Microlearning – Why Small Chunks Lead to Big Results

They say in the year 2000, the human attention span was 12 seconds. By 2015, our attention span had reduced to just 8.25 seconds. Calculating at this rate, we can only hope (and pray) the average human attention will not dwindle to 4 seconds by 2030.
Attentiveness is more complex than simple linear calculations. But what we can infer from observations at work is that people are most comfortable learning when it is in short capsules.
Perhaps this is why microlearning or bite sized learning seem to be more effective these days. Offering information in small, highly focused chunks is the ideal way to find quick answers to very specific problems.
It is fast. It is focused. It is flexible. And it is mobile friendly. What could be a more perfect solution to learning complicated things than to hack it down to bite-size bits.

Microlearning Examples

1. Short interactive live and online coaching where complex topics are broken into 5-10 minute video segments.
For K12 students :
• A-Z of Algebra – A live interactive coaching of the fundamentals
• Interactive SAT Revision – A onetime coaching with expert SAT coaches
For professionals :
• Time Management in a nut shell – A capsule of interactive coaching in one session
• Mastering Auto CAD – Intensive coaching from basic design to advanced

2. Video tutorials and how-tos :
iSpring Suite tutorials offers several 3-5 minute videos that explain how to create an e-book, how to automate compliance training, how to create an online course and other interesting skills.

A microlearning module is also the best method to showcase an organization’s simple step wise process for dealing with angry customers. These can be created in-house and is most relevant and easily recalled.

TEDEd is an excellent source of educational material from Philosophy to Psychology, Social studies to the Science of Falling in Love. It explains the hows and whys of the world in simple 5-7 minute video tutorials that are as engaging as informative.

Skillshare offers project-based short lessons of around 5 minutes that focus on practical skills like habit tracker to making use of ChatGPT for SEO and marketing.

Companies use interactive video tutorials to orient new hires on company policies, give them software training or offer a quick interactive office tour with a microlearning quiz at the end to test their understanding or how effectively they are able to recollect what they learnt.

Microlearning using a scenario-based activity, is also a great way to give the sales staff a feel for the customer service experience before they work directly with customers. Learners are led down a series of questions with multiple choice of answers to the questions with a feedback icon at every step that lets the learner know if they are on or off track.

3. Language learning through platforms like DuoLingo
DuoLingo uses microlearning very effectively to teach vocabulary and grammar to students learning languages. They are offered in bite-sized bits making it simple and fun to learn foreign languages. With fun and games lessons are easy to remember and retain.

What Microlearning is Not
Because of its targeted and focused approach, learners absorb, retain, and recall information better than longer format training does.
Microlearning is a stand-alone learning exercise which on its own delivers a complete learning experience. It is not, however, part of or carved out of a longer training module.

Microlearning is also not THE solution for all situations. Leadership development and soft skills training often require longer, more nuanced learning experiences with role-playing and extended group discussions that can’t be effectively condensed into micro-formats.
Professional certifications or compliance training that require comprehensive documentation and thorough understanding of regulations might also suffer if broken down too finely, as learners might miss crucial connections between different regulatory requirements.

The key isn’t just in making learning shorter—it’s in making it smarter, more targeted, and perfectly attuned to how our brains best process and retain new information in today’s fast-paced world.

As TEDEd, Skillshare, and other platforms have demonstrated, when learning is served in these focused, bite-sized portions, it transforms from a daunting task into an achievable, even enjoyable journey. Perfect for our current attention spans. ~