How To Create A Successful Mobile Learning Strategy: 6 Secrets For eLearning Professionals

How To Create A Successful Mobile Learning Strategy: 6 Secrets For eLearning Professionals
Summary: It is undeniable that mobile learning is the future. An increasing number of learners are turning to their mobile devices to expand their horizons, both in formal and informal learning environments. In this article I'll share 6 secrets you can use to create a successful mobile learning strategy for your online learners, so that they can receive all the benefits that mobile learning courses have to offer.

How To Create A Successful Mobile Learning Strategy

More and more learners are using their mobile phones and tablets to get information when and where they need it. Regardless of whether they are in the middle of a crowded office or in a doctor's waiting room, today they have the power to access knowledge when it is most convenient for them, thanks to mobile learning. In this article I'll shed some light on the secrets behind developing a mobile learning strategy that is on target and offers your audience a memorable and compelling mobile learning experience.

  1. Learn as much as possible about who your learners are. 
    The key to creating a successful mobile learning strategy is knowing as much as possible about whom you are designing for. Does your audience already use their mobile devices on a regular basis? What information do they already have, and what do they need to take away from the mobile learning experience? Are they ready and willing to use their mobile device to access mobile learning courses, or are they still a bit hesitant? You need to know what they expect from the mobile learning course, where they will be accessing it, and how much time they can devote to the experience. You can learn more about your learners through online surveys, focus groups, and interviews.
  2. Repurpose your existing eLearning content to make it mobile friendly.
    The content you currently have in your eLearning course cannot be directly imported into your mobile learning course. It can, however, be modified in order to seamlessly integrate into your mobile learning strategy. You can repurpose the eLearning content you already have to make it effective for mobile training, so that your learners can get the information and skill set development they need when they need it. For mobile learning courses, it is best to keep the content as digestible as possible. You'll have to keep in mind that your learners are going to be accessing the mobile learning course on the go, meaning they won't have an abundance of time to sit down and participate in a 30 minute module. Break lengthy text blocks into bullet points, and highlight key ideas with bold or colored fonts.
  3. Remember that you are dealing with a distracted audience.
    Virtually all learners are distracted to some degree. Even those who are taking traditional online courses may have their mind on other things while they are participating. However, you have to remember that mobile learners are going to be accessing your mobile learning course wherever, whenever. As such, they are going to be dealing with a myriad of distractions while they are trying to absorb information. This is why it is crucial to create engaging, information-packed, and powerful content. You have to grab their attention from the very beginning, and hold it by providing them with key pieces of knowledge they need to receive real world benefits.
  4. Learners may be rushed, but the design should not be.
    Your learners are only going to have a few minutes, on average, to access your mobile learning course. More often than not they are going to be rushed, therefore they need to get as much information as possible as quickly as possible. However, this does not mean that the mobile learning design and development process should be rushed as well. This will simply diminish the quality and the effectiveness of the mobile learning courseThere is a way to cut down on development time while still offering your learners a valuable mobile learning course. You can create templates to reuse for your mobile learning courses, wherein you can change the content and multimedia elements in a pre-made layout.
  5. Use tracking data to fine tune the mobile learning experience.
    By using a mobile learning tool that is compliant with SCORM (Sharable Content Object Reference Model), you can track learner activity in order to determine what is working and what may need to be fine tuned. For example, if you discover that only a small percentage of your learners are able to complete one of the mobile-friendly modules you've created, then it may be time to assess the difficulty level. On the other hand, if one of your mobile learning courses is faring well, maybe you should consider following up with supplemental content that explores additional aspects of the same topic. This will help you to design mobile learning courses that are relevant and valuable, rather than focusing your time and attention on those that may not be as useful to your audience.
  6. Don't force mobile learning upon your audience.
    Unfortunately, not all of your learners are going to be ready and willing to try the mobile learning experience. There may be some who prefer to stick with traditional eLearning and are going to be resistant to your mobile learning strategy. It is important not to force it upon your learners, or else they simply won't be motivated to learn. Instead, ease them into the mobile learning experience. Encourage them to complete supplemental mobile learning courses that will expand their comprehension, so that they can see, firsthand, how a mobile learning course might benefit them. If you find that a majority of your learners aren't using the mobile learning tools you've developed, then it may be time to do additional audience research, or get their feedback to find the reasons behind their resistance to mobile learning.

Use these tips to create a successful mobile learning strategy that will help you design mobile learning courses that always hit the mark.

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If you want to become familiar with the steps involved in the development process of a mobile training strategy, read the article 8 Steps To Create and Develop an Effective Mobile Training Strategy. In this article, I'll walk you through the mobile training creation and implementation process, so that you can tap into the learning power that mobile devices can offer to your learners.

If you want to know more about creating effective mobile learning courses, read the article 7 Ways To Boost The Effectiveness Of Your Mobile Learning Course where you will find tips to help you create engaging and powerful mobile learning experiences for your audience.

Originally published on April 5, 2015