Mobile learning’s on the rise, and for good reason.

Mobile technology, once a luxury, has become commonplace in our lives. We bank, read, socially interact, and more from a device that fits in the palm of our hand.

The Jetsons imagined a similar future, but did corporate training?

We know our modern learners use mobile devices daily. As learning practitioners, there’s an expectation that we will adapt to and support this new way of life through our training programs. Thanks to blended learning, we can support this new vision for the digital age. Rather than transitioning traditional learning events to exclusively mobile delivery, we have the ability to transition portions of our content to an on-the-go treatment when appropriate.

Our approach to the mobile learning (mLearning) evolution matters. If we have unrealistic expectations about mobile technology, abandon thoughtful instructional design methods, or forget to gain stakeholder and learner buy-in, our mobile learning can’t and won’t prove successful.

Get started with mLearning by building on a fundamental knowledge of this approach.

The most important part of training is what happens AFTER the training. Reality (aka science) dictates that people can only ingest and retain so much information, regardless of how well-designed a learning activity may be. Then, given the relative unpredictability of the modern workplace, employees may or may not have immediate opportunities to apply their new knowledge when they get back on the job.

Therefore, L&D strategy cannot stop at delivery. Rather, we must embed continuous learning opportunities within the employee workflow and provide just-in-time support for those who need it. 

The mobile explosion is sweeping the globe. Here in the U.S., statistics from Pew Research tell us that 64 percent of American adults now own a smartphone of some kind. This proliferation of mobile devices - coupled with the rise of the millennial generation - has ushered in the era of the modern learner. No longer content with having to absorb large chunks of learning content served up on a desktop computer, modern learners prefer to consume “bite-sized” lessons on the tablet or smartphone of their choice. And since eLearning on mobile platforms has been shown to be highly effective, this trend will only grow larger.

Today, both large and small companies have various options when it comes to corporate training programs and training their staff. From using innovative technology with integrated rich media, to microlearning and mobile apps, the types of training styles are unlimited. One of these learning styles (and a trending topic in L&D) is gamification, which takes gaming principles and mechanics and applies them to a non-game experience. When gamification is successfully implemented into training programs, it can help employees effectively gain new skills and develop new behaviors, all while being engaged in the process.