The rise of short-form content consumption emerges not just as a trend but as a natural response to the modern user's craving for quick, digestible information. This inclination towards brief content snippets is vividly illustrated by the popularity of platforms like TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Instagram Reels, which serve up flickable capsules of entertainment and information, distilling complex ideas into simple digests.
Deepstash Team • 19 minute read
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This shift towards brevity in content consumption reflects a broader view on our behavior, with 'infobesity' where having access to so much information becomes not just overwhelming, but leaves us with an illusion of choice that paves way to what are essentially mobile, shortform digests.
It’s easy to see how even Youtube, longform video bastion introduced Shorts, and it’s banking on it. While the concept was released in 2021 to the large public, now, in 2024 the trend has really picked up pace, with Shorts now being a key figure for advertisers and creators alike.
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Microlearning apps and platforms are forms of applying the core principles and benefits of microlearning through mobile apps, websites and pages or even full blown online software like an LMS, that covers extensive amounts of courses, topics and resources. The core purpose of these Microlearning applications is to enable users, frontline workers, organisation members, employees or pretty much everyone, to consume content in the form of bite-sized chunks, or generally sort-form content that can be followed through in 1-2 minutes or up to 10 minutes per burst.
Short videos or audio clips, micro-courses, flashcards and other forms of learning nuggets or micro-contentmicro-content, are very often the main form factor that a microlearning app uses to contain, display and condense key ideas, information or knowledge. Thus, mobile microlearning achieves the goal of enabling the benefits of bite sized content, micro-content, knowledge nuggets or other similar learning concepts in a very convenient manner. What would otherwise require a lengthy time investment to understand, remember and practice, is now easier than ever due to the natural relation between our devices and our way of consuming information.
In positioning microlearning as a healthy habit-building alternative to doomscrolling, these bite sized learning apps became an expected response to clocking 2-3 hours/day flicking reels and tiktoks, where now people are starting to look for more meaningful ways to spend their commute, coffee break or general scenarios where you need to kill some time.
By harnessing the power of mobile learning and the trend of short-form content, these microlearning apps are a perfect match for the content consumer, who increasingly prefers to absorb actual information in concise, impactful bursts. This synergy between always on-demand mobile learning and the appetite for short-form content represents an expected, almost inevitable, evolution in how we consume information, practice skills and develop general knowledge.
Microlearning apps do possess some distinct features that set them apart from other adjacent forms of Mobile Learning or eLearning like:
So, why are microlearning apps becoming such a big thing? Well, they tap into our love for short, punchy content and turn it into a productive habit. Instead of doomscrolling, you could be picking up bits of knowledge or new skills, and it feels just as easy and addictive. It's like turning your guilty pleasure into something that's actually good for you.
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Microlearning is an educational strategy focusing on delivering bite-sized content to learners, often through mobile apps. This method breaks down information into small, manageable units, making it easier to digest, remember, and apply. Microlearning apps utilize this approach to encourage continuous learning and habit-building, offering a productive alternative to doomscrolling.
By integrating learning into daily routines, these apps make education accessible and engaging, allowing users to acquire new knowledge and skills in short, focused sessions. This form of learning is particularly suited for mobile learning, enabling users to learn on-the-go and fitting seamlessly into busy schedules.
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The idea format used by Deepstash is important because it condenses complex concepts and profound thoughts into easy to understand sentences. It makes ideas easier to apply in daily life, helping you to make positive changes and achieve your goals.
Microlearning platforms have been and are currently used, for the largest majority, by organizations, looking to train workers efficiently and at large scale or ensure that core bits of information are progressively assimilated by employees. For the most part, the Microlearning tools and solutions you could find on the market were leaning a lot more towards a model of micro-LMS (Learning Management Systems) for frontline workers and branching out of those as a fun, quicker alternative.
However, with concepts like gamification, bite-sized learning on mobile apps is ever more gratifying, and solutions to win back your time from flicking Shorts or TikToks are now more than ever.
Here are some key criteria we think make for core features for a microlearning app:
As we dive into the best microlearning apps in 2024, we'll see how these platforms are not just keeping up with the trend of bite-sized content, but are pushing us to make the most of our screen time while we develop knowledge one chunk at a time.
While it would be easy to create a top of all these microlearning companies, the reality is that in 2024 this is not a fair way of assessing what microlearning apps would be the best, as there is no app that does it all, at least not ideally.
As such, let's take a look at each of these individual microlearning apps and how they each fit into their respective niche, so you can make the most educated choice.
This facet of microlearning apps for adults has matured into a fully-fledged feature, appealing to those seeking to broaden their horizons across various subjects while keeping making the time investment as short as possible. It's become an increasingly popular tool that condenses the vast amount of knowledge already available on the internet or books into genuine curated core ideas.
Emphasizing book summaries and digests, microlearning platforms like Deepstash, Blinkist, and Headway have become pivotal in this transformation, each offering a unique way to dive into the world of books and knowledge without the commitment of long reading hours. Deepstash curates ideas across various topics, Blinkist condenses non-fiction books into 15-minute reads, and Headway offers similar bite-sized learning experiences.
Deepstash puts emphasis on personal microlearning for people looking to to expand their knowledge across a multitude of topics without being confined to the perspective of the same authors. This app stands out by curating insightful learning nuggets and key ideas from a vast array of sources, including books, articles, and podcasts, thus condensing valuable and vast amounts of information from these mediums into bite sized learning.
What makes the Deepstash microlearning app particularly appealing to students and adults alike is the ability to function as a content/media curation tool, thus functioning as a self improvement app through vicarious learning, making it highly accessible for users on-the-go, even offline. Each idea is distilled into digestible flashcard-like ideas, gamifying the progress and the experience, so that these knowledge nuggets can be easily absorbed in just a few minutes.
Deepstash encourages a culture of continuous learning and self-improvement, allowing users to explore new concepts, enhance personal skills, and gain insights on topics ranging from productivity and business to science and Philosophy. Deepstash enables users to share ideas and insights, thus multiplying the value of each stash of ideas. In an era dominated by information overload, this bite sized learning app emerges as a fun side activity for those looking to replace aimless doomscrolling with micro-learning.
Key Features & Highlights of this Microlearning App:Blinkist is a microlearning app that condenses the key insights and ideas from thousands of non-fiction books into concise summaries that can be read or listened to in just 15 minutes. For those seeking a digital detox, Blinkist serves as an antidote, redirecting time from aimless scrolling to productive, self-paced learning.
The platform as well as the app covers a broad spectrum of topics, including business, psychology, history, science, and self-improvement, making it a treasure trove of knowledge for curious minds. One of Blinkist's standout features is its audio summary option, which allows users to absorb new learnings during commutes, workouts, or any other multitasking activities, effectively turning downtime into productive learning moments.
Blinkist not only offers a fast track to a vast library of book summaries but also curates personalized recommendations for its users. This microlearning solution is designed with a user-friendly interface that facilitates easy navigation across different categories and bookmarks, making it straightforward for users to track their reading progress and plan their learning journey.
Key Features & Highlights of this Microlearning App:Headway is a dynamic microlearning app that has carved its niche by focusing on personal growth and self-improvement through the lens of bite-sized learning. This innovative app boils down the core concepts of non-fiction books into concise, easily digestible summaries, enabling users to explore a wealth of knowledge across various books, including psychology, business, health, and more.
A standout feature of Headway is its use of gamified learning experiences and spaced repetition techniques to enhance retention and make reading a book a daily habit. The app offers both text and audio summaries, catering to different learning preferences and lifestyles, allowing users to learn on the go, whether they are commuting, exercising, or simply taking a break.
By focusing on these distinctive elements: gamified learning, spaced repetition for deeper knowledge retention, a strong emphasis on personal development, and a supportive learning community, Headway offers a unique proposition in the microlearning app landscape, particularly for users keen on enhancing their personal and professional lives in an interactive and enjoyable manner.
Key Features & Highlights of this Microlearning App:These microlearning platforms also feature apps that are recognized for their innovative approach to education and how they blend with microlearning elements, offering a mix of clearly defined courses and personalized learning paths. By providing a robust infrastructure for micro-course development and gamification elements, they enable the creation of interactive and impactful modules that quickly became a trend among Educators and Organizations alike.
For example, iSpring Learn utilizes its built-in authoring tool to create responsive courses, TalentLMS enriches its microlearning courses with multimedia elements and adaptive learning paths while Learnupon leverages AI to curate content to present users with personalized training modules.
iSpring Learn is a streamlined microlearning app that simplifies the launch and tracking of educational programs in just one day, bypassing the need for complex setup or IT help. It enables the quick transformation of existing videos, slides, or articles into interactive microlearning courses. With its intuitive authoring tool, users can easily create responsive courses featuring knowledge checks, accessible on both smartphones and desktops. Ideal for fast-paced learning environments, iSpring Learn offers personalized learning paths and real-time progress tracking, making it a top choice for organizations aiming to efficiently enhance their training efforts.
What makes this platform stand out are: Real-time analytics and progress tracking that enable organizations to measure training effectiveness and learner performance seamlessly while the authoring tools allow creators to seamlessly convert existing resources, be it detailed presentations, informative videos, or comprehensive articles, into interactive, engaging microlearning courses.
Key Features & Highlights of this Microlearning App:LearnUpon is a cutting-edge learning management system (LMS) designed to streamline the delivery, management, and tracking of online training across various organizations. One of its core strengths lies in its ability to unify training initiatives in a single, centralized platform, using microlearning, making it easier for training managers to administer courses, monitor progress, and analyze training outcomes in real-time.
LearnUpon supports a wide array of content types, from SCORM and xAPI courses to videos, documents, and webinars, additionally, LearnUpon integrates seamlessly with existing business tools, such as CRMs and HR systems, facilitating a cohesive ecosystem for data management and reporting.
The platform and app also places a strong emphasis on social learning and collaboration, featuring discussion forums and peer-to-peer knowledge sharing to foster a more interactive learning environment.
Key Features & Highlights of this Microlearning/Micro-LMS Platform:TalentLMS is a versatile and intuitive cloud-based Learning Management System (LMS) designed to simplify the training process for organizations of all sizes. This Microlearning platform enables companies to create, deploy, and manage online training courses with minimal effort. Its comprehensive set of features includes customizable learning paths, gamification to engage learners, and a variety of multimedia support options to enrich the learning experience.
TalentLMS stands out for its user-friendly interface and cost-effective solution, making it an attractive choice for organizations looking to invest in a robust e-learning strategy. The platform's emphasis on micro-content and knowledge nuggets aligns with key microlearning principles thus making this service more akin to something like a micro-LMS. They offer Micro Courses solutions for anything related to Employee training, Onboarding, Sales, Customer Support and more.
Key Features & Highlights of this Microlearning/Micro-LMS App:EdApp, TalentCards, and Axonify stand out as microlearning apps and solutions to employee training. While the above section has a much broader scope and covers eLearning as a whole, the mobile-first approach of these microlearning applications make them the ideal pick whenever a company finds itself in need of preparing its workforce for a series of training sessions.
TalentCards leverages the power of card-based learning, delivering bite-sized knowledge that employees can easily digest and retain, perfect for reinforcing key concepts and skills. EdApp excels with its mobile-first approach, offering a vast library of customizable courses while Axonify takes a personalized learning approach, employing adaptive learning techniques and gamification to ensure that each employee's learning experience is unique.
Utilizing EdApp's microlearning platform, a company, for example, is able to launch a series of short, engaging courses focused on key aspects of customer service, such as greeting customers, handling complaints, and upselling products, with the ultimate goal to improve customer service skills across its workforce.
The content is rich with interactive elements, featuring videos demonstrating best practices, mini-quizzes to test understanding, and scenarios that require employees to make decisions based on what they've learned.
To reinforce learning and ensure retention, EdApp makes use of spaced repetition, prompting employees to review key concepts at optimal intervals while gamified elements are meant to drive engagement and introduce friendly competition among staff.
Over time, employees not only improve their customer service skills but also feel more engaged and valued by their employer. The company benefits from higher customer satisfaction scores, showcasing how EdApp's microlearning approach can make a significant impact on employee training and overall business outcomes.
Key Features & Highlights of this Microlearning App:This Microlearning tool is particularly interesting as it uses the concept of flashcards which is an outstanding form to feature microlearning core concepts. Suited for on-the-go learning and deskless workers, this microlearning software is ideal in scenarios where a construction company needs to quickly update safety protocols across its workforce, for example. TalentCards, with its distinctive card-based learning system, becomes the perfect solution.
These cards are designed to be visually appealing, incorporating concise text, images, and links to short videos, making complex information easy to understand and remember.
What sets TalentCards apart is its mobile-first approach to learning, enabling employees to access these learning cards directly from their smartphones, anytime and anywhere. This is especially beneficial for workers on construction sites who may not have regular access to computers or traditional learning environments.
Key Features & Highlights of this Microlearning App:Axonify excels in delivering content through real-life scenarios, particularly beneficial in industries requiring critical thinking and decision-making skills under pressure, such as healthcare or manufacturing. For example, nurses can use Axonify to simulate patient care scenarios, enhancing their problem-solving skills in a risk-free environment, a feature that distinctly supports hands-on learning compared to other microlearning apps.
It emphasizes personalized learning paths that onboard employees quickly and efficiently, utilizing AI for intelligent reinforcement to close knowledge gaps. A notable feature is its centralized, searchable information hub, making critical data readily accessible.
Employees interact with the app daily for short, focused training sessions tailored to their training assessments, ensuring continuous learning and immediate application in the workplace.
Key Features & Highlights of this Microlearning App:Specialized Microlearning App or Platforms refer to services that offer learning nuggets tailored to specific skills, behaviors, or knowledge areas, often with a strong focus on engagement and interactivity. These platforms are distinct from broader "Employee Training and Engagement" platforms in several ways:
As a leading microlearning app, eduMe offers both free and premium options, making it a versatile choice for businesses aiming to replace unproductive screen time with valuable learning opportunities.
This microlearning solution stands out for its ability to deliver targeted content that aligns with the need of companies and organizations to quickly upskill the frontline workforce. From sales strategies to customer service, this microlearning software ensures that employees acquire relevant skills promptly and efficiently. eduMe's intuitive interface simplifies the creation of engaging content, incorporating interactive quizzes, videos, and real-time feedback to develop a highly engaging and interactive learning environment.
Key Features & Highlights of this Microlearning platform:Specializing in skills and behavior training, Ottolearn ensures learning translates into practical application through scenario-based learning. This gamified microlearning app is designed to enhance knowledge retention and performance. It facilitates the creation of concise lessons that integrate smoothly into employees' routines.
Similar to other skill-based, online/mobile microlearning software, the use cases for Ottolearn range from retail sales training, healthcare, manufacturing to software and remote work upskilling. Companies can thus successfully harness bite-sized learning to quickly train and develop needed skills without investing in lengthy training.
Key Features & Highlights of this Microlearning platform:7taps is one of the most popular apps platforms when it comes to employee upskilling, adept at transforming the landscape of employee upskilling with its focus on bite-sized learning. Particularly in the sales sector, 7taps excels by enabling retail companies to swiftly equip their sales teams with the latest product knowledge and sales strategies.
Through engaging, compact modules delivered directly to employees' devices, 7taps facilitates on-the-spot learning without interrupting the sales flow, embodying the essence of effective microlearning solutions. This microlearning app stands out for its user-friendly design, allowing for the rapid creation and deployment of sales training content. Its features, such as gamification and instant feedback, aim to replace idle doomscrolling with productive skill enhancement.
Key Features & Highlights of this Microlearning App:Micolearning has become a very hot topic as of late and there are plenty to explore about this aproach to learning! Check out our collections/journeys specially tailored for putting microlearning into perspective and practicality.
The Key Benefits of Micro-Learning: Learn about what is Microlearning and how this concept helps you in your learning efforts
How To Learn Anything Fast: Microlearning and Fast, Efficient Learning are very closely related, check out our collection on fast learning tips
Creating A Culture Of Learning: Microlearning is all about habits and consistency, creating a culture of learning is often a journey based on these concepts, why not check out how others did that themselves?
Upskilling: Preparing For The Future: Upskilling is a huge benefit of Microlearning. Deepstash has a whole collection of ideas & Insights based on upskilling facts and tips.
Microlearning Apps are new the prime tool to practice and make use of Microlearning, regardless if you're at work or commuting, traveling or simply waiting in the bus station. With Doomscrolling & Infobesity we're bombarded with information that is harder to distill than ever, as such, Microlearning Apps/Platforms might be our best shot yet at making learning more fun.
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