The proliferation of mobile devices has changed the way we interact, network, live and learn. The number of mobile users is increasing globally and has crossed the 5 billion mark. Devices account for 75% of global internet usage which is expected to touch the 79% mark by 2018.
Learning and Development initiatives of various corporations will move away from a structured and restricted method of training and development to a more learner-oriented approach for good. This integration of two technologies can create a perfect synergy between mobile devices and personnel’s Learning and Development.
A mobile first mindset will be in play; making the media and training content ubiquitous enabling it to move from PCs to all other devices, like mobiles, so that personnel can learn at their convenience. Let’s look at how mobile learning will help transform Learning and Development in the coming years.
Here are 10 Ways Mobile Learning Influences Corporate Learning & Development
1.Integrating AR & VR technologies on Mobile devices:
Presently, Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality is the buzzword in the eLearning industry. With mobile, learning content can be made impressive by adding a layer of interactivity with AR and VR. This, further, will provide an immersive experience to learners.
2. Wearable technology:
Wearables, like Google glass, is already a popular technology in the market. Companies can integrate this with training and can provide better training experiences to their employees. They can add VR to add enhanced learning experience in their daily routine operations.
3. Fresh content for Micro-Learning:
Existing content can be optimized to render on mobile and other such portable devices. However, for a seamless and smooth experience newer content will be created and updated. This will enable the utilization of all functionalities of mobile devices to better the learning environment and create effective content.
4. Offline Learning:
An employee working from a remote location may not be able to provide time for learning in certain situations. A Learning Management System with offline learning functionality can enable the personnel to consume the content at their convenience.
5. Personalized Learning:
L&D managers used to create separate sets of modules for personnel from different departments and their work functions. Integrating mobile devices in learning will enable L&D managers to deliver customized training modules to personnel ensuring their overall development. Easy availability of content on mobile devices ensures quick content consumption.
6. Cloud-based Application:
Through cloud-based LMS users can access content via the internet without storing any files on their mobile devices. Organizations still using older generation LMS allows access of content when the employee is in office premises. Upgrading such LMS with cloud capabilities enables and encourages users to access content as per their convenience on devices of their choice.
7. Big Data:
By integrating big data and applying data analysis techniques, L&D managers have detailed insights about content consumption by learners; for instance, which is the most viewed topic, content that requires tuning. They can analyze where they lack and accordingly add modules for that specific learner to learn.
8. Social learning:
By adapting or creating content for mobile devices L&D managers can encourage social sharing, networking, collaboration, internal communication hence improving learning effectiveness.
9. Better Analytics, tracking, and reporting:
L&D managers can get better analytics functionalities from learner’s computers and their mobile devices. This data can be used for personalization. The LMS with offline functionalities can sync enabling the L&D managers to track the effectiveness and consumption of the content.
10. Gamification:
Integrating gamification can enable learners to interact with content, improves retention, and encourages healthy competition.
Conclusion:
This is how existing LMS and the L&D practices will change over the years after integration with mobile and other portable technologies. Learning technology solution developers need to buckle up and start creating mobile-first solutions according to needs of various organizations.
