Why You Can't Afford to Ignore Mobile Learning
Mobile learning (m-learning) could be described as education accessed via the Internet using personal mobile devices, such as tablets and smartphones, using materials provided via online apps, podcasts, YouTube, social media and online learning hubs, but it’s more than that.
Mobile learning is not only about the technology, but more importantly about the learner. The technology allows the learner to be mobile, flexible and to learn in any context, at any time. Learners can move in and out of engagement with technology or the learning material as they choose.
A global, learner-driven revolution in education is unfolding
As technology is transforming the lifestyles of the workforce, so the learners themselves are driving change through how they access education. Millennials demand the flexibility and freedom to direct their own learning journeys.
They don’t only want to learn in classrooms or at their office desks! The online learning revolution is taking education beyond the boundaries of a fixed venue. But mobile learning is also more than a revolution.
Mobile learning is disrupting and eliminating inflexible, traditional methods of education
“The way that education is being delivered is shifting from real-time to semi-synchronous, from just in case to just-in-time, from informational to transformation, and from mandatory to volitional.”1
Learners are choosing to avoid outdated and obsolete forms of education, which are usually not mobile, much more expensive, less engaging and less effective.
As evidence of this shift, US college enrollments are reported to be dropping, forcing many colleges to either close their doors, merge or offer online education. 2
A 2019 global learner survey3, also confirmed this disruptive trend:
- 63% of respondents believe that colleges and universities aren’t teaching the right skills
- 88% believe that ongoing education is essential for career success
- 84% agreed that DIY and self-service learning will increase in the future
Mobile learning is powering the dynamic change from traditional methods of teaching to pedagogy that caters for this new DIY learner generation.
Among the most attractive features that mobile learning offers are:
- the ability for learners to learn in their own context, but also
- interactive learning methods which transform the learner into an active participant, rather than a passive recipient of information – a feature that leads to higher retention and improved application of learning.
Mobile learning that is delivered in bite-sized micro-learning modules that learners can consume on-the-go are growing in popularity. They provide learning that is relevant, “just-in-time” (rather than “just in case”), engaging and applicable to the learner’s needs.
Modern learners are rejecting education that is limited to theory learned in ivory towers.
They are choosing education that develops skills and builds competency for the 21st century workplace.
Simulation and scenario-based eLearning, delivered on any device is the ultimate way to deliver education and training that meets the needs of 21st century workers and their employers. It builds skills and competence through learning by doing, rather than bombarding learners with facts and theoretical knowledge only.
Used strategically, this interactive, mobile training can transform learning into a seamless part of daily life.
- Is your training on the verge of becoming obsolete?
- Are you offering training that fails to engage your learners?
- Do you know how to develop skills and designing learning experiences not just provide content
- Most importantly, does your organization have a strategy for making education and training mobile?
Speak to SimTutor today and discover how easily you can adapt your existing materials to deliver mobile education that meets the needs of 21st century learners anytime and anywhere.
References:
- Danny Iny, Leveraged Learning, Ideapress Publishing, 2018, p.56
- Michael Horn, Will Half Of All Colleges Really Close In The Next Decade? Forbes, 13 December 2018,https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelhorn/2018/12/13/will-half-of-all-colleges-really-close-in-the-next-decade/#66f54f352e55
- Pearson Global Learning Survey 2019