We wrap up 11 key microlearning content examples you could use to increase engagement and retention.

Learners need training that is quick, available and related to them.

This is why microlearning is now an essential part of learning.

By breaking down content into small, focused bursts, this approach makes it much simpler to absorb new skills and put them to use right away.

With human attention spans now under 8.5 seconds and Gen Z entering the workforce, the demand for TikTok-style microlearning has surged. Embracing this strategy is no longer optional; it is vital.

But how do you incorporate microlearning best practices into your learning strategy?

Well, we walk you through:

• What microlearning is
• Why you should use microlearning
• Microlearning examples
• Microlearning in practice

Let’s get started.

TL;DR ⚡

Microlearning uses short, focused training bursts to improve engagement and retention. We explore various examples, from videos to quizzes, to help you implement this strategy effectively. Plus, we detail how an LMS like BuildEmpire can help you make microlearning a part of every day.

What is microlearning?

Microlearning is a training approach that delivers content in small, focused bursts.

They usually last between 2-10 minutes.

Instead of overwhelming learners with lengthy courses or dense information, microlearning focuses on one objective or topic at a time, making it easier to digest and retain.

Microlearning formats could include:

• Short videos
• Podcasts or audio snippets
• Scenario-based learning modules

The key idea? Bite-sized learning, big impact.

But let’s look at reasons why you need microlearning before we delve into too many microlearning content types:

Why you should use microlearning examples in your eLearning strategy

If you’re not already sold on using microlearning, then we have a few key reasons up our sleeves.

As more and more L&D professionals shift to microlearning, it’s important to centre your reasons for shifting, and make sure it’s not just because it’s trendy.

1. Better engagement

Learners are more likely to stay focused during short, interactive sessions.

Microlearning plays well with short attention spans and modern learners’ preference for on-demand content, with learners reporting a 30-55% increase in motivation.

That way, you can increase learner engagement and hopefully promote users to engage with more content, which increases learning opportunities. 

And it doesn’t stop there, productivity also rises up to 17-30% post training.

2. Higher retention

Studies show that learners retain information better when it’s delivered in small, relevant chunks. It can even double retention.

Spaced repetition and reinforcement techniques are easier to implement with microlearning.

3. On-the-go learning

Microlearning is often mobile-friendly, giving learners the flexibility to learn whenever and wherever they want, which is perfect for today’s remote or hybrid workforces.

But it’s not just that.

By offering mobile learning, you give your learners the power to learn on their terms.

Related: Building a seamless learner experience across devices

4. Just-in-time learning

Need to brush up on a process right before a meeting? Microlearning can deliver quick, targeted refreshers exactly when learners need them.

Just-in-time training can be a super-effective method of improving knowledge.

5. Scalable and cost-effective

Microlearning modules are typically quicker and cheaper to produce than traditional eLearning courses. 53-65% in fact say onboarding is faster with microlearning.

That makes them ideal for fast-paced businesses or organisations with tight L&D budgets. Or for those of us out there with smaller L&D teams.

Related: Complete guide to microlearning: benefits, challenges and best practices

Microlearning examples (content types)

When considering microlearning, you might be wondering, ‘What does this content actually look like?’

Well, we wrap up some key microlearning examples that you could incorporate.

They include:

• Short videos
• Interactive quizzes
• Flashcards
• Audio clips
• Daily tips or reminders
• Social learning
• Gamified microchallenges
• Branching scenarios
• Animated infographics
• Short-scroll pages
• Action-based content

1. Short videos

Video is on the rise, and with the introduction of the ‘Gen Z’ employees across organisations in recent years, the ‘TikTok’ style of learning is showing no signs of slowing down.

For microlearning videos, you can create 2–5 minute videos explaining a single topic, process, or idea. You could include animations, talking-head videos, or screen recordings.

The great thing is you can make this type of microlearning as simple or as complicated as you like.

Use videos to introduce new concepts, demonstrate processes, or highlight real-life examples.

They’re highly engaging and ideal for visual learners.

Remember, you can embed them in onboarding journeys, sales enablement playlists, or just-in-time learning libraries.

Pro Tip 💡

We have lots of microlearning content types at BuildEmpire, including videos with H5P, so you can make your content interactive and more engaging.

Dive into the platform here.

2. Interactive quizzes

In most LMSs, you can build short, focused quizzes (multiple choice, true/false, drag-and-drop) used to reinforce knowledge.

These are great for retention and immediate feedback.

A top tip is to use quizzes after video modules or at the end of a learning path to test comprehension and identify knowledge gaps.

Related: The complete guide to instructional design

3. Flashcards

Digital or physical cards can be used to present a question or concept on one side and the answer or explanation on the other.

You could embed these in longer form courses, or you could use them as part of a dashboard to keep learning going.

These are perfect for spaced repetition and memorisation. You can use them to reinforce vocabulary, product features, or policy details. And as expected, they’re ideal for mobile learning and daily review habits.

4. Audio snippets and podcasts

Not everyone wants video or written content.

Some learners prefer audio.

You could create short audio clips (1–10 minutes) focused on a specific insight, story, or lesson.

This allows learners to consume content on the go, which is ideal for field teams, sales reps, or busy professionals.

And the use cases are huge. It could be used for leadership messages, expert tips, or cultural onboarding.

Related: How to deliver personalised learning at scale

5. Daily tips or nudges

Similarly to what we said about flashcards, you could create bespoke daily tips or nudges as part of your microlearning strategy.

This would look like small pieces of actionable advice delivered daily. It could be alerted via notification, live on the home page of the LMS, or work as a pop-up!

No matter how you use it, it can help to encourage continuous learning and behaviour change. It’s great for reinforcing cultural values, leadership tips, or soft skill development in small, daily chunks.

6. Social learning posts (peer tips)

User-generated or SME-curated posts shared via your workspaces in your LMS are incredibly valuable as part of a wider microlearning strategy.

They can help drive engagement, encourage knowledge sharing and informal learning, and obviously, build social learning.

Related: Key reasons sharing knowledge is so important

When it comes to creating a learning culture, this one is key.

7. Gamified micro-challenges

Gamification is something very much on the lips of L&D pros and for good reason.

Related: The role of gamification in eLearning

Short tasks or learning activities where users earn points, badges, or rewards can help you to incentivise learning and foster motivation.

You could use challenges weekly or monthly to reinforce learning goals and track progress across teams.

8. Branching scenarios

Branching scenarios give learners real choice by presenting a specific situation followed by multiple-choice options. Each decision a learner makes leads to a unique consequence.

This allows learners to see exactly the impact of their actions.

It’s a really interactive way of practising decision-making in a safe, risk-free environment. This will help build confidence and critical-thinking skills before applying them in real-world situations.

9. Animated infographics

Animated infographics can bring complex data and multi-step processes to life. 

It can make them more engaging and easier to understand than a simple static image. 

They are ideal for showing a process or a workflow and work well with highlighting crucial ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’. 

And that’s not all. They are quick and accessible, so they can offer the advantage of being quick reference guides that learners can save and revisit later to test out their knowledge. 

10. Short-scroll pages

Now with attention spans decreasing (-8.5 seconds) and working memory holding only 7 items, this is where short-scrolling pages can help grab attention.

Ensuring your content is broken down into bite-sized pieces so it’s continuous and mobile-friendly, as mobile learning is consistently on the rise.

Short-scroll pages replace rigid page-by-page clicking, meaning learners are more likely to flow through content at their own pace.

Related: 25+ microlearning statistics and trends for 2026

11. Action-based content

Action-based content is designed to help learners complete a single specific task. 

Instead of deep-diving into the theory behind a process, it provides the exact steps needed to solve a problem in under 5 minutes. 

It helps cut out the fluff. It focuses specifically on what the learner needs to do to deliver support directly in the flow of work.

How to break down a topic like onboarding into microlearning content

Let’s take employee onboarding, a traditionally day-long session or bloated eLearning module, and see how it can be segmented into microlearning units.

Original onboarding topics:

• Welcome to the company
• Company values and mission
• Org structure and team intros
• Compliance and policies
• Tech setup
• First-week expectations

For each of these topics, we can imagine the bloated eLearning module that follows, walking through every single tool the company uses, throwing lots of faces and names at new starters, and pushing tech and compliance down the new learner’s throat.

For a better ease into the working world at your company, you could add in some microlearning examples. 

We’re not the L&D content creation experts, you are, so we asked ChatGPT for some microlearning examples:

Microlearning examples:

1. Welcome video from the CEO: Humanises leadership and sets the tone.
2. Interactive org chart + meet your team: To help new hires understand who’s who.
3. Animated explainer: company values: Short animation highlighting core values.
4. Quiz: company policies & compliance: Quick assessment after reviewing key policies.
5. Tech setup guide: Easy walkthrough for setting up systems.
6. First-week checklist: Keeps the new hire on track without overwhelming them.

This approach gives new employees access to information when they need it, helps them retain more, and avoids information overload.

Ready to unlock the full power of microlearning?

Microlearning is now a core part of how modern learners learn. It’s not just a passing trend.

It has a huge impact on increasing engagement, boosting knowledge retention and seeing real-world results faster.

And the stats don’t lie. With 53-65% saying it boosts onboarding and productivity up 17-30% post training, microlearning is a learning method you can’t afford to miss out on.

Ready to try it out? 

You can start small with one of the content formats listed above, and watch how quickly your training program becomes more effective.

The right LMS will help you do it with ease.

At BuildEmpire, a platinum Totara partner, we have over 20 years of experience delivering learning experiences that deliver measurable results.

We support our customers with microlearning methods that fit their organisation. And they’ve seen just how effective it can be.

Book a demo and see how we can support better learning outcomes across your organisation.

FAQs

What is microlearning in employee training?

Microlearning is a training method that delivers short, focused lessons, usually between 2 -10 minutes long. It helps employees learn faster, improve knowledge retention, and access training on demand.

What are examples of microlearning content?

Examples of microlearning include short videos, quizzes, flashcards, podcasts, gamified challenges, and branching scenarios. These formats make workplace learning more engaging and easier to complete.

Why is microlearning effective for workplace learning?

Microlearning improves engagement by breaking training into bite-sized lessons that are easier to understand and remember. It also supports mobile learning, onboarding, and just-in-time training.