Whether we’re returning to the office or continuing to work from home, time remains our most precious resource. That’s why e-Learning designers are increasingly turning to mobile platforms to provide training and instruction. Mobile learning is convenient, accessible, and easy to use—all qualities that can help get students across the finish line in a reasonable amount of time.
Mobile learning is also growing in popularity. In fact, a recent survey found that more than 60% of learners found mobile learning to be a prerequisite and more than 40% said they were more productive when given the option to use a mobile learning platform.
In this post, we’re taking a look at 4 key tips for building a successful mobile course, whether you’re educating your employees or creating a consumer-facing product.
Consider your learners’ attention spans. We typically use our mobile devices for quick, efficient tasks rather than deep, focused work. Mobile learning should take advantage of this tendency by providing learning content that matches the way we use our devices. For example, rather than expecting mobile users to digest large chunks of text or video content, break up your content into bite-sized pieces. You can then reward learners with badges or access to new levels as they progress through the course content.
When possible, go offline. As some of us return to commuting and travel, we won’t always have a dependable Internet connection on our mobile devices. This shouldn’t stop us from being able to access course content or quickly complete a lesson on our way to work. Even individuals working from home can benefit from offline access, especially if they need to complete a lesson or two while taking care of children or household responsibilities. Plus, creating offline content also makes for an easier and more pleasant learning experience with less lag time.
Make learning interactive. In an era of smartphone apps and games, we’re used to interacting with our devices on a regular basis. Learning content can mimic some of the interactive elements that we enjoy in our favorite apps. For example, gamification can reward users for completing a lesson while quizzes can make the learning experience more fun and challenging. Purely static content—even when well-executed—often leaves mobile learners bored or disengaged, which doesn’t bode well for completion rates.
Work across devices—and save learners’ progress. Many households don’t use a single mobile device throughout the day. Instead, users switch between smartphones, tablets, and laptops in order to complete particular tasks. Make sure your mobile learning system can work across the different devices that learners use in their day. If possible, syncing their progress across devices can make it more likely that they will complete the material. Reducing barriers to learning and usage will dramatically improve rates of completion for your course.
Mobile learning is here to stay, which means that e-Learning professionals will increasingly see their work translated to the “small screen” of smartphones and tablets. Take advantage of this growing demand by ensuring your work meets learners where they are on the devices they use every day.