Microlearning is built on a simple idea: breaking complex topics down into bite-sized, easy-to-digest, and (hopefully) appetising lessons. In other words: a learning method for busy realists.
It’s the idea of delivering knowledge in short challenges instead of cramming everything into one single session. 5 minutes here, 5 minutes there, and before you know it, you’ve made real progress—without jarring the flow of your life.
Skills that stand the test of time
It’s not only the time-friendly aspect that’s enticing, though. You’d never build a wall by putting all the bricks at once: the wet cement would buckle and the wall wouldn’t stay up. Letting each brick dry before adding another makes it sturdy. And it’s the same with your brain—packing a large amount of information in at once makes it less likely to stick long-term. But, when we engage with information in short, focused bursts, we’re more likely to remember it long enough to apply it.
Chris, our founder, put it plainly the other day: “Learning doesn’t have to be a massive time commitment. If you take small steps consistently, you’ll see macro-level results. That’s the magic of microlearning.” (We also stole the header of this blog from his wise words.)
When he took an Advanced Modelling course in London years ago, he realised that—as smart as he is—he’d forgotten half of it by the end of the week. We could call this his lightbulb moment: setting him on a mission to reduce the risk of cognitive overload and increase the likelihood of retention when professionally upskilling.
Built for busy people
Microlearning can help squeeze learning into an already packed schedule—flipping the script by fitting into the tiny gaps without stepping away from work. Chris explains how 5miles uses this premise: “We don’t take you out of your workflow to learn. We integrate learning into it. People want flexible, on-demand learning that fits into their daily workflow.” That’s the key to making learning a habit rather than a hurdle.
Engagement that feels natural
The success of learning hinges on engagement. Chris breaks it down: “One of the biggest challenges we hear from clients is engagement. If learning isn’t fun, people won’t do it. That’s why we’ve designed 5miles to feel less like an obligation and more like a daily puzzle—something you can actually enjoy doing.”
A good learning experience is not only dynamic, but also keeps things relevant. The real magic happens when you can learn something that’s immediately applicable to your daily life. 5miles courses are designed to mirror real-world tasks, offering skills that can be applied—and therefore cemented—instantly.
The future of microlearning
If we want to keep growing our professional skills, learning needs to continue adapting to the way we work. And it looks like it will. The microlearning method that we use at 5miles is designed to align with how we consume information today, in the digital age.
AI is already playing a role in ensuring that content is tailored to individual needs even further, while seamless integration with workplace tools—think Microsoft Teams and Slack is moving towards even more effortless learning.
Chris gave us another little insight into what he thinks the future looks like for microlearning: “AI is already playing a role in tailoring learning journeys to individual needs. We’re also seeing learning embedded into everyday Microsoft work tools, for example, so learning is really becoming a seamless part of the workday.”
The beauty of adaptive learning and microlearning is in its simplicity. It’s just setting aside a few minutes a day. And those minutes are worth their weight in gold.
Over 25,000 engaged members are enjoying our range of courses in the current top in-demand data and digital workplace skills. Find the right course or you via our fresh course pages www.5miles.nl
