A half-day training course, full of sheets and information. Employees diligently write along, but a week later it turns out: most of it has already been forgotten. Recognizable?
The way we learn is changing. Instead of long classroom sessions, more and more organizations are opting for microlearning: short, goal-oriented learning moments that connect precisely to what someone needs. Smart, fast and result-oriented.
In this blog you will discover what microlearning is, why it works and how you can best apply it in your organization with 7 concrete tips.

What is microlearning?

Microlearning is all about learning in small, manageable chunks. Think short videos, interactive e-learnings, five-minute podcasts or a three-question quiz. The power? You learn at the moment you need it, exactly about that one topic you're working on right now.

A good example is an employee who has to conduct a difficult customer conversation. Instead of general communication training, he or she follows a short microlearning about "dealing with resistance in customer contact. Practical, relevant and directly applicable.

Why microlearning works: the psychology behind effective learning

We know from research that people remember the most when they:

• Learning in context: immediately applying what they learn
• Experiencing repetition: spread out over time
• Being activated: having to actively think for yourself
• Having a success experience: noticing that they are growing

Microlearning optimally supports these principles

• You offer short repeat modules that are easy to schedule
• You make learning part of everyday work
• You let employees practice and apply immediately
• You lower the threshold: anyone can start

At SkillsTown, we base our learning solutions on these didactic principles. That's why you'll see many forms of microlearning in our learning platform: from essentials and interactive formats to AI-personalized learning paths.

6 smart ways to apply microlearning in your organization

Microlearning is only successful when it connects to your work processes. These 7 tips show you how to successfully integrate it into your organization.

1. Link microlearning to actual work situations

The greatest power of microlearning is in relevance. Have employees learn at the moment they need to perform a particular task. Here you can think of:

• Short modules on interviewing, just before an appraisal interview
• A video on data security as you introduce new tools
• A quiz on customer focus just before a sales campaign

2. Use microlearning for preboarding and onboarding

New employees need to learn a lot in a short period of time. By breaking up onboarding into small learning interventions, you prevent overload and increase learning efficiency. Start with a short introductory video, followed by microlearnings on systems, culture, safety and work processes.

Did you know that employees with good onboarding stay 69% longer? Microlearning accelerates that productive start. Want to learn more about how you can use microlearning for onboarding? Check out our solutions

3. Employ microlearning for leadership development

Leadership is a topic that requires continuous development. Think dealing with change, coaching leadership or feedback techniques. Instead of one leadership training course per year, offer:

• Weekly insights in short videos
• Practical assignments with self-reflection
• Microlearnings based on actual situations within the team

This way, you perfectly connect the development of leaders to their daily challenges.

4. Make learning a habit with learning reminders

A big advantage of microlearning is that it is easy to schedule. Employees can pick it up between meetings, during lunch breaks or on the go. Combine that with smart reminders, such as:

• A weekly learning incentive via email or app
• Gamification: badges or scores upon completion
• Buddy assignments or challenges within teams

In this way, learning becomes something fun, rather than an obligation.

5. Increase compliance without resistance

Compliance is often mandatory training and thus difficult to create real support for. Microlearning helps. Instead of annual classroom training, you can:

• Break down topics into 5-minute microlearnings
• Working with case studies and practice questions
• Offering repetition in the months following training

This not only makes the knowledge stick better, but also encourages behavioral change.

6. Integrate microlearning into your blended strategy

Microlearning works best as part of a broader learning strategy. For example, combine it with:

• Classroom sessions or workshops
• Coaching and feedback moments
• Practice assignments and reflection discussions

That way you connect theory to practice and stimulate real learning: learning that sticks and is applied.

Get more out of microlearning with data

Want to make sure your microlearnings are having an effect? With learning analytics you gain insight into usage, engagement and knowledge acquisition. These insights help you optimize and show HR or the MT what microlearning delivers. SkillsTown uses Reveal for this purpose .

How SkillsTown supports microlearning

Microlearning is not hype, but a proven effective way of learning. By focusing on short, relevant and immediately applicable learning interventions, you encourage employees to keep learning, without compromising their productivity. Whether for onboarding, compliance, leadership or skills development, microlearning makes learning accessible, fun and strategically valuable.

Do you want to deploy microlearning structurally within your organization? Our learning consultants are happy to help you with an approach that suits your goals and employees.