Microlectures

A microlecture is a brief video or audio recording, or multimedia presentation covering a single concept or topic. Originating as 60-second lectures, they have since expanded to include clear, concise descriptions of a single topic or idea in under 6 minutes. These lectures can be used in online, blended, or face-to-face contexts (see 7 Things You Should Know About Microlectures: https://library.educause.edu/resources/2012/11/7-things-you-should-know-about-microlectures).

Microlectures have several benefits and can raise the awareness and curiosity of students by:

  • Introducing a learning topic and its objectives with personal touch.

  • Providing learners with a brief overview of key concepts.

  • Demonstrating a single problem-solving procedure.

  • Explaining the step-by-step instructions needed to complete a summative assignment.

Watch this microlecture to learn more about the benefits of microlectures (see what I did there?)


Microlectures align with the cognitive psychology concept of chunking, or the capacity of human’s working memory to process or manipulate information.

A great primer on microlectures, with examples and resources can be found here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1niiDNQFKCpZ9QhzV9CYFEnNfU-YExlPPyW6CoayJLgU/edit?usp=sharing It was developed by the California Virtual Campus Online Education Initiative On slide 9 they discuss how to create a quick whiteboard video with Screencast-o-matic + OneNote + a paper tablet. If you recorded your lectures this Fall or Spring and want to extract clips that can be used as microlectures.

Additional Resources