What is mLearning?

In its purest form, mobile learning (mLearning) is "learning that happens when the learner takes advantage of the learning opportunities offered by mobile technologies" (Glew, et al. 2003). In layman's terms, it's micro learning: training tidbits delivered via a mobile device such as a Smartphone, MP3 player, netbook, Kindle, iPad, etc. mLearning is also predicted to be one of the top trends in the learning field in 2010. For the past few years, mLearning has been on the cusp of becoming mainstream. But with new technologies and the wide availability and use of mobile devices, particularly those that are web-enabled, mLearning is finally about to realize its full potential.
Types of mLearning can be put into three general buckets: formal, informal and self-directed. Formal learning consists of learning organized by triggered notification and reminders, such as SMS messages asking employees to confirm understanding or participation in an event/completion of assignment. E-learning courseware also falls into formal mLearning. Informal learning includes strategies such as interactive messaging, fostering two-way communication, soliciting user feedback or data collection. Lastly, self-directed learning consists of user-directed learning, reviewing reference/performance support materials, content and courseware, media-based content such as podcasts or videos.

Where is mLearning going?

mLearning is expanding and reaching the general population. It is expected that mobile learning projects delivered in established and emerging global markets will outnumber those delivered in North America (USA/Canada) due to greater interest, faster uptake and willingness to leverage mLearning on both basic feature phones as well as advanced smartphones.
(Robert Gadd, President & Chief Mobile Officer for OnPoint Digital).

How, you ask? Well, technologies such as HTML5 and cloud computing will make it easier for people to access interactive, engaging content. Training and talent development teams will fully embrace these technologies, provided their budgets accommodate them. HTML5 will make rich media playback on mobile devices more practical and compelling too, reducing the need for Flash-based content on mobile, although its use in mLearning is still so new there will be changes before a standard is set. Cloud computing will enable mobile device management that are connected to the cloud, but not regularly connected to a private corporate network. There is also discussion about how Smartphone apps that currently live on a given device may in the future live in the cloud and be accessed via the Internet. The cloud will thus flatten the app industry and material could be created once and then accessed by any device (http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/cloud-computing-quiet-requirement-mobile/2010-05-04).

mLearning will meld with social networking on every learner's mobile device, making the two technologies a fully integrated experience. Support for these two technologies will be an essential part of every mlearning vendor's core offerings. Not providing a combined experience for the learner will alienate a large part of the audience.

Another mLearning trend is location-based learning. Location-based learning is taking advantage of a learner's physical location and their GPS-enabled device to provide teaching in the moment. An example would be a sales person getting key information on a city he's never visited while entering the office building of a potential client (
http://id.ome.ksu.edu/blog/2010/jan/7/location-based-learning/)

Lastly, touch screen functionality will open up interactivity in mLearning. Touch screens allow much more rich interaction than a QWERTY keyboard and leaps and bounds more rich than the old-school traditional keypad.

Benefits

mLearning offers many benefits for your audience, and you.

• It provides an easy way to get current, up-to-date information pushed out to your audience.


• It accelerates reinforcement of training courses and follow-up strategies.


• It gets training to a population who otherwise may not fully participate in training.


• It is efficient; learners can do it on own time and at their own pace.


• It provides increased productivity and revenue because of time saved from other training methods.

Tools

There are quite a few mobile SDK"s and API"s currently available. There are many approaches when it comes to mobile development, each with its own advantages and shortcomings. The mobile industry is dramatically evolving as devices like Kindle and iPad make their way onto the scene. The downside to all these changes and the increase in device diversity is the difficulty in finding a one-size-fits-all solution. There are two approaches to developing applications for mobile devices: developing standalone applications and/or developing applications that capitalize on the device"s built-in web browsers. Browser applications possess a greater ability to target a wider spectrum of devices, but a lesser ability to tap in to the native hardware and software features of a user"s device such as the GPS or accelerometer functionality.

Tradeoffs

To make mLearning effective, it needs to be short, accessible and relevant. Think of it as performance support. This is a tradeoff for learning professionals.

To make mLearning most effective, these strategies should be employed.

• Rethink instructional design/content development




• Text should be short and concise. This is not the place to expand on the theory of relativity.


• Course length should not exceed 5 to 10 minutes, at most. Think about it: would you really want to spend 30 minutes staring at your Smartphone, trying to learn, while crammed like a sardine on the subway during rush hour? Will learners have remembered their headphones in the rush to get out of the door? Likely not. Do users of mobile devices have long lengths of time to participate in a learning activity? Generally not; they will use mLearning as a way to get information and reference material, tips and activities prior to meeting with that new client for the first time.

• Simplify visual design
  
  "Training via the BlackBerry succeeds or fails based on design. The technology can be revolutionary, yet if people can't pick it up and use it with little to no explanation, then they won't use it." ""Eren Rosenfeld, Director of Global Markets and Investment Banking Learning and Development, Merrill Lynch.
  
  
  
  • Screen layouts should work with or without graphics.
  
  
  • Use images as infrequently as possible and only where contextually relevant. Many mobile devices only have access to low bandwidth services, so download time may be very slow. Also, some users pay per KB of mobile web data.
  
  
  • Make images or other graphic elements small. If an image is too large, the user will need to scroll horizontally or vertically to see the whole thing. Some mobile devices don"t support vertical scrolling, resulting in a frustrating cut off image.
  
  
  • Avoid background images or graphics. They can make it difficult to read the screen in some types of lighting. Ambient light will vary depending upon whether a user is indoors or outdoors.
  
  
  • Fonts are extremely limited on mobile devices. While a desktop machine or laptop has many fonts, a mobile device may only have two. Don"t count on differentiation between fonts to make any sort of important point. Geneva and Verdana are both optimized for small resolution screens and are good choices.
  
  
  • Avoid subtle font color distinctions and keep the color contrast high for fonts.
  
  
  • Do not embed text in graphics. Often screens will be too small for the text to be readable.