It’s no surprise that the use of portable technology has presented an opportunity within the online corporate training space to improve the delivery of employee training—allowing organizations to remotely deliver training to their on-the-go employees. This method of training has become increasingly recognized as a more efficient and cost-effective solution to traditional, live training approaches. Despite the great benefits mobile learning has to offer a diverse and ever-evolving workforce, it reaches its full potential when leveraged within a blended eLearning strategy. Although mobile learning can be successfully deployed by itself, it is not typically deployed as a stand-alone training solution, but rather as a component of a robust eLearning strategy that offers a range of learning activities.

Top 2 Mobile Learning Best Practices

#1 Use mobile learning to communicate knowledge nuggets instead of highly detailed information. The truth is, mobile learning applications will not be relevant or additive to complete all learning objectives. Due to the nature of mobile learning, training deployed through this medium will typically be accessed by tablet or mobile phone—making learning activities such as an involved simulation or case study more cumbersome than they might be when accessed through a computer. The best use of mobile learning is to communicate key messages through short video segments, micro-games or brief modules that contain specific, high-level information. In this way, mobile learning can be used to increase knowledge retention after employees have taken a virtual or instructor-led courses and need a refresh of the information while they are on the job. Or, it can be a great way to assign additional content aimed to improve employee retention when employees are away from their desks. #2 Use Mobile learning to deliver training to specific employees or divisions within your organization A good way to approach mobile learning is to think of it as a part of a training strategy that will optimize the way certain employees and divisions will learn, as well as how they will retain information they received through a virtual or instructor-led course. While mobile learning may be helpful for most employees when approached as a secondary tool to improve knowledge retention of previously learned concepts, it may not be the most suitable method to deliver key information to all employees. When leveraged to deliver key information, mobile learning is best deployed to employees who are frequently on-the-go. Typically, field employees or sales divisions within your company are ideal targets for this type of training method. These employees will likely get the most out of a mobile learning solution, as they require immediate information to help them perform their jobs, or are constantly leaving the office to meet prospects and are stretched for time to complete live or computer-based training. When utilized a complement to other training measures, such as virtual and instructor-led classes, mobile learning provides the optimal results. Mobile learning is also more effective when utilized to communicate key information as well as when it is deployed to the right members of your workforce.

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