Mobile adds value to your course. Mobile facilitates uploading files and video anytime, anywhere to discussions. With mobile, everyone can easily post a comment to a discussion. Mobile provides opportunities for learners to view content, announcements, study, practice on the go. In other words, learners may attend class anytime, anywhere. People spend lots of time viewing TV shows and long videos on their phones. Any place they wait is an opportunity to view a video online. Mobile course experience lacks when viewing long compliance modules or courses that contain many complex interactions. Course modules with detailed screengrabs are difficult to view on small mobile devices.
Mobile appeals to many learners without the need to provide technology device training. Scrolling is intuitive. People do not mind scrolling to read long articles on their phones, eBooks, and tablets. In fact, clicks frustrate users on mobile devices. Mobile lets you design for learning without massive amounts of written content. You can employ assessment for learning by creating a quiz-style game or a simulation. People love games. Did you know that 4 of the 5 most downloaded paid apps currently are for games?
Mobile lets you design for immediacy. Mobile devices give you access to the “always-on” connection to the learner. You can send out quick messages and notification about new additions to learning materials. You can remind learners regarding unfinished modules and upcoming due dates. You can send just-in-time announcements.
Display real estate drives the length and format of course content and the type of interactions. The more types of interactions, the greater the effect on retention. The recommended lesson duration for computer screen access is 14-minutes. For learners accessing via tablets, 11-minutes is an appropriate length of time. Since smartphone course access is best at around 4-minutes, consider designing your content for the smallest device you anticipate your learners will use. Mobile course design can provide an enjoyable, effective and efficient learning experience when the design considers learner’s preference, expectations and device limitations.
Benefits of mobile learning are affordability, efficiency, convenience and scalability. Compared with desktop and laptop computers, mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones cost much less. Mobile devices provide immediate access to learning content. Access to learning content is at any time, from any place with WI-FI or cellular connectivity. Online learning via mobile is scalable. More learners have access to mobile devices than computers and broadband. That means adapting learning materials for mobile delivery can expand access to learning. Updating online content is easy and facilitates keeping content accurate and fresh.
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