Mobile Learning
Introduction to Mobile Learning
As underscored by research from ResearchGate, “Talent Management: Conceptual Approaches and Practical Challenges,” investing in employee development is pivotal to achieving sustained competitive advantage. The LMS mobile revolution is just beginning, and we can expect to see even more innovative features and applications in the coming years.
Reducing desktop e-learning courses to fit on a smaller screen is only one aspect of mobile learning. It involves rethinking education as a whole to accommodate a mobile lifestyle. Consider brief lectures, interactive tests, and multimedia materials that staff members may work on during their lunch break, commute, or even while standing in line for coffee.
However, the real potential of mobile learning lies in its capacity to blend in with our everyday life. It’s not about making workers go through training courses that last an hour. Rather, the focus should be on giving people access to the resources and instruments they require at the precise moment they require them.
Enhanced Accessibility
Unmatched accessibility is one of the biggest benefits of mobile learning. Gone are the days when training occurred only in classrooms or desktop computers. When you use mobile learning, the world becomes your classroom.
The impact of mobile learning on accessibility is profound. Nowadays, people can learn from almost anywhere, including distant field locations, their home office, and business travels. No matter where you are physically located or how much time you have, learning never ends thanks to this degree of accessibility.
For example, a sales professional can review product details on their smartphone while on the way to an important customer meeting. Alternatively, a technician in the field may rapidly obtain troubleshooting manuals on their tablet when they encounter an unknown problem. This instant access to information improves performance on the job and increases confidence.
Increased Employee Engagement
It’s true that following typical workout regimens can sometimes feel tedious. However, mobile education? That is a very other narrative. Mobile learning capitalizes on our innate desire to interact with our phones and tablets by utilizing the gadgets we use on a daily basis.
Mobile learning engagement is significantly higher compared to traditional approaches. The reasons are manifold. First, gamification components are frequently incorporated into mobile learning. All those assignable points, badges and leaderboards can help a great deal to make learning funnier and more engaging. They also can help with motivation, as these elements make learning easier, from the moral standpoint.
Second, push notifications are a common way for mobile learning platforms to remind and motivate students. These small prods can keep learning moving forward and in the forefront of employees’ minds. Say, a brief alert posing the question, “Have five minutes? “Discover a new productivity hack!” might be the ideal way to get a worker to participate in a quick learning session while on break.
Flexibility and Convenience
Learning on the go is more important than ever in our increasingly flexible work situations. With the unmatched freedom people have a full control of their learning.
Thus, we can conclude that flexible mobile training adapts to the learner’s lifestyle, not the other way around. This means employees can choose when, where and how they want to interact with the content. They might prefer to tackle a challenging module first thing in the morning when they’re fresh, or they might find it easier to absorb information during their evening commute.
This adaptability also applies to the way that learning is presented. Mobile learning supports diverse information formats, such as infographics, audio podcasts, simulations, and quick video courses. This range accommodates varying learning methods and preferences, guaranteeing that each employee may locate a format that suits them.
Improved Learning Retention
The potential to greatly increase information retention is one of its most fascinating features. Its capacity to use microlearning—the delivery of information in bite-sized, easily absorbed pieces—is the key to its success.
Mobile learning retention rates tend to be higher because information is presented in a way that aligns with how our brains naturally process and retain information. Instead of overwhelming learners with long lessons and courses, mobile learning breaks the content down into small, easily understandable and memorizable modules that can be easily absorbed and remembered.
For example, a lengthy compliance training could be broken up into several 5-minute segments, each of which would focus on a different aspect of the legislation. Following that, people can work through each module on their own, solidifying their understanding before moving on to the next.
Real-Time Feedback and Assessments
Instant feedback is a critical component of learning. In turn, from my experience, mobile learning systems are excellent at giving it. With real-time feedback mobile LMS, learners can instantly see how they’re progressing, identify areas for becoming better, and celebrate their successes.
This feedback loop with instantaneous effect is quite strong. It enables students to sustain motivation, swiftly clear up misunderstandings, and reinforce accurate comprehension. For example, an employee may see right away which questions they answered well and which ones require more attention after finishing a brief quiz on safety practices. They are able to concentrate their efforts where they are most required thanks to this rapid feedback.
Live assessments also make it easier for managers and L&D specialists to monitor the advancement of their staff. A more individualized and effective learning is possible by their ability to rapidly determine who may require more support or who is prepared for more advanced training.
Cost-Effective Training Solutions
The cost-effectiveness of any platform is a big plus in a time when funds are frequently limited. Cost-effective mobile training solutions can lead to substantial savings for organizations in various ways.
First off, a lot of the costs related to classic learning methods—like venue rents, travel charges, and printed materials—are completely eliminated. Since everything is digital, overhead is much reduced.
Second, mobile learning eliminates the need for employees to take time off from work for training because it can be accessed anywhere, at any time. This translates into lower downtime and higher output.
Finally, there is no comparison to the scalability of mobile learning. Once the material is produced, it can be freely shared with an infinite number of staff members. Because of this, it is the perfect option for businesses with sizable or widely distributed workforces.
Performance Analytics
One of the most powerful features of mobile learning platforms is their ability to gather and analyze data on learner performance. Mobile LMS analytics provide valuable insights into how employees are engaging with the content, what areas they’re excelling in, and where they might need additional support.
These are not your typical completion rates. They are able to monitor how much time is spent on each module, determine which subjects are most frequently revisited by staff members, and even gauge how quickly students are picking up the content.
For instance, if analytics reveal that many workers are having difficulty with a specific module, learning and development (L&D) teams can look into the issue and possibly make changes to the material or offer more support. Conversely, if some staff members are flying through the course material, they may be recognized as possible mentors or candidates for additional training.
Overcoming Implementation Challenges
Although there are many advantages to mobile learning, there are drawbacks to properly applying it. Making sure that every employee has access to appropriate equipment and dependable internet connections is one of the main challenges. But before any other steps, you must deliberate on whether to offer devices or adopt a “bring your own device” (BYOD) strategy.
Obviously, materials suited for mobile devices require additional time to create. Its not just enough to take a large lesson and slice it into smaller pieces. In my experience, it didn’t work at all, as people felt lost in the materials.
A more winning approach is to design mobile learning content that requires considering the needs of the mobile user. This includes paying attention to the screen size, touch interfaces, and possibly short attention spans. The latter is a must when working with younger generations.
Another important factor is security. Remember the latest Windows outage due to CrowdStrike’s security update? This makes me think that besides vast security measures, my solution must also be reliable. And we are not just talking about getting the blue screen of death. There is more to it, as you must be 100% sure that sensitive data is safeguarded since employees may access training materials on their personal devices and maybe across public networks.
Notwithstanding these difficulties, mobile learning has many more potential advantages than disadvantages. With careful planning and the right strategies, organizations can successfully implement mobile learning programs that drive employee mobile performance and engagement.
Conclusion and Future Trends
It’s obvious that mobile learning will continue to be crucial to both business performance and employee growth as we move to the future.
Too much hope has been put into VR and AR technologies. Yet those still neither can properly die or shine like diamonds.
My personal opinion is that both AR and VR still have things to say to this world. But I don’t want to make any assumptions about when this is going to happen. As for now, let’s keep them as a possible future trend. However, I DO NOT recommend investing in them for learning. With the exception of some industry-specific aspects, but in this case, you are already in the VR and AR industries.
As of right now, my personal focus and belief lies with the ability to provide individualized learning routes based on each employee’s particular needs and learning preferences, artificial intelligence and machine learning will probably also play a larger role.
The need for mobile learning will only increase as the workplace changes and flexible and remote work becomes more prevalent. Businesses that adapt to this change and make significant investments in mobile learning strategies will be well-positioned to create a highly competent, motivated, and productive workforce that is equipped to take on the challenges of the future.
Source: AcademicOcean.com
