The Benefits of Mobile Learning for Corporates

A McKinsey article reveals that the main reason for a high attrition rate is that employees want more than a transactional relationship. Rather than just a paycheck, they want to enjoy a fulfilling career.

One of the ways to do that is by investing in their professional development. Companies that invest in employees' career development have happier, more engaged, and more productive workforces.

And it’s not just about putting on a one-day workshop.

How do you ensure employees actually benefit from training programs? A modern learning strategy like mobile learning is a step in the right direction.

This article will explain why mobile learning is the future of corporate training and outline the benefits mobile learning brings to your organization.

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What is Mobile Learning?

Mobile learning is an approach to gaining knowledge that involves using mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops to access learning content anywhere and anytime. The portability of these devices allows learning to occur in various settings, making mobile learning convenient and accessible.

This model of learning is beneficial for corporations as it allows employees to learn on the go, whether in the office, at home, or while traveling. Thus, mobile learning can keep employees engaged, connected, and learning even in the era of remote and hybrid workers.

Learning content comes in various forms, including podcasts, videos, apps, quizzes, and full eLearning courses. These diverse resources cater to different learning styles and preferences, allowing individuals to choose the most effective methods for their educational needs. For instance, online flashcards and study guides, such as those offered by Career Employer, provide concise and easily digestible information that can aid in reinforcing knowledge and preparing for assessments. These supplementary tools enhance the learning experience by offering flexibility and interactivity, enabling learners to customize their educational journey.

Furthermore, companies can even create eLearning apps that can be accessed through mobile devices, providing a highly customizable and interactive learning experience for employees.

The Key Components of Mobile Learning

The main features of mobile learning are:

• Microlearning content: Modules of information are broken up into smaller chunks. By providing short bursts of relevant information, learners can maintain their attention and retain information better.
• Easy access: Remote access devices can help with mobile learning for corporates by allowing employees to access learning materials, resources, and company-specific applications from their mobile devices, such as smartphones or tablets. This flexibility makes it easier for employees to participate in online training sessions and access critical documents.
• Dynamic learning: Mobile learning content can come in various formats, such as videos, podcasts, infographics, and animations. This ensures that different learners get the most out of their training.
• Social learning: Mobile learning allows learners to interact with their peers, share knowledge, and ask questions. This encourages collaboration and builds a sense of community.

Another feature of mobile learning that enhances social learning is myQuest Connect, which allows learners to easily find and connect with colleagues who have expertise in a particular subject area, creating opportunities for peer mentoring and knowledge sharing.

The Benefits of Mobile Learning for Corporates

Investing in the growth of your people shows them that you value them and are committed to their success. It also ensures that your company is future-proof. Here are some other reasons why mobile learning is beneficial to corporates:

1. Mobile learning resonates with the modern learner

Millennials will comprise 75% of the workforce by 2025. This group is fond of their mobile devices, so it makes sense to incorporate mobile learning into their training. By doing so, you get a more engaged learner.

2. Mobile learning is more accessible

A custom connectivity solution like Microsoft Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) can help mobile learning in a corporate setting by allowing employees to securely access their work computers and resources remotely using their mobile devices.

With remote access, employees can connect to their work computers from their mobile or home computers. This enables employees to participate in online training sessions, access key documents, and use company-specific applications.

It can also facilitate remote collaboration and communication among team members, as they can access the same resources regardless of location.

3. It is cost-effective

If you’re preparing to host physical training for team members, you may need to rent a space, hire instructors, and purchase the tools participants will use. You’ll also have to cover travel expenses and perhaps accommodation for trainers and participants, among other logistics.

That alone can rack up a huge bill. The costs can be astronomical when considering travel time and how it impacts productivity.

On the other hand, Mobile learning doesn’t require a lot of logistics and can be done anywhere, anytime. All everyone needs is a device and an internet connection. This saves a lot of time and money.

4. It is more engaging

Attending in-person training after an 8-hour shift is not an activity most employees look forward to. Engagement drops even further since they may have to take notes or listen attentively.

Mobile learning content can come in various formats, such as videos, podcasts, infographics, and animation, which makes learning more interactive. As a result, they can digest information at their own pace and retain it better.

5. Mobile learning fosters collaboration

Mobile learning allows learners to collaborate, share, and co-create knowledge. This increases retention and improves knowledge transfer as team members are actively learning instead of passively.

Through unified communication (UC) solutions, like the Vonage online phone system, team members can collaborate and share ideas, no matter where they are, via a single app.

This all-in-one approach increases accessibility and resource access from mobile devices, even for devices with limited performance or data storage capacity. You can even integrate your learning platform with Microsft Teams to enable your staff to share knowledge seamlessly with each other. This enhances learning and collaboration in corporate environments.

6. Mobile learning is more efficient

When learning is efficient, employees take less time to achieve competence. That’s why personalization is a vital aspect of mobile learning.

Geo data and analytics help deliver personalized content based on location, time, and device. By leveraging these insights, programs can be personalized and targeted to each individual.

Also, for companies with employees who need to be trained on location-specific regulations, policies, or practices, geospatial analytics can help ensure that the right employees receive the appropriate training content.

Drawbacks of Mobile Learning for Corporates

Distractions can hinder mobile learning. Organizations must provide clear guidelines for mobile device usage for learning purposes and consider incorporating gamification and interactive elements. Employees will be motivated and engaged.

Another main concern is technology access; not all employees may have the latest mobile devices or reliable internet connections, which could hinder their learning experience. It can be challenging for large workforces or employees in remote areas. Providing all employees with access to the necessary mobile learning technology is essential.

Security is also a worry, as mobile devices accessing company-specific applications and resources pose a risk of data breaches and cyberattacks. Through secured networks, firewalls, and encryption, companies should ensure mobile learning programs are secure.

5 Tips for Success in Corporate Mobile Learning

1. Make it easy for users

Employees will decide in just a few clicks whether to continue the training. So, to ensure a successful mobile learning implementation, keep things simple. Reduce friction by keeping onboarding steps to a minimum. Direct access to learning content without logging in every time is also a great way to engage and attract learners.

And if you’re using a web-based Learning management system (LMS), consider using an attractive and recognizable domain name that helps employees easily access the courses.

2. Optimize for mobile

Mobile-optimized content allows employees to access and interact with learning materials on the go. This means creating easily digestible content for smaller screens with shorter paragraphs, bullet points, and multimedia elements.

It also means designing responsive content for different screen sizes and orientations.

This flexibility allows for a more personalized and self-directed learning experience, which leads to higher engagement and retention rates.

3. Employ videos

Videos are a powerful tool for engaging learners and concisely and visually appealingly conveying complex information. They can be used for various purposes, such as demonstrating a process, explaining a concept, or showcasing a product.

Moreover, videos can be accessed and viewed on mobile devices, making them an ideal medium for mobile learning. Using videos in your mobile learning strategy will create an immersive and interactive learning experience.

4. Break training materials into short consumable modules

This approach involves dividing training content into smaller, bite-sized pieces that learners can easily consume and retain.

Short modules are more effective than longer ones because they allow learners to focus on specific topics and avoid information overload. This approach also enables learners to learn at their own pace and convenience—essential for busy corporate employees.

To create short consumable modules, you need to identify the key learning objectives and break them down into smaller topics. Each module should have a clear learning outcome and be structured logically.

5. Foster collaboration and social learning

Mobile learning can also facilitate collaboration and social learning among employees. Employees can share knowledge and expertise by incorporating social features like discussion forums, chat rooms, and peer-to-peer learning.

The result is a better learning experience and a culture of continuous learning within the company.

Gamification elements such as leaderboards and badges can also incentivize employees to participate and engage in learning.

Leverage Mobile Learning to Aid Your Workforce's Professional Development

Gone are the days when organizations could organize a couple of workshops for employees or send them on a week-long course and be done. Modern workers seek continuous learning and development. Adapting a mobile learning strategy can do just that.

Mobile learning is not just a trend but a necessity today. It offers a flexible and personalized approach to learning, which is crucial for corporates.

With mobile learning, employees can access learning materials at their convenience, which means they can learn at their own pace and schedule. This approach saves time and increases employee engagement and retention.

Moreover, mobile learning can help organizations save costs associated with traditional training methods. By leveraging mobile learning, organizations can create a continuous learning culture, leading to better employee performance and productivity. 

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