Designing a microlearning piece
Step 1 / 4·One piece, one behaviour
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Learning objectives — after this module you will:
- Define one specific behaviour per piece
- Write a piece using the three-part structure
- Choose the right format and know when microlearning doesn't fit
One piece, one behaviour
The principle that determines the whole set's quality.
The first step isn't writing content — it's writing the BEHAVIOUR. If you can't state what the learner will do differently after this piece, the piece shouldn't exist yet.
Two ways to define a piece's topic
Naming a topic
“'This piece is about feedback skills.'”
Far too broad for a short piece. You'll end up with a theory summary nobody can apply — exactly what microlearning exists to avoid.
Naming an observable behaviour
“'After this piece, a manager describes specific behaviour rather than commenting on personality when giving feedback — saying "you interrupted the customer twice" instead of "you're impatient".'”
Narrow enough to teach in three minutes, specific enough to observe whether they do it, and the learner knows exactly what to change.
The one-sentence test
Write this sentence for every piece: 'After this piece, [who] will [do what specifically] when [what situation]'. If you can't fill all three blanks, narrow the scope before writing any content.
Key takeaway: Every piece starts from an observable behaviour: who does what specifically in which situation.