Current Trends in Mobile Learning

In the recent past, corporate trainers used a mix of classroom training and computer-based training as the mainstay of their L&D programs. The thought of encouraging learners to use their mobile phones to further this process seemed unthinkable. However, things have changed.

Mobile learning has become the centerpiece of a good corporate training program. Mobility in learning allows for wider corporate training opportunities in terms of timing, location, accessibility, and context of learning.

Globally, more than 5.19 billion peopleuse mobile phones as of January 2020. Almost three quarters ( 72.6 percent) of internet users will access the web solely via their smartphones by 2025. According to a recent Google survey, the number of mobile-only users (27%) has grown and is double compared to desktop-only users. These are mind-boggling numbers indicating an increased change in consumer behaviour towards the mobility of digital content.

Other factors accelerating the movement towards mobility in enterprise learning are HR studies that have found that 64% of employees find accessing their training content from a mobile device essential and 43% of learners noticing improved productivity levels compared to non-mobile users( Towards Maturity). Almost 71% of Millennials in the workforce also say that they connect more with mobile or app-based learning says a study by Gallup.

Please find below a few trends on the mobile-first future that is ahead of corporate learning.

BYOD

Even though it might have initially started as a fad, but now Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) for use in the workplace has become the “new normal”.

One of the biggest benefits for employees is that they are a lot happier using the mobile devices they are familiar with. This results in increased productivity and employee satisfaction.

BYOD also offers a seamless transition by allowing employees to have training resources available at all times. The flexibility of bringing your own device leads to higher levels of employee engagement and retention. For example, with the right mobile training program in a device, learning can be right at the fingertips of a factory worker as he or she executes the required safety checks and takes corrective actions.

The cost involved in traditional training methods is quite high, with various cost overheads, including the venue cost, food, accommodation, instructor fees, and training resources cost. However, with the use of mobile training apps installed in BYOD, all these costs can be eliminated.

One of the biggest challenges with BYOD is the need to maintain data security. These concerns are quite understandable given the problem of enforcing security and compliance on a large scale.

However, with the use of an LMS like KloudLearn which comes with a high level of Enterprise-Grade warranty, privacy, and compliance controls, an enterprise may be able to manage some of the security risks posed by BYOD.

MOBILE LEARNING AND MICRO LEARNING

Microlearning is seen as an antipode for the shrinking attention spans of the modern-day learners. This involves breaking a large daunting training course down to small digestible chunks that can be accessed anywhere. The bite-sized information is usually packed in 3–5 minutes sessions for a much larger impact.

The relevance of micro-learning is due to the relevance of the 90/20/8 rule to design content for learning. According to this rule, learners are more alert during the first 8 minutes of their learning, after which their attention begins to wane, witnessing a significant dip over the next 20 minutes.

This rule has set the agenda for content creators to divide their learning material into bite-sized content to employees who need precise and just-in-time information for performance support.

When Microlearning is paired with mobile learning it has shown to increase employee retention, reduce training times, and boosts productivity compared to traditional corporate training models.

A recent study by Lynda adds support to this forecast by stating that Smartphone learner’s complete course material 45% faster than those using a computer.

KloudLearns’ native mobile app produces frictionless, uninterrupted experiences for your employees at the point of need.

GAMIFICATION

Gamification involves incorporating gaming elements such as badges, points, and scores to motivate employees to actively participate in training programs.

The essence behind the Gamification of a mobile corporate learning platform is that it is capable of transferring the client’s organizational information by engaging the learner in continuous interactions.

Virtual rewards, such as points, badges, and levels can be earned, which bring out the competitive nature of employees, and motivates them to develop relevant competencies and overcome various challenges.

KloudLearn’s Gamification module can leverage your employee’s competitive nature while increasing learning engagement and therefore, knowledge retention.

Final Thoughts

Traditional push styles of information delivery are losing ground to more flexible learner-centric modalities such as mobile learning.

Mobile bite-sized learning ensures that L&D administrators can reach out to the employees even after their “formal training” is complete. An enterprise can also reinforce their brand while enabling learning on-the-go in its workforce.

Mobile learning is an increasing reality with progressive LMS providers, and it should be a key consideration in investing in all corporate training programs.

KloudLearn’s mobile app is optimized for iOS and Android devices, to deliver an intuitive and user-friendly experience.