Companies around the world are encouraging their teams to upskill. It’s a valuable initiative from both a business and personal perspective. Continuous professional development can help individuals avoid career stagnation, improve job satisfaction and promote a healthy work-life balance.
However, finding the time for employee training can be challenging in increasingly competitive industries. Employees are consistently pushed to work harder and be more productive. Taking the time to train and upskill in areas that interest you may not always be feasible during working hours. After-hours training can impact happiness and an individual’s family life, increasing stress for employees.
The solution to this problem can be found in microlearning. In this article, we look at what microlearning courses are and recommend 10 courses that can be completed in under 45 minutes.
What is a Microlearning Course?
Microlearning courses provide an engaging digital learning experience that can be completed in 10-45 minutes. What makes microlearning examples easy to adopt is their bite-sized chunks of information, often accessible on mobile devices through microlearning apps. This makes them easy to fit into even the busiest employee schedule. You can learn about other benefits of microlearning courses in our blog.
With that in mind, let’s look at 10 free microlearning courses that can help you learn new skills and knowledge in under 45 minutes.
Who Says Learning Has To Be Costly?
Access our comprehensive library of free courses today1. Basic Time Management in Teams Course
Time management is a critical skill that many people have yet to master. Effective time management can help you prioritise tasks, delegate duties and reduce stress. This microlearning course provides insights into digital tools and techniques that you can use to manage your time and collaborate effectively. If you’re looking for time management tips for small business owners, this course will equip you with practical strategies to balance daily operations while maintaining productivity. By the end of the course, you’ll have the skills you need to ensure the success of work projects that require input from multiple people.
Scope:
- Strategic delegation to optimise productivity
- Time management tools to streamline workflows and enhance coordination
- Maintaining a healthy balance between professional responsibilities and personal well-being
- Assessing and refining time management strategies
- Mastering the art of setting and maintaining boundaries when it comes to your time
- Scheduling and prioritising tasks to meet team goals
Cost: Free
2. Strategic Thinking Course
Strategic thinking is about finding innovative solutions to problems that can help professionals and organisations navigate changing environments. This course examines theoretical concepts and their practical applications within a workplace. You’ll learn to conduct market analyses, identify patterns in trends, and address potential risks, ultimately using critical thinking to harness a sustainable competitive edge.
Scope:
- Using strategic thinking to analyse complex situations and develop effective plans
- Differentiate between strategic and operational thinking
- Develop a strategic mindset based on perspective, curiosity, creativity and adaptability
- Analytical skills like environmental scanning, SWOT analysis and risk assessment
- Decision-making through the use of frameworks and ethical considerations
- Long-term problem-solving strategies through root cause analysis, brainstorming and collaboration
- Applying strategic thinking in personal and professional contexts
Cost: Free
3. Stress Management Course
Stress management is a popular topic in microlearning courses, and it’s easy to understand why. This course helps learners understand stress and its diverse origins. With this knowledge, participants will be equipped to manage stress effectively and prioritise their health and well-being. You’ll be learning stress management techniques through practical exercises on mastering relaxation, mindfulness, time management strategies, and cultivating social support networks.
Scope:
- Understanding and recognising the physical and psychological responses to challenging situations
- Identifying causes and symptoms of stress
- Developing stress management techniques and time management strategies
- Significance of social support in reducing stress and building resilience
- Applying cognitive behavioural therapy principles and mindfulness practices to reduce stress
Cost: Free
4. Motivating Teams Course
Inspiring teams to work towards a shared vision is a challenge in any modern business. It takes careful communication, empathy and understanding. This is one of those microlearning courses that is a good fit for anyone. Whether you’re a leader or want to motivate colleagues and foster a positive work culture, you’ll gain knowledge and practical skills to ensure collective success.
Scope:
- Role of motivation in boosting engagement, productivity and innovation
- Strategies for setting clear, achievable goals
- Constructive feedback techniques
- Empowering team members through meaningful tasks and involved decision-making
- Managing resistance and burnout, and fostering open communication
- Best practices for developing a positive work culture
Cost: Free
5. Goal Setting Course
This is another of the microlearning courses that can be applied to personal and professional lives. Setting clear, specific and achievable goals isn’t restricted to business. This course teaches you how to develop realistic goals using various techniques and overcome procrastination. Your training will include productivity and time management tips for developing and sticking to action plans to help you accomplish your objectives.
Scope:
- Understanding the importance of setting professional and personal goals
- Different types of goals
- SMART framework for setting specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound goals
- Techniques for goal-setting and prioritisation using methods like the Eisenhower Time Management Matrix
- Developing a plan by detailing actionable steps, establishing deadlines, and anticipating obstacles
- Strategies for staying motivated, building accountability and managing setbacks
- Importance of self-care, stress management and visualising success in achieving goals
Cost: Free
6. Project Management Basic Course
Managing projects is a skill that even seasoned professionals need to hone. This eLearning course looks at the fundamentals of managing teams, delegating tasks, working within tight deadlines and sticking to project budgets. Whether you’re a new leader or want to keep up with the latest best practice tips, you’ll learn theory and practical skills to enhance your management style.
Scope:
- The importance of project management in achieving organisational goals
- Key elements of project management including objectives, scope, stakeholders, constraints, risks and resources
- Techniques for planning, leading, stakeholder management, risk mitigation and effective communication
- Methodologies and frameworks that suit various project types
Cost: Free
7. Use Effective Work Habits Course
Working productively in the retail industry takes careful time management and developing routines that maximise effectiveness. Designed with retail workers in mind, this course provides practical examples and interactive exercises for improving work habits, prioritising customer service, and working smarter, not harder.
Scope:
- Using resources for effective time management and task completion
- Importance of customer service in enhancing satisfaction and fostering loyalty
- Collaboration through communication and coordination
- Professionalism and maintaining your establishment’s reputation
- Workplace etiquette in the retail industry
- Taking initiative through problem-solving and informed decision-making
- Maintaining ethical standards and reporting unethical behaviour
Cost: Free
8. Attention to Detail Course
They say ‘the devil is in the details’, but understanding which details are important is a skill in itself. This microlearning course looks at cognitive learning theory, and how it can be applied to everyday work and life. Delving into perception, memory and concentration, you’ll tackle practical exercises that will help you enhance observational skills, notice subtle details, and minimise errors. This course is a good fit for those who want to improve their professional and personal lives by paying attention to the right details.
Scope:
- Observation and analysis for improving accuracy
- Practical mindfulness skills for enhancing perception and observation
- Memory and knowledge retention techniques
- Incorporating attention to detail into daily routines
- Overcoming challenges, building resilience and cultivating a growth mindset
Cost: Free
9. Basic Bookkeeping Course
Financial management is a challenging topic for many. However, this e-learning course provides the basics of bookkeeping, helping business owners and employees better understand important terminology, software and financial ethics. By the end of the training, you’ll be able to navigate tax laws and regulatory reporting, handling sensitive financial information with integrity and professionalism. This is one of many microlearning courses that are valuable additions to company compliance training.
Scope:
- Fundamentals of bookkeeping and how it differs from accounting
- Bookkeeping terminology and their importance in maintaining records
- Classify and manage financial data for business analysis and reporting
- Principles of double-entry bookkeeping for accuracy and completeness of financial records
- Preparing and analysing key financial statements
- Accounting software and its benefits
- Ethical bookkeeping and legal considerations
Cost: Free
10. Basic Kitchen Operations Course
Take your cooking skills from a hobby to an art. This is one of our microlearning courses that can help you develop personal skills as well as having applications in a hospitality setting. It provides the foundations for creating beautiful dishes while maintaining food safety. Through practical lessons on knife skills, cooking techniques, food and equipment organisation and time management, you’ll learn how to create innovative and attractively plated dishes.
Scope:
- Basics of kitchen safety and managing hazards like sharp objects and hot surfaces
- Essential knife skills for chopping, slicing and dicing
- Essential culinary tools and how to use them
- Food prep and organisation for streamlining the cooking process
- Tips for reading, executing and innovating on recipes
- Presentation and plating skills
- Kitchen time management and planning techniques
Cost: Free
Other Cloud Assess Microlearning Courses and Resources
If you’re looking for more microlearning courses, check out some of our curated lists:
- Top 10 Analytical and Critical Thinking Courses
- 10 Courses for Efficient Workers
- 15 Best Courses For Professional Development
- Top 10 Power Skills Courses for Team Leaders and Management
