Microlearning trends: 10 tips for your training business

Recently updated on September 27th, 2024

Since the pandemic, we’ve witnessed rapid changes in learners’ preferences. When COVID-19 struck in 2020, the training industry quickly shifted to remote platforms—Zoom webinars and self-paced courses became the norm. Initially, online, self-paced learning seemed like the ideal solution amidst the evolving training landscape, prompting a surge in new learning tech companies (e.g., Go1, Thinkific).

By 2021, with the world largely still under lockdown, online training remained predominant. However, completion rates for self-paced, online courses began to plummet. The decline was so significant that learners and trainers started to move away from these platforms. Consequently, Thinkific reported a $26.4 million US dollar net loss and laid off 20% of its staff.

2022 came along, and the world started to return to normal. With people once again craving face-to-face contact, approaches to training changed once again, this time to a blended learning approach using a variety of delivery formats, including face-to-face, live online webinars, quizzes, videos, podcasts, and surveys.

But with this new delivery method came new challenges in keeping learners engaged. Training providers adapted by creating shorter sessions over a longer period of time, sometimes complementing them with eLearning modules. It quickly became clear that shorter, more engaging sessions were here to stay, and they were an effective way for people to learn.

This approach of producing shorter, more engaging training and education is known as microlearning, and if you begin to dive into the data it’s clear that it’s proven to be a popular training methodology that’s here to stay. 

According to RTPS research, microlearning improves focus and supports long-term retention by up to 80%. And a 2018 study by L.C Emerson and Zane L. Berge from the University of Maryland found that microlearning improves training engagement by 50% while enhancing knowledge retention by more than 20%,

With these impressive statistics in mind, we’ve compiled ten tips that you can use as inspiration for introducing microlearning into your training courses.

10 microlearning tips and trends for your training business

1. Keep tabs on the opportunity that AI-powered learning curation 

Training providers can use AI to design microlearning modules tailored to learners’ styles and learning outcomes. AI may not completely be able to flesh out a microlearning module, but it can definitely provide an outline and a potential structure.

For example, if I prompt Chat-GPT with the following prompt:

“Develop a concise, interactive microlearning module aimed at teaching employees the essential skills to perform CPR and use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) during workplace emergencies. Ensure the module is practical, engaging, and includes real-life scenarios to simulate the stress and quick decision-making required in actual emergencies. Focus on the sequence of actions to be taken, correct technique, and safety precautions.”

We get the following output:

Module Overview

Title: Emergency Response Training: CPR and AED Use

Learning Objectives

• Understand the fundamentals of CPR and AED.
• Apply CPR techniques correctly in simulated scenarios.
• Operate an AED with confidence during emergencies.

Module Structure

1. Introduction to CPR and AED
   • Brief video introduction explaining the importance of CPR and AED skills.
   • Interactive diagram of the human cardiovascular system.
2. CPR Training
   • Step-by-step video demonstration of CPR technique.
   • Interactive practice session with virtual feedback on hand placement and compression rhythm.
3. AED Operation
   • Animated guide on the parts of an AED and its setup.
   • Simulation game: Properly setting up and applying an AED on a virtual patient.
4. Scenario-Based Simulations
   • Interactive scenarios that emulate real-life emergencies, where learners must decide when to perform CPR and deploy the AED.
   • Feedback and tips are provided after each decision point.
5. Safety Precautions and Legal Considerations
   • Checklist of safety measures to ensure personal and victim safety.
   • Overview of legal protections for responders (Good Samaritan laws).
6. Assessment and Certification
   • Quiz to assess understanding of CPR and AED procedures.
   • Certificate awarded upon successful completion.

Engagement Strategies

• Real-Time Feedback: Immediate corrections during CPR and AED simulations.
• Gamification: Points and badges for correct actions and quick decision-making.
• Peer Learning: Option to view peer responses and learn through discussion.

Platform Specifications

• Accessibility: Ensure the module is accessible on multiple devices, including smartphones and tablets.
• Support Materials: Downloadable quick-reference guides for emergency procedures.

Within 30 seconds we’ve got a workable outline for a potential microlearning session. Of course, you can then iterate upon this skeleton for further refinement. But the example goes to show what is possible when you can use AI strategically in the planning and development of your microlearning sessions.

2. Take steps to ensure all of your training is accessible

With various pieces of legislation coming into place around accessibility in general such as the European Accessibility Act 2025 (which begins coming into force June 2025), it’s important that any training provider starts thinking about making all of their training, including any microlearning modules accessible for all. 

You can start do this by:

• Audit your microlearning content to ensure it meets accessibility standards. Check for visual, auditory, and navigational accessibility in all elements, from video and audio to quizzes and interactive simulations.

• Use inclusive design principles in the creation of microlearning content to address the needs of learners with diverse abilities from the beginning. This includes providing text descriptions for images and ensuring color contrast supports visibility for those with visual impairments.

• Diversify the formats in which microlearning content is offered. Include text, audio, and video options, and make sure all media is accompanied by alternative text formats like captions and transcripts.

You can read our article Make your training website more accessible: 10 essential tips for some more ideas.

3. Keep an eye on adaptive learning technologies and how you can implement them

Adaptive learning technologies refer to technologies that use AI to customize content based on the learner’s pace and performance. The idea is that AI analysis and customization can help ensure that training sessions are tailored to individual needs.

There are dedicated adaptive learning platforms available on the market, while existing tech providers, such as LMS providers, have started to integrate adaptive learning capabilities into their platforms.

Some tips you can consider around this trend include:

• Start experimenting with the AI capabilities of platforms that offer adaptive learning to assist with the design of your microlearning modules.
  
• Begin analyzing learner data to improve learning paths for your students.

4. Use gamification to improve training and business metrics

Putting game-like elements into your microlearning can increase engagement, motivation, and retention. There are companies that have successfully taken this approach. For example, Providence, a not-for-profit healthcare provider network, was struggling to make its annual compliance training engaging for its 120,000 medical professionals and office workers.

Staff disliked having to carve out 60 to 90 minutes for compliance training. When Providence crunched the numbers, they found that if all 120,000 staff took that amount of time out, it would cost roughly $4 million in lost productivity, and employees tended to quickly forget the more nuanced elements of the training.

To combat this, Providence’s learning department decided to test a different microlearning approach—producing short bursts of learning content delivered in the moment, rather than rolling out another heavyweight training module. The department also added carefully planned gameplay aspects to increase learner engagement.

The results for the business were dramatic—a 61% cost reduction (even after implementing a new training platform), and employees were also happier with their retention of the training improving over time.

You can read more about these impressive results in this SAP insights case study.

Some tips you can take away from this for your own training business are:

• Consult with learning designers to see how you can implement gamification elements into your existing training content.
• Start to brainstorm different ways that gamification could improve the engagement of your training.
• Consider breaking down long or heavy training modules into shorter modules that are 20 – 30 minutes in length.

5. Use social learning to improve learning outcomes

Social learning within microlearning focuses on leveraging peer interactions and community engagement to enhance the learning experience. It encourages learners to share knowledge, discuss concepts, and solve problems collaboratively.

Here are several ways you can integrate social learning aspects into your training:

• Implement community features within your training platforms to enhance collaboration and knowledge sharing among peers. If you use an LMS to design and curate your content, check if the LMS has social learning features that you can utilize.
  
• Based on the above principle, consider including group challenges or projects that encourage learners to collaborate and apply their knowledge in a team setting.
  
• Introduce elements that allow learners to give and receive immediate feedback through social features.

“Social interactions lie at the heart of engagement, motivation, persistence and learning” – Inside Higher Ed

6. Examine your existing courses to see what can be adapted into microlearning modules

Similar to the approach Providence took in the example in point four you can look at how you can adapt longer courses or training modules into more engaging bitesize chunks. 

You can start by conducting a review of your current course materials and identifying topics or sections that can be broken down into smaller, standalone modules.

Once you have these sets, incorporate interactive elements such as quizzes, simulations, or case studies within the microlearning modules to enhance learner engagement and reinforce key concepts.

7. Implement micro-credentials and badging

Offering micro-credentials and digital badges as part of your microlearning courses can greatly enhance learner motivation and provide tangible proof of professional development. 

Tips for doing this include:

• Implement a tiered system where learners earn badges as they progress through different levels or stages of a course. For instance, a programming course might award badges for beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels of Python programming.

• If you’re a training provider that’s more renowned you could try and partner with industry bodies to ensure that the badges and micro-credentials you offer are recognized in the professional world

8. Embrace mobile-first design 

With many learners now accessing training on-the-go, designing microlearning experiences with a mobile-first approach is important. You should make sure that your content, including any microlearning content be interacted with on a touch screen, ways to do this include having buttons, sliders, and interactive elements are large enough to be easily tapped with a finger.

You can also make sure your content is in formats that cater to mobile, such as creating content that can be consumed in short bursts. For example, a 5-minute video on effective email communication practices or a 3-minute quiz on safety procedures can be ideal for learners during a commute or quick break.

“Mobile learning can increase engagement by 72%” – Growth Engineering UK

9. Utilize AI-driven feedback mechanisms

Training evaluation platforms and tools are increasingly leveraging AI to improve feedback metrics. AI feedback tools can help with: 

Automated analysis – AI can quickly analyze open-ended responses, identifying key themes and sentiments, which helps in understanding learners’ perspectives more comprehensively.

Tailored Reports – AI tools can customize feedback reports based on specific metrics and feedback from your learners. For example, platforms such as Coursecheck integrate with ChatGPT and enable users to feed in text based customer responses to quickly create feedback reports. 

Tools like this can be very useful if you’re testing out new approaches such as microlearning and want to find out what feedback your learners have. 

10. Make sure your training is accessible across platforms

Any type of training or course you look at producing should ideally work well on multiple devices. As we noted earlier more and more learners are consuming training on mobile so you need to make sure training is aligned for different platforms. 

A couple of tips on doing this are:

• Develop microlearning modules using responsive design principles so that they automatically adjust to fit the screen size and orientation of any device. This ensures that learning materials are equally usable on a desktop, tablet, or smartphone.

• Regularly test your microlearning content across different devices and operating systems to ensure consistent functionality and user experience. 

• Address any issues that come up to make sure your training is accessible no matter the device your learners choose to consume it on.

Final thoughts

These tips should have given you a good introduction to microlearning, and given you some ideas you can look at implementing. Don’t hesitate to get creative—after all, microlearning is about crafting engaging and immersive training content for your learners to enjoy.

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