sometimes size does matter:
when microlearning becomes bitesize boredom.

In recent years microlearning has been pitched as the answer to modern learning challenges. Short, sharp and to the point, it promises faster results and better retention. And the research backs some of this up, studies show that microlearning can boost knowledge retention by 25 – 60% compared to longer modules with completion rates averaging around 80%, compared to 15 – 20% for traditional eLearning. Learners are clear with their preferences too with more than 70% say they prefer short, focused learning to drawn-out, hour-long sessions.

But there’s a catch. Microlearning is only effective when it still delivers meaning, depth and application. The danger is that in the rush to make things “bite-sized,” the content becomes shallow. People may click through and finish, but without context, story, or emotional connection, they won’t remember much beyond the next day.

Research into cognitive load theory shows that when learning is broken down too far, it fragments knowledge and leaves learners struggling to see the bigger picture. The result ends up with information being forgotten almost as quickly as it’s consumed. The solution is not to abandon microlearning, but to do it better.

That means building modules that focus on a single learning objective, but anchoring them in story and relevance so they feel human, not mechanical. It means spacing learning over time rather than cramming everything into one sitting, because spaced repetition has been proven to extend retention far beyond a one-time module. It also means designing for real life: mobile-first, available in the flow of work, and tested for actual impact rather than just completion.

We don’t count success by how many people finished a module. We measure whether what they learned changes how they think and act weeks and months later. Microlearning isn’t inherently better or worse than any other approach, but when it’s just “bite-sized boredom,” it fails learners just as badly as click-next eLearning ever did. Sometimes size really does matter, and the answer is not smaller for the sake of it, but meaningful, memorable and measurable.

Learning that lasts isn’t defined by how short it is, it’s defined by how strongly it connects. The future of microlearning isn’t about shrinking content, it’s about amplifying it’s meaning. When we get that balance right, the size doesn’t just fit, it sticks. You can see some of the Mindboost magic in action here.