Do your students complain that online training videos are too long, or that module quizzes take hours to finish? Long and overloaded instruction often leads to distraction and procrastination because the cognitive load is too heavy, reducing learners’ retention. One effective strategy instructional designers can use is microlearning. Microlearning delivers content in small, focused, bite-sized units that support practical learning and make information easier to revisit.

Instead of presenting everything in a single lesson, designers can divide content into short videos, interactive scenarios, or quick quizzes, each targeting one clear objective.

For example, rather than a one-hour tutorial on using a certain application, learners could complete several 5-minute modules on specific tasks. Incorporating retrieval practice, spaced repetition, and immediate application also helps learners retain information more effectively while staying engaged throughout the learning experience.