Mlearning is becoming a big thing in the elearning industry and most of us with smartphones will understand why.
If you look back at the time when you first used a smartphone, you probably felt more than excitement. Admit it, we all felt like we could do anything with our phone. We can browse the net, play games, update our social media accounts, access emails, make calls, send text messages, take photos, and even read ebooks. As new models come out, the list of features become longer. Our smartphones become more sophisticated with every release. In fact, the elearning industry is seriously keeping track of these developments because mobile learning is becoming an important alternative in training programs.
According to an infographic published on OriginLearning.com, 25% of page views on the Internet is done through a mobile device. Not only that, 62% of emails are opened in mobile devices. People are using their mobiles more and more and it is a huge oversight if elearning professionals ignore the potential of a smartphone when creating mlearning courses.
But despite the huge potential of learning through our smartphones, there are 2 important reminders that you need to know before you incorporate it into your elearning strategies.
Just because you can, it does not mean you should.
Making your courses accessible through smartphones is possible thanks to the advancements in technology. It is actually a great tool for learning because you can literally use it while you are on-the-go. However, that does not mean we should push it to the limit. Just because smartphones are sophisticated enough to support mlearning courses, it does not mean it is the perfect device to use. Here’s a great example. A Samsung Galaxy Note 5 comes with an S Pen that allows you to take notes like you would in a notebook. Does that mean it should replace the traditional pen and paper? Not entirely. It does take a bit of practice but most people would find it easier to write notes using an actual pen and paper rather than use the note features of this smartphone. Let us consider another example. You know how fun it was to play the game Sims? You can actually download it and play it from your smartphone. But does that make it a better gaming experience compared to playing on your desktop? Not necessarily. The small screen might rob you of the full experience especially in appreciating the small details of the game. In the same way, just because your smartphone can support mlearning courses, it does not mean it should.
Think about the physical requirements of the course.
In connection with the first, it is very important for you to consider the physical requirements of the course before you decide if a smartphone is the best portal to use it. There are training requirements that are not suited for the smaller screen of smartphones. For instance, if you are tackling complex ideas that require thorough discussions, a face-to-face training may be the best option. If you have to use infographics to make details easier to understand, the small screen of the smartphone may not be the best place to view it. You need a bigger screen like that of a tablet, laptop, or desktop. Make sure you consider the physical requirements that the course will need. There are cases wherein a smartphone can work well – like a video presentation during a one-on-one training session. If you have to do it with a bigger group, then you need to use something bigger than a smartphone.
Take these two reminders into consideration when you are planning to use smartphones for your mlearning course. Although these are sophisticated devices, they might be limiting the learning experience of the learners.
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