Have you ever noticed yourself forgetting something you’ve just learned recently? It happens to all of us. Research shows that we forget up to 80% of new information within 24-48 hours. This is the Forgetting Curve in action—one of the biggest reasons why, after finishing a lesson in an online course, so many students struggle to recall what they just learned.
Microlearning is like snack-sized learning for the brain. According to experts, short but focused learning sessions boost retention as well as completion rates. Even companies like Google and IBM have already jumped on the bandwagon because it works.
So how can you use microlearning to make your online course more effective? In this guide, we’ll explore 6 ways to implement microlearning, so you can help your students learn and apply their knowledge to real-life situations.
What is Microlearning?
Microlearning is a learning approach that delivers bite-sized, focused content designed for quick consumption and long-term retention. For example, instead of overwhelming students with a 60-minute lecture, you can break it into 5-minute micro lessons.
Platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts are perfect examples that short, engaging content grabs attention and enhances learning. They prove that we all love quick, high-impact bursts of information that are easy to remember. Just like these platforms deliver entertainment in seconds, microlearning delivers knowledge in an effective way that’s in sync with our natural learning pattern.
6 Effective Ways to Encourage Microlearning in Your Online Course
1. Turn Long Lectures into Bite-Sized Video Lessons
Nobody has the time (or patience) for hour-long video lectures anymore. Instead of overwhelming students with a 60-minute deep dive, break it into short, sharp 2-5 minute videos, each covering one key concept. This makes it easier to remember and apply.
For example, instead of a full module on Marketing Funnels, split it into five quick lessons: awareness, interest, decision, action, and optimisation. Simple, effective, and way easier to binge-watch!
2. Use Interactive Micro-Quizzes After Every Lesson
We learn best when we actively recall information. That’s why short, 3-5 question quizzes after each lesson work wonders. These mini-tests reinforce key takeaways and help learners retain what they’ve just learned.
How to Create an Effective Flash Quiz:
1️⃣ Keep it short – Just 3-5 questions per lesson.
2️⃣ Make it engaging – Use scenarios, case studies, or real-world examples.
3️⃣ Give instant feedback – Immediately tell learners what they got right (or wrong).
💡 Why It Works: Flash quizzes boost memory retention by making learners think critically about what they just learned. It’s like a quick mental workout; keeping knowledge fresh and accessible!
3. Implement Daily or Weekly Micro Challenges
Learning isn’t just about absorbing information, it’s about putting it into action. That’s why bite-sized daily or weekly challenges keep learners engaged and progressing.
For example, in a writing course, you could introduce a “5-minute daily writing prompt” to encourage consistent practice. This structured approach builds habits, strengthens skills, and helps students apply what they’re learning in real life.
4. Encourage Social Learning with Micro-Discussions
We learn best when we share ideas and findings. Introducing micro-discussions in your online course is a perfect venue for learners to reflect on what they’ve learned and engage with others. This could be as simple as asking a quick question after each lesson, such as, “What’s one thing you can apply from today’s lesson?”
How to Implement:
- Create a dedicated discussion thread for each lesson or topic.
- Ask thought-provoking questions that encourage brief, insightful responses.
- Allow learners to comment on and discuss each other’s answers.
💡 Why It Works: Social learning builds a sense of community and helps reinforce the material as learners actively apply it to real-life scenarios.
5. Leverage Podcasts and Audio Lessons
Not everyone learns best by watching videos or reading text. Podcasts and audio lessons are a great way to mix things up and allow learners to absorb content on the go. With short, bite-sized audio lessons, you can create an additional learning format that learners can engage with during their commute, workout, or while doing chores.
How to Implement:
- Create short 5-10 minute podcasts or audio clips summarising key concepts.
- Offer these audio lessons as downloadable content or by creating an audio content library inside Wisdome.
- Encourage learners to listen to audio lessons daily, making learning portable and flexible.
💡 Why It Works: Audio content provides a multimodal learning experience. It helps learners stay engaged and learn whenever they want.
6. Create Visual Micro-Learning Infographics
Visual learning is powerful. People remember visual information up to 60,000 times faster than text. Incorporating infographics in your course can help learners digest complex information quickly. A well-designed infographic can distill key points from a lesson into an easy-to-follow visual format.
How to Implement:
- Use infographics to simplify and summarise major concepts or processes.
- Create colourful, attention-grabbing visuals that highlight important steps.
- Share these visuals as downloadable resources or include them as part of lessons.
💡 Why It Works: Infographics boost retention by breaking down complicated ideas into digestible, visual chunks, making them perfect for quick recall and application.
Conclusion:
Microlearning is an essential strategy for online learning. Short, focused lessons keep students engaged, boost retention, and help them apply skills faster. The best part? It’s easy to implement. Swap long lectures for bite-sized videos, add quick interactive quizzes, and give learners small wins every day.
As a course creator, you can build your course inside Wisdome, upload bite-sized lessons, and automate lesson delivery through drip-feeding. Learn more about Wisdome and how you can launch your online course with ease.
So, avoid overwhelming your students and start embracing quick, actionable, and effective learning experiences. Because when learning is easy, fun, and rewarding, you help your students learn better and achieve real results.
