Traditional training doesn’t always fit into the modern workday. Long courses compete with deadlines, meetings, and daily tasks. Microlearning in the workplace offers an alternative – quick, focused sessions that fit into real work schedules and make learning more practical.
Learning in Short, Useful Sessions
Jean Crous joined BSN International as Business Development Manager in March and also presented at a recent GoodmorningBSN! session on the topic of microlearning. He shared a key insight: employees have just 24 minutes per week – 1% of their work time – for training. With so little time available, long courses aren’t effective. Microlearning in the workplace offers small, focused lessons that employees can absorb and apply immediately, without stepping away from their work for extended periods.
Instead of replacing structured training, microlearning enhances it. Breaking down complex topics into manageable sections helps employees retain information and put it into practice immediately. Learning isn’t postponed for a scheduled session – it happens when it’s needed.
Employees don’t have time for long training sessions anymore. The key is making learning accessible, engaging, and relevant – so they can use it in real time, not just store it for later.
Research supports this approach. Microlearning in the workplace improves retention rates by 17% compared to traditional training. Employees who engage in short, targeted learning also dedicate an extra 40 minutes per week to self-directed learning. For companies, this translates into reduced training costs – by as much as 300 % – without sacrificing quality.
How Businesses Can Use Microlearning
Many formats make microlearning work, including:
• Short videos
• Infographics
• Interactive quizzes
• Micro-podcasts
• Real-world simulations
When designed effectively, these formats don’t just share information – they help employees apply it immediately. Microlearning fosters a culture where continuous learning is part of the job, rather than an extra task that gets pushed aside.
Making Learning More Accessible
Olukayode Olusope, Senior Programme Consultant at the Terra Academy for the Arts, sees microlearning as a way to close skill gaps without disrupting productivity. Organisations with limited resources can offer effective, affordable training in small doses, keeping employees engaged without lengthy sessions.
Younger employees, in particular, prefer learning that fits into their digital world. As expectations shift, businesses must offer training that is easy to access, relevant, and immediately useful.
Microlearning: A Smarter Approach to Development
For businesses and institutions microlearning in the workplace is a valuable tool for leadership development. Rather than replacing formal education, it works alongside it – encouraging continuous, flexible learning tailored to individual needs.
Microlearning is not a replacement for structured education but an essential add-on for lifelong learning.
– Toine van den Heuvel, BSN Dean
With workplaces adapting to digital changes, learning strategies must evolve. With limited time available, employees benefit from short, focused learning sessions that help them build skills effectively. The key is delivering learning that is timely, relevant, and easy to apply, helping people develop skills while staying productive.
A Practical Way Forward
Microlearning isn’t just a trend – it’s a practical way to support learning in modern workplaces. When learning is part of the job, employees grow without falling behind on their work. Watch the full presentation on our YouTube channel.
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