Microlearning for Macro Impact: 15-Minute CPD Ideas That Stick
For most doctors, time is the one thing in shortest supply. Between back-to-back patients, relentless shift work, and the competing demands of paperwork and personal life, the idea of setting aside hours for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) can feel impossible.
But what if CPD didn’t need hours at all?
What if meaningful learning could happen in just 15 minutes—and stick?
Welcome to microlearning: small, focused bursts of education that fit into the cracks of a busy day, yet build into something substantial over time.
Why Microlearning Works for Clinicians
Microlearning isn't a gimmick—it’s grounded in how the adult brain learns best. Short, focused activities are more likely to hold attention, especially when they're directly relevant to clinical work. When these activities are spaced out and repeated, they improve retention and real-world application.
This is learning in context—timely, targeted, and immediately useful. It aligns with how clinicians think, problem-solve, and recall information in high-pressure environments.
The challenge isn’t finding time. It’s recognising the value of the moments we already have.
15-Minute CPD Ideas That Work
You’re likely already doing microlearning without realising it. The key is to capture it, reflect on it, and log it. Here are some high-yield options you can start using today:
Podcasts on the go
Listen to clinical podcasts during your commute or while walking between hospitals. Shows like Pomegranate Health, ICU Primary Prep, or The Curbsiders offer short, insightful updates. Osler also has a series of podcasts which you can search and record automatically.Lunchbreak updates
Watch a quick clinical update video from a specialty college or Osler’s content library while you eat.One-page guideline review
Spend 15 minutes with a key guideline—just one section or algorithm. Reflect on how it fits your current practice.Case-based reflections
Had a challenging or interesting case today? Take a few minutes to write what happened, what you learned, and what you’ll do differently. In Osler, that’s 0.5 hours of Reviewing Performance logged instantly.Journal scan
Read a single abstract from a major journal and jot down a note or discuss it with a peer. That’s both educational and reflective.Quick audit or case review
Log a few patient cases in your Osler portfolio. You get 0.1 hours per patient and another 0.1 per procedure—all under Measuring Outcomes. It takes less time than an espresso run.
From Minutes to Meaning: Making It Count
The power of microlearning isn’t just in its efficiency—it’s in its consistency. A 15-minute activity, once a day, adds up to over 90 hours a year. But more importantly, it creates a habit of reflection, enquiry, and improvement that shapes your clinical judgement long after the CPD deadline has passed.
Osler makes this easy. Log each activity in Scratchnotes, write a few lines in the Reflection Tool, or drop an activity straight into your CPD Portfolio. It’s fully searchable, audit-ready, and—most importantly—useful for your future self.
What About the Harder Categories?
Microlearning fits naturally into the Educational Activities and Reviewing Performance categories. But what about Measuring Outcomes, the category that causes the most headaches?
Here’s how to chip away at MO in micro-sized chunks:
Log every patient and procedure using Osler’s clinical portfolio. These small entries accumulate quickly.
At year’s end, spend an hour reviewing your logbook for trends—anything from common presentations to treatment patterns. This counts as self-audit, and is claimable under MO.
Join a Case Review webinar on Osler. Each session delivers 90 minutes of MO-compliant learning—no travel, no fluff.
Attend on-site meetings during your shift—M&M meetings, patient review discussions, even safety huddles. Many are claimable under MO or RP, depending on content.
Building the Habit
Start small. Set a simple goal:
“One learning activity, every day, for a week. Just 15 minutes.”
Make it part of your wind-down after a shift, your morning commute, or your pre-coffee ritual. Use Osler to capture what you did and what you learned—even if it’s just a screenshot and a sentence.
With repetition, this becomes more than CPD. It becomes a habit of lifelong learning—deliberate, focused, and personalised to your practice.
Final Thoughts: CPD That Works for You
CPD doesn’t need to be a burden. It doesn’t need to compete with your clinic, your family, or your sleep.
With microlearning, CPD can become part of your daily rhythm—short, sharp, and satisfying. Not just a tick-box, but a meaningful way to grow as a doctor.
You don’t need to find more time. You just need to use the time you already have.