Work, household chores, family, friends, exercise, meditation – life’s myriad demands, even the pleasant ones, often make the prospect of fitting in space to learn something new feel daunting. And even for those who do manage to find time, being able to focus for long enough for it to be rewarding can be tough.
If you fit into the latter camp, the chances are you’re not alone. Some evidence, notably by Gloria Mark, psychologist, author and chancellor’s professor of informatics at the University of California, Irvine in the US, suggests that the past 20 years have seen a decrease in people’s attention span, at least in relation to how long they spend on tasks and screens at work. Paul Kelley and Terry Whatson’s 2013 study into making long-term memories, meanwhile, found that many people find it difficult to fully concentrate on a subject for more than 20 minutes at a time.
Brief and clear
Luckily, there’s another way. Cue microlearning, which typically involves taking on information or tasks in brief, clear and simple lessons that last between one and 15 minutes. It’s also designed to capture and hold the learner’s attention by focusing on a specific topic via varied media, including infographics, audio and video. Everyday examples of microlearning in action could include an infographic showing step-by-step instructions for administering first aid, a five-minute video tutorial on how to change a car tyre or an audio clip in which the days of the week are recited in French and the listener is encouraged to répétez. They all have one thing in common – brevity.
The practice has long been employed in the workplace to break down detailed or complex information into manageable bites that are easier to deliver, digest and remember. Its brevity also makes it flexible and scalable, as staff can incrementally develop skills and build competency. Many employers, for example, use it to take new staff through company procedures or health and safety regulations, or to keep experienced colleagues up to date with product reviews, tech upgrades or changes to compliance rules.
You don’t have to be a paid worker, though, to be using – or benefitting – from microlearning. From honing the ‘G’ chord on a guitar to perfecting your knit one, purl one for a jumper, all manner of skills can be learned and practised in bite-sized chunks.
Chris Griffiths, co-author of The Focus Fix: Finding Clarity, Creativity and Resilience in an Overwhelming World, is one of its many advocates. ‘For individuals juggling multiple responsibilities, microlearning offers a practical path to personal development,’ he says. ‘It transforms spare moments into opportunities for growth, whether it’s listening to a podcast while cooking, or practising a new skill during a lunch break. This bite-sized approach reduces the overwhelm often associated with learning, making it easier to stay consistent and motivated.’
Retain and recall
Microlearning also appears to boost memory retention, which can only be good news to those who dread all-day workshops and lengthy lectures. In fact, it seems that, for some, the shorter the delivery method, the more likely it is the knowledge will be retained. In the late 19th century, German psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus was a pioneer in the development of methods for rote learning and memory. His findings included the forgetting-curve hypothesis, which, among other things, revealed that the biggest drop in retention happens soon after learning and that information will also be lost without a concerted effort to relearn it soon after the initial lesson.
Arguably, smaller, manageable units of information are easier to comprehend and, if relearned or repeated quickly, more likely to be recalled. Ebbinghaus himself described the benefits of taking a break and revisiting content as ‘spaced repetition’, which is thought to help the brain consolidate and retain information through a process of review and repetition. Micro-sized lessons, by their very brevity, can be reviewed as many times as needed for the information to stick.
Chris, who’s also chief executive of Wales-based OpenGenius, which creates bespoke training courses, believes that the micro-learning model is an organic and natural way to learn: ‘In my many years of research on creativity, memory and focus, I’ve seen how brief, focused learning sessions can spark innovation and enhance mental clarity. When we engage in short bursts of learning, we’re mimicking the brain’s natural rhythm of focus and rest. This “ultradian rhythm” cycles roughly every 90 minutes, suggesting that our minds benefit from regular breaks. Microlearning aligns beautifully with this rhythm. By dedicating 10 to 15 minutes to learn something new, followed by a short break (and hopefully some daydreaming), we’re giving our brains the variety and rest they crave.’
Structure and purpose
Microlearning is particularly effective with carefully structured, topic-specific lessons delivered in a clear, concise and dynamic way. The learning unit needs to have enough substance, depth and context, especially if it involves conveying complex facts. This requires skilful planning, but in the right environment, the results can be impressive. Audrey Tang, chartered psychologist, performance coach and founder of performing arts charity The CLICK Arts Foundation, says: ‘When learning is broken down into bite-sized chunks, knowledge is gained within a short period, which is ideal within a fast-paced or demanding lifestyle. A dance fitness class, for example, which teaches a routine in one session, enables the dopamine hit of achievement, as well as a sense of completion.’
Although a specific technique, skill or routine can be picked up quickly in a brief lesson, the content is usually clipped and broken down into ‘need to know’ or ‘headline’ format. As such, Audrey cautions that microlearning doesn’t make you qualified or an expert. A longer discourse is often required to understand the bigger picture, which takes time and ongoing experience: ‘While it’s possible to learn breadth, depth is not often an option without extra study. Returning to the example of the dance class – the routine is learned, but it’s not polished. The solution is to build in extra rehearsal, practice and exploratory development time, or set optional extension tasks for development outside the microlearning space.’ That said, Audrey believes microlearning is especially useful for topping up skills: ‘It’s great for those wanting to extend their knowledge on a niche or new aspect of a chosen field [and] can be a convenient way of adding to continued professional development.’
Embrace and escape
In the appropriate circumstances, learning a little at a time is often an effective way of gaining knowledge, skills and experience, whether it’s for work, leisure or everyday life. The key is to plan those important few minutes – be they 10 or 15 – into your day and to view them as a way to nurture your inner life. As Chris says: ‘By embracing microlearning, we’re not just acquiring knowledge – we’re nurturing our creativity, sharpening our focus and carving out precious moments for ourselves. In a world that often demands too much, these small learning adventures can be our daily escape, leading to profound personal growth and a more balanced life.’
To find out more about Chris’s work, visit chrisgriffiths.com, and to learn more about Audrey, go to draudreyt.com
Find your way
Microlearning takes different forms, with teachers often tailoring methods to students’ needs. Here are some popular examples to consider using
Video
From YouTube to TikTok, video is a perfect medium to convey information, whether it’s how to sew a hem, plant a tree or put up a shelf. It’s particularly suitable for subjects where a visual element is a helpful part of the learning process.
Infographics
Even before the internet, infographics were widely used to convey information. Often combining text and images, they’re generally concise and clear, communicating details in a way that’s easy to understand and remember. They’re helpful when sharing key facts or step-by-step instructions.
Audio
Short audio lessons are great for practising language skills, learning music or getting to grips with complex terminology.
Text
Brief text-based lessons, which take only a few minutes to read and digest, are great for relaying information as bullet points, lists, quizzes, tips or action-led prompts. These nuggets are often optimised for mobile devices, so learners can access the content whenever they have a free moment.
Role-playing
They’re not everyone’s favourite medium, but engaging in short, interactive games, where you get to step into various scenarios, can be useful and effective. Whether you’re playing a manager delivering unwelcome news to a team member, a sales executive setting new quarterly targets, or an online customer communicating a service complaint via a chatbot, they’re an effective means of learning how to match conversation styles to different situations.