Before you invest in microlearning, ask these 2 questions
This article originally appeared on 1st90.com and is republished here with permission.
Not all microlearning is created equal. These 2 questions get to the heart of what really matters.
As attention spans fall, demand for microlearning is exploding. Last month’s Association for Talent Development (ATD) Conference & Expo featured a dozen microlearning providers in the Expo alone.
One popular conference session, titled “Microlearning and AI: L&D’s Power Couple,” had to be locked down because the crowd exceeded the ballroom’s capacity. After seeing so many solutions up close, one thing is clear: not all microlearning is created equal. If you're evaluating microlearning options for your organization, ask these two questions to cut through the noise and get to what really matters.
1. Will people actually use it?
At ATD and through working with clients and partners, I’ve had the chance to explore dozens of microlearning offerings side-by-side. While many providers are doing impressive work around admin tools, integrations, and customization options, I noticed a striking pattern: most aren't actually designing for the learner. The user experience often feels clunky, uninspired, or like an afterthought entirely.
At 1st90, we believe that learning only works if people actually engage with it. That’s why we’ve built a consumer-grade experience—one that feels as intuitive and compelling as the best mobile apps people use in their personal lives. Our activation and engagement data speaks for itself:
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More than 75% of registered users actively log in and complete lessons.
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The average user invests over 3 hours each month learning with 1st90—engaging in daily microlessons of 5–10 minutes, contributing to group reflections, and taking meaningful action on the job.
It’s not just about access. It’s about interaction. When microlearning feels good to use, people keep coming back—and that’s when meaningful outcomes become possible.
This snapshot from a recent 1st90 client impact report shows key engagement metrics and a bar chart of daily Learning Moments. Each bar represents one day, and each segment of the bar is a different type of Learning Moment: taking action on the job, contributing to social discussions, engaging with interactive scenarios, etc.
2. Will people change their behavior as a result of it?
Let’s be honest: behavior change at work is hard. That’s why many microlearning providers don’t even try to drive it. Or if they do, it’s more of a bolt-on option than a core objective.
1st90 was built differently. From day one, we’ve put behavior change at the center of the learning experience. Whether we’re building a fully customized 1st90 journey or running a 30-day Comet path following a live event, we always begin by asking a version of this foundational question:
What do we want people to do differently at work by the end of this experience?”
Then, we design every step to support that change—in bite-sized increments that fit into the rhythm of a workday.
And the results are measurable. In a recent 30-day path for retail store leaders nationwide, we saw dramatic shifts in targeted leadership behaviors:
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15% increase in using data to drive decisions
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17% increase in delegating work to their teams each shift
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39% increase in giving feedback to their teams each shift
These were not vague impressions, and they weren’t just shifts in quantity. They were supported by usage data and brought to life by participants’ in-app reflections and discussions, where they shared stories about delegating more effectively, giving clearer and timelier feedback, and making smarter decisions in realtime. The quality of these behaviors improved along with their frequency.
In another engagement with a Fortune 100 client, we supported an immersive multi-day manager training with a 6-week post-training Comet, or “long tail” path. The client was tracking 19 distinct shifts in attitudes and behaviors. All 19 improved during the training. With Comet, all 19 improved even further six weeks later—sustained and extended by the daily nudges, reflections, and action prompts we delivered.
Bookmark these questions
When you're considering investing in microlearning, ask these two questions to zero in on what really matters:
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Will people actually use it?
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Will people change their behavior as a result of it?
Most microlearning tools can deliver content. Very few can deliver outcomes. At 1st90, we’re focused on both.
Because in the end, that’s what moves the needle for your learners, your business, and your bottom line.
The AI factor in microlearning
Artificial Intelligence is rapidly transforming nearly every aspect of our lives, and microlearning is no exception. At 1st90, we're leading the charge in using AI to redefine adult learning and professional development.
Our AI-powered microlearning platform, Comet, revolutionizes how organizations sustain impact from events like trainings, offsites, and sales kickoffs. Trusted by global innovators including Uber, J. Crew, SAP, and Dow Jones, Comet leverages advanced AI to quickly deliver customized learning reinforcement and actionable steps tailored to your content.
Foozi, Comet’s AI-powered execution coach and concierge, ensures instant, personalized access to all event materials and concepts, becoming your organization's ultimate learning partner.
Watch this space for more on how AI is shaping the future of microlearning, and how 1st90 continues innovating at the intersection of adult learning and behavior change.
Our thought leader partners at 1st90 are experts in microlearning, habit-building, and activating new behaviors in the flow of work
Contact us or talk to your Advantage partner about the award-winning, AI-enhanced 1st90 learning solutions we can bring to your organization, including COMET - a new way to help your people reinforce and act on key insights from all your live events once they’re back at work, and The Manager Lab, an ecosystem for developing world-class managers.
1st90 has won key awards in talent development, including:
- A 2023 Brandon Hall Group HCM Excellence Gold Award in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for Best Advance in Leadership Development for Women
- A 2020 Brandon Hall Group Excellence in Technology Silver Award for Best Advance in Mobile Learning Technology
- The People Team Supplier of Excellence for Palo Alto Networks
- Before you invest in microlearning, ask these 2 questions - June 24, 2025