - Trigger the action
Develop microactivities that relate to the context, that learners can apply the knowledge. - Evaluate
Evaluate the outcomes. Review, tweak and repeat.