Within the U.S. 98% of the population have mobile phones, and 91% have smartphones. Telephones have develop into extra ubiquitous than computer systems. The final census discovered that just 81% of U.S. households had desktop or laptop computers.
You most likely guessed this already, however most individuals have a cell phone. Cellular studying, or m-learning, is reworking the best way we entry information—at work, at dwelling, and all over the place in between. With smartphones now outpacing computer systems in accessibility, the chance for mobile-first coaching has by no means been better.
Cellular utilization by the numbers:
- Over 7 billion cell subscriptions are anticipated worldwide by 2025
- 98% of the U.S. inhabitants owns a cell phone; 91% of these are smartphones
- Solely 81% of U.S. households personal a desktop or laptop computer pc
- The idea of cell studying predates smartphones by over 30 years
These stats present that telephones should not only a comfort—they’re the brand new studying hub.
(Sources: Ericsson, GSMA, U.S. Census Bureau, Pew Research Center)
With that in thoughts, in case your learners aren’t utilizing smartphones, they’re an anomaly. Even when your group doesn’t present cell gadgets to your learners, most of your learners possible have a minimum of one private machine, and that machine might be a cellphone. We use them for every thing: work, play, communication, and naturally, studying.
However do you know that the idea of mobile learning is greater than 30 years older than the primary smartphone?
The historical past of cell studying
Cellular studying, or m-learning, because it’s typically been referred to as, was first envisioned in 1968 by computer scientist Alan Kay, again when telephones have been something however digital. Kay launched the idea of the “Dynabook,” a conveyable pc designed to let youngsters study from wherever. Not fairly a laptop computer, not fairly a pill (and positively not a cellphone), the Dynabook was meant to be each cell and academic. Although it was by no means constructed, it laid the inspiration for what we now know as cell studying.
The idea gained momentum with the rise of smartphone apps. All of a sudden, Learning Management Systems (LMSes) may ship content material throughout a number of cell gadgets. Nonetheless, that didn’t imply organizations rushed to undertake it. In 2012, a number of years after apps went mainstream, solely 45% of high studying organizations had carried out cell studying, although 70% deliberate to take action inside two years.
How does cell studying look at this time?
With the introduction of 5G, cell phones grew to become quicker, extra responsive, and extra able to offering participating studying content material. Nonetheless, cell studying will not be essentially getting used to its full potential.
A current Training Industry article highlights a well-known problem in L&D: the tendency to use new applied sciences utilizing outdated educating strategies. When on-line studying first emerged, as an example, some organizations merely uploaded recorded lectures and scanned handouts from in-person periods, lacking the chance to rethink the educational expertise.
The identical sample emerged with cell studying. A workplace study from 2008 famous that many organizations have been merely migrating conventional studying content material to cell platforms, with out rethinking how that content material must be skilled on a cell machine. Unsurprisingly, this strategy wasn’t notably participating for learners, particularly these attempting to finish full-length distant programs on early smartphones and sluggish web connections.
Sadly, this downside persists at this time. In lots of instances, organizations launch an app containing the identical programs {that a} learner may tackle a laptop computer or PC and name that cell studying.
Embracing a mobile-first design
Cellular studying ought to embrace the strengths of the machine. Take into consideration how individuals already use their telephones: watching TikTok, scrolling by way of social media, taking photos and movies. In the identical manner smartphones are constructed for these actions, they’re additionally ideally suited for sure varieties of studying experiences:
Microlearning
We’re used to consuming quick movies and different fast content material on our telephones. Microlearning, which chunks matters into quick, simply digestible modules, is a pure match for cell learners.
Gamification
Cellular gadgets are good for including game-like options that make studying extra enjoyable and interactive. Suppose fast quizzes, badges you’ll be able to earn, or leaderboards that present your progress in comparison with others. These small parts, often known as gamification, can simply be constructed into cell apps and assist increase motivation by turning studying into one thing that feels extra like play than work.
Augmented actuality
Telephones are a really perfect medium for augmented actuality. As an illustration, a retail worker may use their cellphone’s digital camera to view a retailer show and evaluate it to a reference picture, serving to guarantee every thing is ready up accurately and constantly.
Simply-in-time studying
We’re used to looking for info on our telephones once we want it. The identical is true within the office, which is why producers like Litmos customer Lindt Australia use cell studying to make coaching straightforward to entry for everybody of their group – “from the pinnacle workplace to the manufacturing line.”
What are the challenges of cell studying?
It’s price noting that cell studying is well-liked—68% of learners say they like it. However choice doesn’t all the time equal accessibility. Many organizations limit using private gadgets at work on account of information safety issues, limiting how simply workers can have interaction with cell studying.
Past coverage, there are sensible obstacles. Not each worker owns a smartphone that’s appropriate with studying apps, and even those that do could also be reluctant to make use of private gadgets for work-related duties. It’s additionally attainable that utilizing on-line studying functions would possibly eat up information and find yourself costing an worker cash.
That is the place employers must be conscious in regards to the high quality and accessibility of potential mobile learning solutions — to make sure any coaching apps used are safe, responsive, obtainable throughout gadgets, and in a position to present offline studying choices.
To deal with these challenges successfully, enter from cross-functional stakeholders is essential. Earlier than implementing cell studying that makes use of learners’ private gadgets, L&D must work with IT, Safety, and different enterprise leaders to create a cell studying program that works on your workforce and your learners.
How can cell studying look sooner or later?
To see how cell studying would possibly look sooner or later, it’s useful to have a look at how highschool and faculty college students are utilizing their telephones for college now.
In academia, smartphones are a priceless instrument. College students are accustomed to accessing their LMS platforms by way of their telephones — it’s how they obtain and submit assignments. They use their telephones to take photos of PowerPoint slides throughout lectures. They use their telephones to entry on-line courses. They’re even writing papers on their telephones.
In some instances it is a necessity; some college students may not personal a pc, whereas others work exterior of faculty and want to review and do coursework from their job websites. Nonetheless, in different instances it’s a choice: excessive schoolers who use their telephones for every thing naturally gravitate in direction of utilizing their telephones for coursework.
The staff of tomorrow are utilizing smartphones for studying now; it’s possible that they’ll count on the identical once they be a part of the workforce.
Get forward with a cell studying technique that works
Is your group ready for the way forward for cell studying? The award-winning Litmos mobile app makes it straightforward to ship participating, accessible studying experiences anytime, wherever, on any machine. Whether or not you’re simply beginning your cell studying journey or trying to enhance your present strategy, Litmos has the instruments that will help you succeed. Contact us today to see how cell studying can match seamlessly into your coaching technique.