Bite-Sized Education:

There has not been a consistent definition of microlearning, challenging the argument that microlearning is not simply a fad, but a long-term solution to meet educational and organizational needs. By design, microlearning solutions can be stand-alone products or part of a larger series. With each microlearning focusing on one or a few specific objectives, these can be used in both eLearning and traditional educational settings to meet larger organizational goals. The broad definition of microlearning allows for each solution to be a beneficial and valuable tool for learners in multiple contexts, such as in higher education or corporate settings.

Though descriptions of microlearning have ranged anywhere from “any brief and targeted learning object that spans between 3 to 6 minutes” (Andriotis, 2016) to videos that are “4 minutes or less” (Eades, 2014), both focus on providing short, bite-sized content. Although microlearning solutions tend to be asynchronous, these solutions can be used in diverse learning environments. “Instead of focusing on seat time, the idea is really about meeting the learners’ needs as quickly as possible by giving them just what they need at that moment” (Torgerson, 2019). As with any learning solution, there are benefits and limitations to the length each microlearning. According to Cole (2017), “Opting for longer segments will allow for more detail, while choosing shorter segments may keep learners’ attention better”. It’s important for designers to pick a solution that accurately meets their objectives and organizational needs.