Mikroõpe

Mikroõpe, or microlearning, is a learning approach that delivers content in small, self-contained units designed to be completed quickly. Each unit has a concise objective and focuses on a single idea or skill. Mikroõpe leverages digital delivery and is often accessed on mobile devices, enabling learners to engage in short sessions at the point of need.

Typical characteristics include short duration (commonly two to ten minutes), modular structure, explicit learning goals, and flexible access. Materials may combine text, graphics, short videos, quizzes, or interactive tasks. Units are designed for just-in-time use, reinforcement, or performance support rather than comprehensive courses.

Benefits include higher flexibility, better fit with busy schedules, ease of updating content, and improved recall through frequent retrieval practice. Microlearning supports skill acquisition and onboarding, and can be integrated into wider curricula as building blocks.

Challenges involve ensuring coherence across modules, avoiding fragmentation of learning, and aligning micro-units with broader learning outcomes and assessments. Poorly designed micro-units may oversimplify topics or overload learners with too many pieces. Effective mikroõpe requires thoughtful curation, pacing, and quality control.

Implementation considerations include content chunking strategies, clear learning objectives, engaging but concise formats, built-in assessments, and analytics to monitor completion and knowledge checks. It is commonly delivered via learning management systems or mobile learning apps and can complement longer courses or serve as performance support.

In Estonia, mikroõpe is widely used in education and corporate training as part of digital learning practices. It is promoted in Estonian educational technology literature as an approach that supports flexible learning and rapid skill development.