Mobile learning (“mLearning”) is a beneficial tool for organizations both big and small to help improved knowledge retention and increase employee engagement. These factors are important when you consider the fact that workforces around the world are at a turning point, in which Baby Boomers and Gen-Xers are preparing to retire, making way for mobile-dependent Millennial and Gen-Z cohorts.
While mLearning as a concept has been around for the last few years, there has been a steep acceleration in its implementation in the last couple of years, and it is utilized by about half of organizations worldwide. This reflects the increased efficacy of mLearning, and also why it is being seen as the future of learning.
Why Mobile Learning is a ‘Must Have’
People are on their smart phones an average of 5 hours a day, so having the ability to learn on our smartphones is essential. Here are some compelling statistics that reaffirm how mLearning is no long just an option but a "must have":
70% of learners felt more motivated when training on a mobile device (as opposed to a computer).
Mobile eLearners typically study for 40 minutes longer than students using a desktop or tablet.
64% of learners find accessing their training content from a mobile device essential (Towards Maturity).
Smartphone learners complete course material 45% faster than those using a computer.
Mobile Learning Trends You Should Integrate into your Training Program
The future of mobile learning might look a little different than you’d expect. Here are some trends that will help make the leap into mobile-enabled learning and guide your learning approach into the future.
1. BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) Policy
Organizations worldwide are acknowledging the push from the learners to get the flexibility to learn on the device of their choice. The number of mobile-only users (upwards of 27%) has grown, and now surpasses desktop-only users (14%). This trend will only continue, and will trigger a wider adoption of mLearning by organizations of all sizes.
2. Usage of mLearning for Microlearning
Microlearning enables traditional eLearning courses to be mapped onto multiple microlearning nuggets. These can be taken on the go on any device, and this convenience and accessibility will continue to make mLearning flourish.
3. Conversion from Mobile-Friendly Method to Mobile First
With the maturing of mobile learning usage as the primary learning format, we are already seeing a clear distinction in the way mLearning training programs are being designed. The selection of adaptive designs vis-à-vis designs that are optimized for mobile devices is driven by how the content will be consumed. This trend will continue to see wider adoption in 2018.
4. The Usage Of mLearning For Informal Learning
The usage of mLearning to support traditional eLearning through Performance Support Tools, or PSTs, has been around for a few years. It has multitude options to design them in high-impact formats that are optimized for mobile devices.
5. Personalized Learning Paths
You can leverage on the granularity of microlearning nuggets to create custom or personalized learning paths. Personalization can be offered based on the learner profile, self-assessment of proficiency, or through a pre-test. Personalized learning paths help make learning more relevant for learners.
6. Curation
Organizations worldwide acknowledge that there is an extensive amount of supporting content that is often available on their intranet, but it is ignored. The answer is to leverage on this through curation. Curation uses specialized expertise to put together learning assets and paths for the learners. The curated content can offer primary training or support primary training.
How Digital Content Creators Can Help
Our management and staff believe that learning is a right and not a privilege. We also believe it must be available to every individual who desires it. Our staff works with educators and trainers from around the globe to develop and distribute the latest theories and techniques in eLearning courses.
We can help your organization with several new trends developing in mLearning, including:
BYOD: At Digital Content Creators (“DCC”) we make sure we understand the demographics of the learners we will be developing for. Graphic and Instructional design must be able to function on any device.
Micro Learning: DCC can help your organization develop quick bites or bursts of subject matter that are delivered and consumed/retained in 3 minute intervals. These must be focused, interactive and engaging.
Gamification: Gamfication is a trending new way to motivate learners when used in the right situation. A good instructional designer will know the specifics of the intended learners and will create "games" to motivate them to finish the course. The addition of credible rewards will also motivate the learner and is being used by more and more instructors in both education and corporate training.
Scenario Based eLearning: This is the use of storytelling and branching scenarios that mimic the learner’s actual environment. A good instructional designer can engage the learner by relating a story that relates to the learners and motivates them to finish the course.
Contact us today for a free consultation and find out how we can take your learning and development program into the future!
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