15 Microlearning Examples to Integrate into your Daily Schedule

Traits Microlearning Examples usually feature

At Deepstash we're looking to define microlearning examples around a couple of elements that are core to setting microlearning into motion, regardless of what implementation we're talking about, when referring to what goes into determining if an application or product uses microlearning, we're usually thinking about these:

• Bite sized content & possibility of chunking or delivery in nugget-like, trimmed down versions
• Features Micro-content and a form-factor that is optimized for on the go learning or mobile platforms
• Mechanics that tap into intrinsic motivation and enable bursts or cycles of practice
• A multimedia approach to content, where videos, images, text and audio elements work together for maximum conveyance in as little time as possible
• Social elements and sharing features as well as creation or authoring tools
• Delivery in bursts that accommodate the usual Microlearning session length, around 5 minutes
• Adaptive learning elements that enable dynamic recommendations to ensure continuous learning (UX and navigation elements that enable continuous discovery, personalized recommendations feeds or stats)

Microlearning is often incorporated into the workplace. Businesses often use this approach as part of on-the-job training or for onboarding new employees. This helps to keep employees engaged and can last anywhere from a few seconds of easily digested information to a few minutes. Businesses use microlearning for workshops and seminars and employ mobile learning by creating gamified apps to encourage more engagement.

Microlearning is becoming increasingly popular in the classroom, especially in today’s world of short attention spans. This approach to teaching students can employ gamification to increase interest in quizzes, short learning modules, and “just-in-time” learning to enhance student's retention.

15 Types of Microlearning You Can Use to Increase Your Knowledge

Even with just a few minutes a day, you can increase your knowledge on a topic you are interested in, be it personal development, psychology, science, money, entrepreneurship or maybe film, you may already be microlearning without even realizing. Here’s a look at 15 types of microlearning examples that you can use to learn about almost anything quickly.

Videos and Short Videos (Shorts)

Short content videos are extremely popular among people of all ages. Most of us are guilty of scrolling through short-form content videos. Shorts, Reels, TikToks are a prime example here, videos that are 1 minute long and condense key aspects are among the most consumed media form factors, if not the most, since every major company is banking on them. For good merit though, since beside the funny stuff and the clout, there are plenty of learning nuggets we're all happy to learn from.

Examples:

• TikToks
• Instagram Reels
• YouTube Shorts

Interactive Quizzes

Engagement is essential when it comes to learning in any of its many different methods. An excellent example of microlearning is taking part in interactive quizzes. These keep learners actively involved in the lesson and are also a great way to identify accomplishments in learning or where their weaknesses in a topic or concept are.

Why they work:

• Tests learners' knowledge
• Apps like Kahoot! are really cool ways for students to both practice and learn something new
• Great for a quick brush-up of information

Podcasts

Another area to explore when seeking microlearning is podcasts. Listening to industry experts or those with first-hand experience on the topic you want to learn more about can be done almost any time. This kind of vicarious learning can be done at home while doing chores, relaxing, or even commuting to work or school. Podcasts can be consumed on your smartphone, tablet, or laptop, making them a very convenient form of microlearning.

Why they work:

• Can be listened to at any time
• Excellent source of information from experts
• Employs vicarious learning

Social Media Posts

While many see social media platforms as simply for entertainment, there's no doubt they can also be utilized as a learning tool. While following your friends and family’s socials may not increase your knowledge, there are plenty of experts with accounts chock full of the information and knowledge you crave. Try following the experts' social media accounts related to the topics you want to learn more about. Their social media posts are typically short and focused on an aspect of their area of expertise.

Examples:

• X (formerly called Twitter)
• LinkedIn
• Reddit

Blogs and Forums

Blogs and ebooks are excellent sources of information as long as knowledgeable people write them on their chosen topic. Shorter blogs and forum threads can be consumed simultaneously or broken down into individual learning sessions.

Why they work:

• Mobile-learning friendly
• Short bursts of perspectives that are easily skimmable
• Good for self-paced learning

Memes

While this may come as a surprise, memes are actually a form of microlearning as they fit all the criteria. Mobile friendly? Check. Easily skimmable? Check. Bite-sized format that delivers complex topics in digestible chunks? Check. Employs multimedia? Check. Memes are a great example of microlearning that we've integrated into our lives fully and without realizing, we've actually learned complex social movements and trends through this form factor.

Why they work:

• Outstanding way of capturing complex ideas into funny, recognizable nuggets
• Fast, easy to share form factor, easily recognizable, funny
• Universal integration in any medium

Gamified Apps and Platforms

Using gamified apps and platforms is a fun and engaging way to microlearn. Game elements are now everywhere, in our ridesharing, food delivery, subscriptions, and of course, they had to be in education too. The pioneers of gamification used learning as the prime example of an application where gamified elements thrive.

Gamified apps can enable the bite-sized nuggets to be integrated into a continuous cycle of learning without running into fatigue, boredom, or a lack of sense of progress. This sense of progress is such a big part of microlearning that gamification is a crucial element.

Examples:

• Duolingo
• Deepstash
• Quizlet

Infographics

Another great example of microlearning are the infographics, which not only deliver valuable insights but are easily skimmable and quick to remember. They are typically very easy-to-understand graphics or timelines that break down the core concepts of a topic. Many use data to merge it within the storyline of the infographic, thus not only mapping a complex topic but providing real evidence for every claim.

Why they work:

• Information can be absorbed in seconds
• Concise content
• Visual display of information can be easily retained

Flashcards

Whether digital or the old-school handheld variety, flashcards are a great example of microlearning. They are perfect for a quick review of terminology or important facts. They focus on small bits of information and can be used for a few minutes or as long as you like. At Deepstash we took this form-factor to enable our user-generated curated digests, since in our view, bite-sized content and learning nuggets are best consumed in those flashcard-like blurbs.

Why they work:

• Keeps learners engaged
• Visual representations of information are more easily retained
• Positive reinforcement of achievements

Microlearning Apps

Apps are a prime example of ways to implement the core aspects of microlearning. The Microlearning apps landscape has become way more diverse than just corporate environments applications, with personal microlearning being already a well-established trend for everyone who seeks productive downtime and habits.

Microlearning apps incorporate most of the examples in this article with the scope of giving you all the tools to start learning at your own pace about various subjects like Business, Personal Growth, Leadership, Tech, Exercise, and Sport or even Sci-Fi.

Why they work:

• The most complete form of Microlearning
• Ever-expanding content libraries
• Employ a very diverse suite of mechanics to aid microlearning

Fact of the Day

A classic example of microlearning are daily facts or daily did you know snippets. Those are perhaps the most recognizable forms of content chunking as it enables spaced repetition as well as creates a habit out of reading those interesting blurbs. Daily Digests, Facts, Ideas or Insights are perfect for short microlearning sessions to make downtime or commutes more productive or avoid mindless scrolling on socials.

Why they work:

• Easily skimmable
• Fun and easy to get the core meaning of at a glance
• Do not require focused attention do not act as a distraction

Simulations

Simulations are a mixed bag when it comes to microlearning, as this example is often making use of multiple other examples here as well. Think 3D live views of an F1 car that a Vision Pro does, think battle visualizations for history, or even complex timelines that put into perspective scale like those simple planet or star comparison videos.

Why they work:

• Graphics heavy content
• Very high degree of interactivity
• Explains by experimentation rather than telling

GIFs

Even something as simple as a GIF can be used as an example of microlearning. Mostly used for social media posts, GIFs can be used as part of microlearning by using animations to illustrate a step-by-step process or to simply provide information. With their incredibly brief length and visual representation, GIFs are a great way to learn core facts quickly.

Why they work:

• Information is absorbed in seconds
• Clear and concise visual layout is easily retained
• Mobile learning friendly

Tutorials and Guides

Tutorials and guides, either as printed material or digital, focus on teaching a specific skill or concept and are generally concise and to the point. Many break down complex topics into concise, easy-to-digest content.

Why they work:

• Concise content is easy to retain
• Step-by-step instructions provide learners with only the information they require
• Short-form content keeps learners from becoming overwhelmed

Games

Of course games had to be on this list, as they represent a very new and modern approach to microlearning. From Codex sections in your favorite RPGs to board games that rely on classic mechanics like-fill-in-the-blanks, correct order minigames or matching pairs.

Why they work:

• Integrated in contexts where education is not the main scope
• High degree of interactivity
• Learning by doing approach

How Can I Incorporate Microlearning Sessions Into My Life?

We believe Continuous learning is crucial for success in life, both career-wise and on a personal or spiritual level. This isn’t to say that you must invest time and money into higher educational pursuits. Anyone can increase their knowledge and skills by simply incorporating it into their daily or weekly routine.

As we’ve seen with these 15 examples of Microlearning, it all revolves around taking 10 minutes maximum to learn what has been broken up complex topics into smaller, easily consumed knowledge nuggets. Here are some easy-to-incorporate ideas to kick-start your microlearning sessions.

• Identify your learning goals: The first step to incorporating microlearning sessions into your routine is to have some vague idea of what you are interested in, so you can build a better understanding of what you actually want to learn.
• Block out time for learning: Once you’ve identified what you want to learn about, set aside daily or weekly undisturbed time that you will use to study. This time can be as short as a 15-minute block of time. Consider multitasking by listening to podcasts during commute times, while at the gym, running errands, or doing household chores.
• Set learning goals: Setting goals helps to keep you on track. These goals can be as simple as reading several knowledge blurbs, or just make a habit of spending 10 minutes a day on learning about a complex topic.
• Experiment with formats: Alternate between video, podcast, apps, and printed materials to see what works best for you. Gamified apps provide the most benefits since they keep learners engaged. However, stick to what works best for you (once you figure that part out.)

You can turn lifelong learning into a part of your routine with a little effort. Soon, you’ll be looking forward to your microlearning sessions, and as your knowledge grows, it’ll be easier to follow a daily practice of integrating these microlearning examples.

Further Exploration: Learn more about Microlearning and related Concepts

Explore our curated collections and journeys designed specifically to showcase the effectiveness and versatility of microlearning examples.

• The Key Benefits of Micro-Learning: Microlearn about microlearning using techniques presented in this article and explore exciting facts about this concept
• How To Learn Anything Fast: Explore how microlearning examples can accelerate your learning journey! Delve into our collection highlighting various techniques, such as short-form videos, interactive quizzes, and bite-sized content, designed to help you master new skills and absorb information rapidly.
• Creating A Culture Of Learning: Discover how microlearning encourages a culture of continuous learning! Dive into our collection showcasing the diverse ways microlearning apps, quizzes, infographics, and more empower individuals to learn quickly and efficiently.
• Upskilling: Preparing For The Future: Dive into our curated selection showcasing diverse learning formats like gamified apps, simulations, and daily facts, tailored to enhance your knowledge and adaptability in an ever-changing world.

Deepstash, we believe these tools offer a dynamic and engaging way to absorb knowledge amidst today's information overload. Discover how each example aligns with our vision of making learning enjoyable and accessible anytime, anywhere.