Mobile devices make learning more accessible to students of all ages. This is hardly surprising considering how essential our smart devices have become to us. Who hasn’t had that momentary feeling of dread when they can’t find their phone?
Therefore, it makes sense for businesses to look at incorporating this tool. Most employees have access to a smartphone, making it the ideal platform to deliver learning. What’s more, the medium allows you to deliver different kinds of content. You can incorporate quizzes, games, videos, and other content that makes learning fun.
There are, needless to say, some things to consider. For example, will you be explaining company processes and procedures? If so, it’s important to avoid data security mistakes. However, these are easy to overcome with a little planning.
In this article, we’ll discuss more about the impact of mobile learning on employee development.
What’s Driving The Rise of Mobile Learning?
Experts expect the number of mobile devices to increase to 18.22 billion by 2025. This represents an increase of 4.2 billion since 2020. Which means that we’re well and truly in the mobile age.
Smart devices and internet access have become more affordable, driving this trend. Now, let’s look at other factors driving mobile learning.
Technological and Software Advancements
We’re seeing smartphones, tablets, and laptops come in at various price points. They’re more affordable today than they were before. This, combined with better internet connectivity and pricing, has increased the number of mobile devices we use.
Advancements in software are also fueling the trend. Companies use predictive analytics to effectively highlight areas for improvement. This is an excellent tool to identify skills gaps. Generative AI is also changing the way we perform a lot of tasks. It’s particularly useful with mobile learning, which requires employees to practice scenarios. The AI can create believable interactions that simulate a client environment.
Changing Workforce Demographics
Those people starting work today are digital natives. They grew up using mobile devices and so are very comfortable with them. While older generations might bemoan the loss of the written page, this generation doesn’t miss it at all.
Need for Flexibility
Not all companies can afford to provide a laptop or computer for every employee. In some industries, it doesn’t make sense to. The downside is that you have to try and accommodate multiple employees at once when it comes to training.
With mobile learning, employees can use their own devices when it suits them. This makes it a highly flexible alternative.
Remote Work Trends
Many companies today operate with remote or hybrid work models. This means that employees tend to already have the technology they need for mobile learning. They can learn at their own pace where they’re most comfortable. The bonus is they won’t be disturbed.
Benefits of Mobile Learning
Why consider this mode as opposed to more conventional models?
Flexibility and Convenience
Your employees can access the training materials they need whenever they want. They don’t even have to be in the office to do so. They could go over the materials on their daily commute or when they have a few minutes to spare. Remote workers and those who travel frequently benefit the most.
Furthermore, mobile devices allow you to incorporate different formats to make learning more fun. You might see:
- Videos
- Podcasts
- Present
- Webinars
- PDFs
- Game-based learning
Personalized Learning
Mobile platforms might allow employees to personalize their learning experiences. Learners can choose the courses most relevant to their roles. They might also be able to change the content format in some cases.
Generative AI can further enrich the experience. The machine can check the learner’s progress and identify areas in which they need more practice. It can then create additional content accordingly.
Microlearning Opportunities
We live in an age where most of us have very short attention spans. Mobile learning can cater to this by delivering small bursts of content. This makes studying more manageable and ensures better retention.
It also allows employees to complete sections whenever they have a free moment.
Enhanced Engagement
When using a mobile learning app, you can make personalizations. These might include uploading photos and videos and personalizing your profile. You might win avatars and badges to display on your profile. These elements make things more fun, meaning that learners interact more often.
You can further improve engagement by changing the format of the content. You can incorporate multiple-choice quizzes, videos, and other interactive activities. To make it even more fun, the learner can win points for completing a task.
Real-Time Feedback and Assessments
Do you remember that feeling when you finished a test at school? That gnawing worry that you didn’t do well. And then the agonizing wait for your results.
Mobile learning platforms can do away with that anxiety. They tend to provide instant feedback and answers to assessments. This allows employees to track their progress immediately. More advanced platforms can shape future learning based on the results. This allows learners to get more practice in the areas they need.
Cost-Effectiveness
With mobile learning, you don’t need paper-based materials. This saves you the cost of printing out the resources. Also, because you can complete the training anywhere, you don’t need to budget for travel expenses and venue costs.
What’s more, the digital copies are a lot easier to update. The upside here is that your employees will always have the latest information.
Scalability
A digital platform is a lot easier to scale than conventional training methods. You don’t have to worry about how many employees are going through the learning at one time. In a standard classroom, however, you can only accommodate a set number of learners.
This works out in favor of multinational corporations with a large workforce.
High Knowledge Retention
Employees are more likely to retain the information because it comes in small bits. This, combined with the interactive content, makes it more memorable. When you consider how we scroll through social media, this is a natural progression.
Better Performance
Many employees prefer learning that doesn’t interrupt their routine. They want access to the latest information in an easy format. Mobile learning fits the bill. They can access information when they have a few moments.
Consultants at companies like supportyourapp.com, for example, can learn the information in lulls between client queries. There’s no visible decline in customer support but a big increase in knowledge.
Challenges and Considerations
It’s clear that mobile learning has many advantages. However, it’s not all sunshine and roses. You need to consider the following before implementing this type of program.
The Digital Divide
We spoke about digital natives earlier. However, not all employees are on the same page here. You must ensure that they have access to the necessary devices and reliable internet. You should also check that they know how to operate the software.
Security Concerns
Any platform you implement must be secure. Your system will contain sensitive employee information and perhaps even trade secrets. You need to protect both.
Content Quality
It’s worth going to the expense of hiring professionals to develop the content. You need high-quality, engaging materials to get the desired results.
Employee Engagement
It can sometimes be difficult to get employees on board with further learning. Some see it as an encroachment on their personal time. Others don’t see the value. You need to foster a culture that values continuous learning. And you need to consider setting aside paid time for training.
Technical Issues
The downside of everyone having their own devices is that they can all be different. The software might not be compatible with some devices or operating systems. Bugs can creep in. You’ll need a technical support team for your employees to consult in need.
The Future of Mobile Learning
What can we expect going forward? The classroom is clearly shrinking to the size of a small screen. During COVID, we tested the feasibility of Zoom classes, and they worked well. Therefore, the future looks good.
Artificial Intelligence
You can expect to see more personalized learning plans and adaptive learning paths. AI will make recommendations to learners based on their past performance. They’ll receive this feedback in real-time.
Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality
AR and VR technologies will become increasingly integral in mobile learning. These technologies can be of great value for hands-on learning and simulations. For example, technicians can practice repairing components safely and without cost.
Wearable Devices
We’ll see this space moving towards delivering content via wearable devices. This will include smartwatches and VR headsets. This will allow even greater assessment of the employee’s progress.
Gamification
Training already incorporates leaderboards, badges, and rewards. We can see that increasing going forward. These might evolve into points tradable for real-world rewards as companies look to motivate employees further.
Conclusion
Mobile devices make learning more accessible and fun for employees. The multimedia format capabilities and the possibility of integrating AI make for a richer and more rewarding experience. Employees can now learn where and when they like. What’s more, they get instant feedback that allows them to course correct if necessary.
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