What Are the Benefits of Microlearning?
Written by:
Wilson College
• Aug 13, 2025
Teachers use diverse instructional strategies in the classroom. Experiential learning , project-based learning , and technology-enhanced learning are popular ways to engage students and convey material. Microlearning is another effective way to reach learners. But what is microlearning? This bite-sized approach to education breaks content into digestible sessions.
The potential benefits of microlearning include higher levels of student engagement, better learning comprehension, and greater information retention. New and experienced teachers with a master’s degree in education can integrate microlearning into their classrooms to help improve student outcomes.
What Is Microlearning?
Microlearning delivers instructional material in short sessions of under 15 minutes each. By breaking content into microlessons, educators can improve their students’ engagement and learning outcomes. Teachers can incorporate microlearning modules into classroom lessons and in supplementary material completed outside of school.
Videos, simulations, games, and apps can all deliver microlessons. Interactive elements, visual images, and audio can be used to reach students with different learning styles.
Educators can align microlearning practices with their curriculum objectives. For example, gamifying lessons can help reinforce basic numeracy skills at the elementary level. High school teachers can integrate infographics or interactive assessments into their lesson plans.
How Does Microlearning Benefit Students?
Extensive research has investigated the benefits of microlearning for learners of all ages. While much of the research has focused on business settings and higher education, microlearning offers significant benefits for K-12 education as well.
Here are several benefits of microlearning:
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Raises level of engagement: Students often show greater engagement during microlearning modules than during longer lessons. Rather than requiring sustained focus for an extended time, microlearning prioritizes conciseness. The compact length and interactive elements help improve students’ engagement with the material.
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Increases learning effectiveness: Shorter sessions can improve learning. A 2024 study of Master of Business Administration (MBA) students published in The Journal of Learning for Development found that learning performance improved for those participating in microlearning modules, with the microlearning group scoring “significantly higher” than a control group.
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Boosts retention: Studying new material in small sessions can increase retention. Learners can avoid cognitive overload through shorter modules, which can improve their ability to recall new material. Reinforcing the learning objective after a microlesson can also help improve students’ retention.
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Improves students’ satisfaction: Students often see microlearning as more flexible and self-directed than other types of learning, giving them a greater sense of autonomy over their experience and improving their engagement with the material. According to a 2024 study published in The Internet and Higher Education participants in a business education program described microlearning content as “easy to digest,” making it possible for learners to “acquire knowledge more easily.” Learners reported a high satisfaction level.
6 Microlearning Tips for Teachers
How can educators incorporate microlearning into their instructional plans? As with any other instructional approach, teachers should consider their students’ abilities and needs, their learning objectives for the lesson, and the best ways to achieve their instructional goals.
The following tips introduce best practices for introducing microlearning in the classroom.
1. Get Creative With Delivery Methods
Microlearning can take many forms. While video is a common way to deliver microlessons, educators can get creative with how they deliver material.
Games, infographics, simulations, and educational apps can appeal to different types of learners. Podcasts, radio stories, and other audio content can help reach students with an audio learning style. Incorporating a variety of delivery formats can improve students’ engagement with the content.
2. Vary the Length of Microlessons
How long should microlearning sessions last? An analysis printed in Heliyon of over 3,600 studies published after 2020 on microlearning found that the studies define microlearning modules as being as short as one to three minutes and as long as 10 to 15 minutes.
Varying the length of microlessons based on the content matter, students’ prior knowledge, and the learning objectives for the lesson can make microlearning more effective. Overall, keeping the sessions short and focused should be the priority.
3. Integrate Interactive Elements
Interactive and hands-on activities can help keep students engaged. Interactive elements allow learners to practice new skills and reinforce their learning. By connecting more fully with the content, students also improve their retention.
Educators can integrate instructional strategies that encourage active learning into the shorter modules. For example, collaborative games or virtual labs can hold students’ attention.
4. Put Microlearning in Context
Educators need to provide context for the microlearning lessons. This can entail opening with an overview of the lesson’s learning goals or introducing microlessons with the necessary background information.
Providing context for microlearning lessons helps students see the connection between the microlesson and the broader curriculum. Reinforcing lessons can give learners the tools they need to build those connections.
5. Focus on One Learning Objective
By definition, microlessons are compact. Attempting to cover multiple learning objectives in a single microlearning session risks overwhelming students. Therefore, educators should focus on a single learning objective for each microlesson.
When designing modules, teachers should consider what students can absorb in less than 10 minutes. Launching a session with a framing question can orient learners and begin the critical thinking process. A clearly defined learning objective can provide focus to the lesson.
6. Reinforce Microlessons
Reinforcement improves students’ comprehension and retention. Educators should conclude microlearning sessions by reinforcing the central message or concept of the lesson.
What are some reinforcement strategies in microlearning? A short quiz after watching a video, a handout with key information, or a quick discussion encouraging students to share their observations can all improve retention.
Strengthen Your Instructional Skills at Wilson College Online
Teachers can strengthen their classroom skills and explore new instructional strategies such as microlearning by pursuing a master’s degree. Wilson College Online offers a Master of Education program that emphasizes new strategies and cutting-edge educational technologies.
Designed for working teachers, the online master’s in education program uses an asynchronous format. The self-paced model gives educators the flexibility to advance their education while applying what they learn from the graduate coursework in the classroom.
Reach out to Wilson College Online today to learn more about the Master of Education program.
Recommended Readings
Flexible Learning Environments: How Do They Benefit Students?
Technology Integration in the Classroom: 6 Steps for Teachers
What Are the Requirements to Earn a Master of Education?
Sources:
Association for Talent Development, “What Is Microlearning?”
Education Corner, “Understanding Microlearning: Strategies and Benefits”
