The two questions to ask before you invest in microlearning
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 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.
A session at the ATD Conference on Microlearning and AI filled the room to capacity, and had some attendees trying to peek in from the hallway.
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:
More than 75% of registered users actively log in and complete lessons.
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.
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.
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.
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:
15% increase in using data to drive decisions
17% increase in delegating work to their teams each shift
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 six-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:
Will people actually use it?
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.