Evaluating the Usefulness of Microlearning to Adult Students in Higher Education: An Empirical Study in Singapore.

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Title: Evaluating the Usefulness of Microlearning to Adult Students in Higher Education: An Empirical Study in Singapore.
Authors: Yao, Shih-Ying1 (AUTHOR) syyao@suss.edu.sg, Ho, Yan Yin1 (AUTHOR)
Source: Adult Learning. Aug2025, Vol. 36 Issue 3, p162-175. 14p.
Subject Terms: *Microlearning, *Higher education, *Research methodology, *Part-time students, *Adult education, Empirical research
Geographic Terms: Singapore
Abstract: Adults at different life phases have become an important part of the student body in higher education. Helping adult students overcome challenges and improve their learning is thus a critical consideration for universities and colleges. Microlearning is an emerging approach in adult education in recent years. The core concept of microlearning is to chunk learning materials into bite-sized units. Although research has discussed the potential of using microlearning to help adult students in the higher education setting, this area is insufficiently studied. This study empirically evaluated the usefulness of microlearning for adult students' academic learning in the higher education setting. In this study, a microlearning module was designed for a research methods course at a local university in Singapore. Students taking this course were primarily adult learners who were enrolled in part-time undergraduate programs. The microlearning module was intended to be a supplementary resource to help adult students learn about critical considerations in writing a research proposal at their own pace. The final sample consisted of 98 adult students from various backgrounds. Participants were asked to complete a set of tests and surveys before and after they completed the microlearning module. Survey responses were also collected from participants during their learning process. All research activities could be completed online at each participant's own pace. Results from the study suggested that microlearning is an effective, efficient, and appealing approach for adult students in the higher education context. Overall, most adult learners in this study would recommend microlearning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Adult Learning is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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  Data: Evaluating the Usefulness of Microlearning to Adult Students in Higher Education: An Empirical Study in Singapore.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Yao%2C+Shih-Ying%22">Yao, Shih-Ying</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> syyao@suss.edu.sg</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ho%2C+Yan+Yin%22">Ho, Yan Yin</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Adult+Learning%22">Adult Learning</searchLink>. Aug2025, Vol. 36 Issue 3, p162-175. 14p.
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Microlearning%22">Microlearning</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Higher+education%22">Higher education</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+methodology%22">Research methodology</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Part-time+students%22">Part-time students</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Adult+education%22">Adult education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Empirical+research%22">Empirical research</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Singapore%22">Singapore</searchLink>
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  Data: Adults at different life phases have become an important part of the student body in higher education. Helping adult students overcome challenges and improve their learning is thus a critical consideration for universities and colleges. Microlearning is an emerging approach in adult education in recent years. The core concept of microlearning is to chunk learning materials into bite-sized units. Although research has discussed the potential of using microlearning to help adult students in the higher education setting, this area is insufficiently studied. This study empirically evaluated the usefulness of microlearning for adult students' academic learning in the higher education setting. In this study, a microlearning module was designed for a research methods course at a local university in Singapore. Students taking this course were primarily adult learners who were enrolled in part-time undergraduate programs. The microlearning module was intended to be a supplementary resource to help adult students learn about critical considerations in writing a research proposal at their own pace. The final sample consisted of 98 adult students from various backgrounds. Participants were asked to complete a set of tests and surveys before and after they completed the microlearning module. Survey responses were also collected from participants during their learning process. All research activities could be completed online at each participant's own pace. Results from the study suggested that microlearning is an effective, efficient, and appealing approach for adult students in the higher education context. Overall, most adult learners in this study would recommend microlearning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Adult Learning is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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        Value: 10.1177/10451595241280672
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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      – SubjectFull: Microlearning
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Higher education
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      – SubjectFull: Research methodology
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      – SubjectFull: Part-time students
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      – SubjectFull: Singapore
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              M: 08
              Text: Aug2025
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              Y: 2025
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