In almost any depiction of modern life, we see ample imagery of people on their mobile devices. In advertisements, movies, television shows, etc., people are using their phones to communicate, shop, find information, navigate and more. The workplace is much the same, with employees sending email, attending meetings and collaborating on their phones. For some reason, however, mobile devices are simply not as ubiquitous in the corporate learning environment.
In a 2021 pulse survey, Brandon Hall Group found that only about 50% of companies have learning content that is optimized for mobile learning, either through a mobile browser or a native app. Additionally, more than two-thirds of companies say that fewer than 25% of their learners are accessing learning via a mobile device. What is happening?
It could be argued that people have tended to use their phones less for anything work-related, at least compared to non-work activities. In the wake of the pandemic, however, people are relying on mobile devices a bit more for work. Regardless, there is still relatively low adoption of mobile learning. In fact, user adoption is the most-cited challenge facing mobile learning. But since people tend to use their phones for almost everything else, does the blame lie with the user? Chances are, it has more to do with the content available to them.
Right behind user adoption in the list of biggest mobile learning challenges are content creation and content migration. Companies simply do not have enough content optimized for a mobile experience. Most companies make their eLearning course modules available via mobile. And while the delivery platform may be device-responsive, the content most likely was not designed with mobile interactivity in mind.
Brandon Hall Group Preferred Provider AllenComm works with its clients to create smart, engaging and impactful mobile learning content. Whether training companies are leveraging content as microlearning, sales enablement, gamification or almost anything else, AllenComm ensures it fits into the learners’ hands, when and where they need it. Just-in-time performance support is one of the key use-cases for mobile learning, yet only 23% of companies say they leverage mobile devices for performance support.
If companies need more than just content, AllenComm offers Siteline, a mobile-ready performance support tool. It leverages the uniqueness of each mobile device (camera, GPS, etc.) allowing training companies to deliver training precisely at the moment of need.
Training companies seeking to drive adoption of mobile learning should be sure they have the right content and tools to deliver it to the right people. AllenComm provides both. To learn more about AllenComm’s approach to mobile learning, visit them here.
–David Wentworth, Principal Learning Analyst, Brandon Hall Group
@davidmwentworth
