Did you know that the average adult spends two hours and 30 minutes a day on their smartphone? With 90 percent of this time spent on apps, adopting this platform to deliver educational and training content is an approach that makes sense.
Here is what you need to know about getting started with mobile learning.
Mobile learning allows learners to use a smartphone or tablet to access an eLearning website or interact with an app. The purpose of this approach is to make eLearning content more accessible.
Using a mobile platform means that features such as notifications can be introduced to keep learners engaged. Some mobile learning solutions make use of social learning by connecting their app to social media, or by building an online community where learners can share their progress with each other.
The use of a mobile platform often results in a few changes to how the instructional content is implemented. Navigation becomes more intuitive so learners can easily find relevant content and explore the features of an eLearning app or mobile website. Responsive design is also often adopted so that content displays correctly on different screen sizes.
The learning content itself is often organized into shorter modules. This approach is known as bite-sized learning, or microlearning, and allows mobile users to consume the content without making a significant commitment of time.
Gamification is another common feature of mobile learning solutions. Using badges, levels, and other elements borrowed from video games as a way to structure the interactions of the learner with the app and keeps them engaged and motivated.
There is a new generation of employees in need of training. Millennials value job satisfaction and want to have access to training programs that make them feel supported while improving their job performance.
Millennials tend to be highly attentive to their mobile devices. They typically open text messages within 90 seconds of receiving them. Designing an eLearning program millennials can access on their phone will boost participation rates and provide them with a support tool that will have a direct impact on job performance and satisfaction.
However, mobile learning solutions shouldn't be limited to millennials. A survey found that 59 percent of employees of all generations felt that there weren't enough work-related mobile applications available to them.
Mobile learning allows organizations to deliver training content in a way that matches the needs and expectations of a modern workforce. Here is how mobile eLearning can benefit your organization:
Completion and engagement rates to improve because of the ability to consume learning content on-the-go.
The mobile platform creates a need to restructure the content into bite-sized modules. This new structure gives learners more control over their activities and encourages them to be more involved in the training process so they can decide which skills they want to work on next.
Mobile learning is ideal for delivering videos, interactive elements and visual content. These formats boost engagement and help with information retention.
An app means employees can easily access the training material when they need a reference while completing a task. This results in a tool that truly supports employees and improves performance.
It is possible to add social features and create an online community where learners can share their progress and get support from others.
An eLearning app can recommend personalized content and use notifications to re-engage a user by showing more content they will find interesting.
Having a developer create an eLearning app from scratch can be cost-prohibitive. This is why many organization use a mobile-compatible LMS like Moodle or Totara Learn.
These out-of-the-box solutions provide you with the infrastructure you need to create an eLearning site that is mobile compatible thanks to responsive themes, or to launch an eLearning app of your own. You can use different customization features to implement your branding strategy and create a user experience that matches the expectations of your audience.
You can complete your mobile learning solution by developing your own training material for the mobile platform or by selecting courses from third-party providers that offer content which is already optimized for mobile.
Lambda Solutions delivers organizational learning solutions and can help you get started with the development of a mobile learning program. Get in touch with us to find out more about LMS like Moodle and Totara Learn, figure out which option is a better match for your needs, and find out more about creating your mobile-friendly eLearning website or your mLearning app.
For more resources, watch our on-demand webinar, Harness the Power of Mobile Learning: