Why Microlearning Works (and Why I Built Chunks Around It)

As I mentioned in the previous blog post, when I started working on Chunks, the whole idea was simple: I wanted a way to learn something meaningful in the tiny spaces of my day. The same spaces I usually filled with doomscrolling. Five minutes waiting for my coffee to brew, or the ten minutes I spend on the tram. Those moments add up.

That’s where microlearning comes in. It turns small pockets of time into learning opportunities.

Initially, I made it for myself as a tool to use, not really thinking of it being a product that I should share with others. After a while, and after getting good feedback from friends and family, I wondered if there's any scientific evidence of the benefits (or at least positives of microlearning) and yes, there really is!

A recent review found that microlearning can significantly improve both learning outcomes and retention, with a surprisingly strong effect size. You can read it here: https://publikasi.teknokrat.ac.id/index.php/jurnalmathema/article/view/517

Another study points out something that I personally love about this approach: microlearning naturally fits lifelong and informal learning. You don’t need to sit down for an hour. You don’t need a notebook. You just learn, a little at a time, and it sticks. Here: https://esj.eastasouth-institute.com/index.php/esle/article/download/497/409/3737

If Chunks can help replace just a bit of doomscrolling with curiosity, that already feels like a win to me.

If you haven’t tried the app yet, you can download it on iOS and Android. And as always, if you have ideas for topics or features, feel free to email me at hello@chunks.app.

Thanks for reading,
Andy