What Is Microlearning?

By Emily Numa

Published Mar 31, 2023
Last Updated Jun 11, 2025
5 min read

A significant part of growing as a freelancer is committing to continuing professional development – the process of gaining and building on your professional skills. But if you’ve got a busy schedule full of work and other commitments, you’ll need to find an efficient study method.

Microlearning is a way of maximizing your time to get the most out of whatever you’re studying. But what exactly is microlearning? And how can you implement it into your study routine? Keep reading to find out more.

What Is Microlearning?

Microlearning is a bite-sized approach to learning new material. Complex topics are broken down into easy-to-digest units designed to enable people to quickly absorb material in a short amount of time.

The idea is that learners will better understand information if it’s presented in a concise way that holds their attention. For example, microlearning activities could consist of short:

Videos
Audio recordings (such as a speech or short podcast)
Pieces of written material
Games or challenges
Micro-assessments

Microlearning can be presented in a variety of formats, but the key is that whatever methods are used, the learning presented is short and easy to understand.

What Are the Benefits of Microlearning?

Microlearning is an innovative strategy that not only accommodates modern attention spans but also delivers impressive results. According to statistics from the learning platform Arist, microlearning improves learners’ focus and retention by up to 80%. Plus, it increases engagement and course completion by four times compared to traditional training methods.

There are many reasons why microlearning has become increasingly popular. Here are some of the ways microlearning can benefit you:

Cost-effectiveness: Modules are generally less expensive and faster to create compared to the formats used in traditional learning methods. These savings get passed on to you.
Retention of information: Breaking down complex topics into smaller lessons helps you better understand and remember information.
Engagement: Holding your attention for longer leads to increased engagement levels.
Flexibility: It doesn’t matter if you have a busy schedule; you are able to learn at your convenience, which is particularly beneficial if you are balancing work or family commitments.
Accessibility: Microlearning modules are generally mobile-friendly, allowing you to engage with content on the go and foster continuous learning.
Adaptability: Lessons can be delivered through various formats, such as videos, infographics, quizzes, and podcasts, catering to different learning styles and keeping you interested.
Higher completion: As mentioned above, microlearning courses have almost four times the completion rates of traditional courses.
Repetition of learning: It is easy and quick to revisit microlearning modules, so you are more likely to transfer the knowledge from short-term to long-term memory.
Productivity: For workplace training, microlearning has been shown to not only increase retention of information but also improve productivity and enhance work performance.

Is Microlearning Effective?

While microlearning is generally beneficial, it’s not ideal for all topics. For instance, if you’re studying a complex subject that requires a lot of careful examination, microlearning might not be the best fit. This learning style provides a great overview of high-level material, but it may not be the best approach for in-depth instruction.

In addition, for some topics, the best way to learn is through in-person training, which isn’t compatible with microlearning. It’s best suited for people who want to learn new material in a self-paced, interactive, flexible environment.

Examples of Microlearning

Microlearning takes many forms, each designed to meet different learning goals and preferences. This flexibility makes it an effective, engaging approach that can be tailored to any subject, learning style, or objective.

Below are 11 microlearning tools you may encounter in your ongoing education:

Short videos (usually under 7 minutes): Provide concise explanations or demonstrations. For example, CrashCourse on YouTube offers bite-sized lessons on history, science, literature, and more.
Audio clips: Ideal for auditory learners, especially for language practice or procedural instructions. For example, Duolingo Podcast uses short audio stories to help learners practice listening comprehension.
Micro podcasts: Short episodes focused on specific topics or skills. For example, Grammar Girl provides concise writing tips in short, focused episodes.
Flash cards: Digital or physical cards for quick memorization and self-assessment. For example, Flashcards World allows users to create or browse premade flash cards on languages and a variety of academic subjects.
Quizzes: Brief tests to gauge knowledge and reinforce learning. For example, Tofugu’s Learn Kana Quiz is designed to solidify the knowledge built via their workbooks and web pages.
Infographics: Visual aids that simplify complex information or data. For example, National Geographic Education provides infographics that teachers can use with their students.
Interactive walk-throughs: Guided, step-by-step instructions, often integrated into apps. For example, DataCamp provides data science and AI code-alongs, so learners can code-along with experts as they solve real-world problems.
Tooltips and pop-ups: Contextual hints or extra information displayed during lessons. For example, Codecademy uses an AI learning assistant to provide learners with instant, personalized feedback as they work.
Daily challenges or questions: Regular prompts to maintain engagement and learning momentum. For example, Brilliant offers daily problem-solving challenges in math, science, and computer science.
Spaced repetition systems: Scheduled reviews that strengthen memory retention over time. For example, SuperMemo uses an intelligent repetition system that determines the ideal moment for a learner to review a topic.
Games: A competitive element to motivate continuous learning. For example, BBC Bitesize has a range of educational games for primary (elementary) school students.

Microlearning with Knowadays Courses

If microlearning sounds like something you’d benefit from, consider a Knowadays course.

Our courses are divided into bite-sized lessons that use microlearning techniques like try-it-yourself exercises, how-to videos, and short quizzes. And with lifetime access, you can dip in and out as needed, returning to the material and reviewing what you’ve learned whenever suits you.

Join for free and see for yourself today!