Engaging Millennials with Mobile Learning

A study conducted by Pew Research Center revealed that 65% of Americans between the age group of 18 – 29 years old own a smartphone. In comparison, only 59% within the age of 30 – 49 years old and 32% within the age of 50 – 64 years old own one. This first category consists of millennials who are the first generation that has grown up into a world filled with technological gadgets. They use technology to do almost everything – eat, shop, entertain, and learn.

So how do they prefer to learn?

There is a perception that millennials are lazy and disengaged. They are only interested in taking selfies and spending time on social media. But, millennials view themselves differently. They feel that they are hardworking and loyal. This gap in perception may be due to the fact that older generations are at a loss to understand how millennials learn. They prefer customized experiences that allow them to learn about what is relevant to their responsibilities at a time that is convenient for them. Since millennials are on the way to fill up almost 75% of the workforce by 2030, it is time that organizations took them seriously and adapt to their learning differences. It will be a win-win scenario for both the parties.

Engaging millennials with mobile elearning

Considering the way millennials prefer learning, mobile learning is the best way to keep them engaged. They prefer accessing information at the point-of-need with the help of their mobile devices. They are not comfortable in being restricted to a physical boundary for learning.

Here are a few tips that you can keep in mind when you design your mobile learning strategy for the Millennials.

#1: Provide them with meaningful learning opportunities

Contrary to the popular perception, millennials value training and development, at times even more than cash benefits. If you aim to engage them in learning, you need to offer them learning opportunities that are effective and relatable to them. They must feel that the learning is meaningful and will help them boost their knowledge and productivity. you need to ensure that the information helps them do their daily tasks better. Create content that is immersive and interactive. Learning need not be just text and graphics. In fact, video-based learning can work wonders with them as they have grown up consuming content on YouTube.

#2: Remember that they are impatient learners

Most millennials are impatient. They cannot hold their attention span for long while learning. So, you must design your training in a way that the learners receive only the important information. Focus on a single learning objective at a time and convey the information that is of utmost importance. Keep the navigation simple. The visual designs should not be confusing either. You need to keep in mind that they are viewing the course on a mobile device. Complex content and design may lead to a cognitive overload.

#3: Use micro-learning modules

Millennials are not easy to keep in one place for too long. Their mobile devices have several apps that are competing for attention – mail, messaging, games, social networks, and so on. So, if you want their undivided attention on a topic, keep the module short. Create bite-sized nuggets that they can get done with in five minutes or less. Focus on a single idea and build your content around it. It does not have to be text-based either. Try using mobile learning formats like videos, games, podcasts, and so on. You can even add a short quiz to gauge learner understanding. If you have more content on the same topic that is important for the learners, spread it out into more bite-sized nuggets of the same duration. But, avoid cramming too much information at a time.

#4: Encourage collaborative learning methods

Millennials love networking. Why not use this trait to your advantage? Create online discussion forums where they can gain and exchange ideas to upskill. Such collaborative activities keep them engaged and boost their productivity. Encourage them to win Open Badges and share them on their favorite social media. Gaining recognition on social media is a big thing for them and they will take the learning seriously.

Designing Digitally, Inc. creates mobile projects suited to each client’s needs. We will help you determine which mobile solution is best for your application. It may be a website with training content that can be accessed in a web browser, a series of brief eLearning courses to open through your LMS, or a custom Android or iOS app.

Get in touch with our experts to learn more about how mobile learning can benefit your organization.