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Tag: mobile learning

micro learning as a tool for corporate trainnig

Online learning or e-learning has stood its ground and is an established learning practice used by universities, enterprises and other entities providing education and training. Micro learning, aka microlearning or micro-learning, as an extension of e-learning is a concept aimed at providing short bites of lessons to learners – primarily corporate workforce – which are easy to memorize and available on time. Micro learning can be a standalone effort or it can supplement formal learning strategy, in both the cases micro learning has been proven to be effective and efficient.

With the manifold benefits of providing quick bites of lessons, micro learning is easy to manage and deliver for organizations who want to keep their employees informed and equipped all the time, without putting an extra burden of extensive learning on them. Here we have listed some of the benefits of inculcating micro learning in corporate learning strategy.

One at a Time

Micro learning content comes in nuggets, they focus on specific aspect of the subject and hence are quick to learn and easy to remember. The perfect sized bites of information extracted from the formal lessons which take 3-5 minutes to comprehend are easily consumed and retained in the memory for on-time application.

On-time Learning

It’s a fast paced life and we have too many things to do, at work and at home. Micro learning targets niche topics and brings them to your screen for on-time consumption. They are ideal for quick reference to reinforce the formal learning, for examples to support the lessons learnt, for pre training guides or for a quick update.

Performance Support Tool

While going through a formal training, micro learning can come handy as a performance support tool. The on-time learning strategy is used as a quick reminder or to recap the lessons learnt, to provide extended information which could have been missed in the formal training courseware or in many other ways.

Easy to Access

Micro learning is usually accessed on mobile devices through apps. The ease of access is a great advantage, trainees don’t have to open the laptop always and quickly access the lesson bites on mobile devices when required.

Higher Retention

Since micro learning is not a stressful task and is taken at the will of learner and in the comfort of private space and time, the retention rate of the information consumed turns out to be higher than formal training. However caution has to  be taken to not to overwhelm the learners, the goal of micro learning is to provide easy learning and the lesson bites need to be tiny and exciting. Micro learning consists of rich interactive media like video, animation, infographics and images to illustrate the training, hence this adds to the retainability of the information consumed

Easy to Develop and Maintain

With ample benefits at the learner side, micro learning also has great advantages for the organisations. With shorter development lifecycle they are easy to develop and maintain, once the app is developed they don’t take much effort to maintain. Impelsys is a renowned supplier of technology products and services to the learning community. iPublishCentral Learn, the flagship elearning platform supports mobility and micro learning through elearning apps and responsive web design.

Quick to Launch

Micro learning lessons are quick to launch, they can be updated quickly and training administrators can provide continuously refreshed lessons for the learners. The lessons can however be saved on the client device and can be accessed at any stage of the learning cycle, thus providing even more stress free learning for the learners.

Behavioral Change Among Employees

Mobile learning with the freedom and privacy that it provides is known to support positive behavioral change among employees. Micro learning leverages on this fact, the outcome is expected to be narrow but of high impact and hence employees see it as a resourceful tool.

Micro learning comes in various formats like videos, infographics, quizzes, games and interactive PDFs, it gives variety and is exciting for learners. With the multiple advantages, the strategy is proven to reduce the forgetting rate and give an exponential push to the learning curve, it certainly helps organisations step up their training efforts and in turn increase the productivity of their employees.

https://www.impelsys.com/online-learning/elearning-trends-radar-year-2018/

key-mobile-learning-trends

The advent of mobile learning commenced when people began to use mobile technology on a regular basis. Smartphones, tablets and laptops reinvented the way people access and use information, giving rise to the possibility of disbursing knowledge on these devices.

Over the years as mobile technology evolved, new mobile learning tools began to emerge. In fact, a recent study revealed that 47% of organizations are now using mobile devices to support formal learning. There are several benefits of m-Learning for both learners and educators. Packed with interactive features such as instant chat capability, mobile learning tools allow learners to exchange information and interact with educators and other learners in real time. This nurtures communication and collaboration among both parties, enabling them to make the most out of community-based learning.

Despite its relatively young lifespan, mobile learning is creating a lasting influence on how we learn. Here are some of the key mobile learning trends witnessed in 20161. 

  1. The replacement of Flash with HTML5

One of the major trends witnessed in 2016 was the large-scale adoption of HTML5 and the gradual phasing out of Flash. HTML5 proved to be quicker and more versatile than Flash, which resulted in it slowly replacing Flash by offering m-Learning content developers better and engaging content creation options. HTML5 has slowly but surely taken the reigns from its Flash forerunner. The primary reason for this is the fact that HTML5 is accessible on all devices and internet browsers. On the other hand, Flash is not mobile-friendly.

As mobile learning is on the path of dynamic growth, m-Learning professionals are constantly on the lookout for tools that cater to the needs of mobile learners. HTML5 is adaptable, fast and versatile. It enables m-learning developers to create collaborative and appealing learning experiences. Another reason for the decline in popularity of Flash in m-learning is the phasing out of Flash players by many browsers. A mobile learning course that is flash-based has a limited audience reach.

  1. Customization of m-learning through Big Data applications

2016 was the year for Big Data app analytics. With Big Data, mobile learning companies could get a closer look at learner preferences and expand the overall mobile training strategy. Big Data analytics enabled m-Learning developers to gauge mobile traffic, device usage and thereby determine the strengths and weaknesses of different mobile learning modules. The findings of Big Data analytics help tailor the mobile learning experience and improve the content elements that do not meet expectations. The biggest beneficiaries of Big Data analytics are mobile learning apps. In-app analytics are complete with built-in reporting features that monitor live app usage and deliver learning patterns in real time.

  1. Mobile optimized design

The increased movement for courses from desktops to mobile devices necessitated the creation of responsive course design this year. Design that automatically adjust to the screen size and resolution of the device is called mobile optimized design. A mobile optimized design modifies the location of the images, text blocks and overall page layout based on the device it is being viewed on. This ensures that the entire audience receives the same experience, irrespective of the device they use. For example, learners using mobile phones, tablets and even wearable tech gadgets will receive the same information as desktop users.

This device-agnostic design trend finds its roots in the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) trend in workplaces that created the need for catering design and content that work equally well on all devices.

  1. The advent of wearable technology devices

Google Glass, Oculus Rift, Apple Watch, and Android Wear – a few of the wearable devices that are available in the market today are becoming more and more popular around the world. These devices not only are user-friendly but are affordable too. What’s more? Wearable gadgets were seen playing a significant role in the m-Learning space this year as these devices transformed the way users access and acquire new information.

Wearable technology devices have the potential to use virtual reality tools and make simulations into interactive and dynamic experiences in online training atmospheres. For example, instead of simply reading about sales and marketing tools, employees can now interact with virtual customers, ace their negotiation skills and learn every step in the sales process by using an augmented reality device.

  1. On-time mobile support

Most learners gain access to learning material during the duration of the course but lose all the information once the course is complete. Very often they need access to reference materials, such as user manuals, after the completion of online training. Having mobile support allows them to use the information that they have learned while they are on the job. This helps them do their job effectively and carry out critical tasks without having to step away from their workstations.

Thus, on-time mobile support was a major trend for 2016 and will continue to be in the coming year. On-time mobile support is an invaluable tool for organizations with a geographically dispersed workforce. For example, members of an on-field sales force can access product details, webinars, and online exercises on the go. Thus, they can stay abreast with the latest information and help clients make informed buying decisions.

  1. Learning management systems powered by geo-location feature

Geo-location feature has enabled m-Learning developers to deliver relevant training to a global audience this year. By knowing the learner’s location one can deliver the suitable mobile learning course or mobile courseware that is relevant to that geography. For example, a learner in India will be able to access a mobile learning course with Indian examples and online activities that are culturally relevant. It can also be useful when designing geography-based online content such as training centers near you, or regional surveys. It is important that geo-location must be paired with localization when catering to international markets. This typically involves detailed learner research to understand the customs, societal norms, and backgrounds of online learners in the region.

Mobile learning has proved to have numerous benefits for both learners and educators. As per a recent report, 75% of mobile learners have quoted “convenience” and “time management” as chief benefits of mobile learning. There is a testified 45% less time spent in training and a 0% loss in comprehension. While mobile learning technology has resulted in exciting new learning development opportunities, it has a long way to go with new developments and increased adoption yet to be witnessed.