We all have a desire to expand our knowledge, and whether that’s in the field we call home or our professional careers, we want to foster new skills that will make us well-rounded and better individuals and employees.
The problem?
In 2025, packaging and supply chain management professionals are busier than ever—both in their 9–5 roles and personal pursuits. Diving into dense, long-form content after a full day of work and personal responsibilities is not desirable or, in most cases, effective. When our minds are worn thin and our bodies are exhausted from hours of work, we struggle to learn through traditional formats—we are disengaged, unable to retain information properly, and therefore, not really continuing our education effectively.
So, what’s the solution? How do we fulfill our desire to be lifelong learners and develop fresh expertise despite our schedules and overloaded brains? One simple way is to leverage microlearning to increase retention, motivation, satisfaction, and reduce mental fatigue.
What is Microlearning?
Microlearning refers to an educational approach that breaks down difficult topics into bite-sized lessons and short, digestible modules. Modules typically take the form of infographics, shorter readings, videos and animations, discussion boards, interactive slide shows, and more.
Think Duolingo or ourselves here at the Packaging School—offering lessons that are engaging, easily accessible, and relatively brief. Microlearning typically includes an aspect of gamification as well—including daily streaks, badges, points (experience points or XP), interactive elements and avatars, etc.
In some cases, microlearning doesn’t even feel like learning . . . but don’t be mistaken. A flexible and fun approach to learning is extremely effective, especially for working professionals who don’t have the time and energy to dedicate to conventional learning methods.
To explore the rise of microlearning and its benefits, we look to a June 2024 research study called “Exploring learner satisfaction and the effectiveness of microlearning in higher education” published in The Internet and Higher Education. The study explores the popularity of microlearning in both corporate and academic settings and seeks to understand its efficacy as a learning approach.
Main Factors of Microlearning Adoption
According to the study, the main factors leading to an adoption of microlearning are “mobile devices, social connectedness, and time scarcity" (Torgeson, 2021).
The study also highlights that microlearning has high levels of satisfaction and acceptance because it aligns with the growing “informal learning culture”—in other words, the consumption of YouTube style videos, TikToks, and other short form content to learn information in a just-in-time format (Taylor & Hung, 2022).
The COVID-19 pandemic is also a major event that led to the rise in digitalizing numerous aspects of our daily lives, including education and work. Even years after the pandemic, it would seem the world has realized the efficiency of digital and remote formats for learning.
The Benefits of Microlearning
Microlearning & Student Motivation
When it comes to motivation, “research shows that microlearning improves student learning motivation due to the benefits of self-paced, any time, and anywhere learning, with microlearning considered to be flexible and stress-free" (Fidan, 2023 & Kohkne, Foung, & Zou, 2023). Whether you're in line for a coffee or about to board a plane, microlearning provides the opportunity for acquiring new skills in an accessible and fun way, which motivates students of all ages to continue their education.
Furthermore, microlearning increases student motivation by offering flexibility and the ability for students to have autonomy over their education (Puah, Bin Mohmad Khalid, Looi, & Kohr, 2022). Microlearning empowers students to learn at their own pace, with no fear of the professor moving too fast or too slow or the typical distractions of a classroom interrupting your study.
Microlearning & Student Satisfaction
Aside from the findings that microlearning boosts learner motivation, the study also notes that “most research shows a high level of student acceptance of microlearning, receiving above average satisfaction ratings, especially when microlearning complements other learning methods” (Taylor & Hung, 2022). High levels of satisfaction when compared to conventional education formats is likely due to the autonomy the student has with the learning process, gamification strategies, and other components.
Two studies on microlearning in post-secondary education institutions conducted during the COVID-19 lockdown found that overall student satisfaction rates were “over 90%” (Wang et al. 2021). The study notes research was conducted for medical students and in hospitals, finding increased student satisfaction and increased knowledge—especially when video-based microlearning was utilized (Zolfaghari, Shirzadi, & Motamed, 2023 & Roman-Sanchez et al., 2023).
Microlearning & Knowledge Retention
To explore the link between microlearning and knowledge retention, we focus on a 2019 study published in the National Library of Medicine titled “Using Microlearning on Mobile Applications to Increase Knowledge Retention and Work Performance: A Review of Literature.”
The study found that microlearning can be effective in “negating the Ebbinghaus forgetting curve.” The “Ebbinghaus curve” was a theory developed in 1880 by German Psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus, a man recognized as one of the first people to investigate the link between memory, recall, and microlearning. The study defines the Ebbinghaus curve (“forgetting curve”) as:
"Relevant information is lost through a time when there is no attempt to retain it. A typical ‘forgetting curve’ hypothesizes that participants tend to forget more than 50% of their newly learned material 20 minutes immediately after the lesson ends. Moreover, that learned percentage falls to 40% in nine hours, and then to 24% in 31 days if no revision or repeat learning takes place and all other variables remain constant.”
The graphic above shows the Ebbinghaus curve in visual format. Microlearning can help counteract the Ebbinghaus curve by reintroducing concepts and lessons in smaller increments, helping retain knowledge over an extended period of time. Think of a concept you learned in college or high school that you have not engaged with in years. You might vaguely remember some minor details, but the lack of repetition and reintroduction allows the Ebbinghaus curve to take its toll.
This makes microlearning a strong tool to not only learn new skills, but also to increase retention and revive prior knowledge that has been hindered by the “forgetting curve.” Compare it to the process of learning a new language—taking 5+ years of Spanish or French is great in high school and college, but the lack of repetition and practice over the years can lead to forgetting virtually everything learned. But tapping into microlearning tools like Duolingo, you realize repetition is key to retention and staying sharp—and the same applies for corporate settings.
Microlearning & Mental Fatigue
And finally, does microlearning help students avoid mental fatigue? The study notes: “The short duration of microlearning content reduces the mental fatigue caused by longer lessons. Students can finish a quick experience, grasp the key concept, and take a break. This method gives time for the learned material to be processed and indexed from short-term to long-term memory.”
The study also highlights how the lack of mental fatigue often leads to students finishing microlearning programs at a faster pace, meaning they boost their knowledge on key topics and trends faster and with high levels of retention. Noting that a “constantly over-stimulated brain cannot handle the cascade efficiently.”
To dive into the neuroscience behind this phenomenon, the study states:
“According to Kilpatrick and Bressloff, if not given time to rest and recalibrate its neurotransmitter and synaptic vesicle stockpile, the neurons temporarily fail to fire and cannot transmit an input signal, leading to synaptic fatigue or short-term synaptic depression. This negates proper long-term memory neuronal connections.
“Microlearning uses the conceptual model of neuronal regulation and advocates preventing over-stimulations or cognitive exhaustion via multiple time-spaced sessions.”
Microlearning for the Packaging Industry
As we’ve explored in this article, and researchers have proved for decades, microlearning is an effective and popular educational approach known to reduce mental fatigue and boost retention, satisfaction, and student motivation.
Similar to the authors of the studies referenced in this article, we see value in both conventional and microlearning formats, seeing the best results when they are used to complement one another. However, as the world changes and professionals absorb more and more responsibilities, microlearning proves to be the best option to allow folks to retain information, foster new skills, and avoid mental fatigue in the learning process.
Interested in learning more about packaging science, sustainability, and packaging design in an online, microlearning format? Check out our library of 85+ courses and 4 certificate programs covering the art, science, and business of packaging design here!
We also offer custom team training and library models for you to bring the benefits of microlearning to your entire team, helping them retain newfound knowledge learned on the job, avoid the Ebbinghaus curve, and develop new skills that will help them make the most of trends and shifts that impact the packaging industry. We have created library models for Fortune 500 CPG companies and small packaging operations alike.
Reach out to info@packagingschool.com to learn more!
