The Most Important Elements of Your Mobile Learning Strategy

There has been a huge growth in the demand for mobile learning in the past decade. This is mostly due to the change in the learner profile and the availability of mobile devices. The mobile technology has penetrated deep into the market and should be explored to see how it can be leveraged for learning purposes.

Millennials do not favor traditional classroom learning. They do not enjoy being tied down to desktops. Since they are mostly on the move, they prefer content that can be accessed on their mobile devices. That is where mobile learning, or mLearning, comes in. Learners are offered bite-sized modules that are easy for them to digest and remember. They can choose the topics they wish to learn instead of having to go through an hour-long course just to learn about a specific topic.

It is a common fact that learners forget a part of what they learn immediately after the training session. With time, this percentage continues to increase. mLearning modules give them just-in-time support. They can pull up learning nuggets at the point-of-need. That way they remember the information longer. Since it’s the learners who decide to learn by choice, they will treat it as something useful and not something forced on them.

Here are the top four elements that are a must for your mobile learning strategy.

1#: Do a need and audience analysis

Do not choose mLearning just for the novelty factor. Opt for it only if you think there is a real need to include mobile learning in your training strategy. You need to understand the target audience. If a majority of your audience is in the field, then mLearning will be a good choice. But, if they have desk jobs, then you may be wasting your investment on the new delivery mode. You also need to analyze the learning content and the need for training. Mobile learning is not a replacement of any other modes of learning. If the topics warrant an elaborate face-to-face session, then mLearning will not help.

#2: Use responsive design

There are multiple devices and platforms that your employees use. Each device varies in size and features. It is almost impossible to design one piece of learning multiple times to suit different devices. One way to combat this is to provide mobile devices for all your employees. However, it may not be practical for all organizations to do this. The holistic workaround is to choose a responsive design where the content adjusts itself automatically to the size of the device it is viewed on.

#3: Decide on a visual strategy.

Effective visuals go a long way in enhancing the efficacy of a piece of learning. This applies to mLearning too. You need to choose the visuals wisely. Keep in mind that the learner may not be sedentary while accessing the course. He may be in a moving vehicle. Also, they may not have enough bandwidth to load heavy images. Most mobile devices have the touch, zoom, and pinch features. They also support auto-rotation. Keep these pointers in mind before choosing the visual elements. Similarly, restrict the use of audio elements as much as possible. The learners may be in a noisy place and decide to skip the audio or save it for later.

#4: Assess your infrastructure.

It is critical that you involve the IT department in the planning stage. Each organization has its technical limitations. If you plan the learning strategy without considering the available IT infrastructure and its limitations, then you may be in for a shock later. You need to have the capacity to not only launch the mLearning program, but also support troubleshooting.

It is important to keep in mind that mobile learning is not a replacement for eLearning. It has certain advantages that render well to some topics. So, if it suits your learning objectives, make sure you leverage it.

At Designing Digitally, Inc. we have been designing mobile learning applications for over a decade. Our solutions are highly engaging and keep the learner hooked. Your employees can access the learning modules from any mobile devices. The data is sent directly to your LMS and tracks user progress and achievement levels.

If your company could benefit from a mobile learning approach, contact our team of experts today to learn more.