Mobile learning promises companies flexible and sustainable training but also presents HR professionals with specific challenges. A study shows what these challenges are in practice – and which solutions truly work.
Is mobile learning already taking place in your company, or is the start planned in the near future? The likelihood that your answer is "Yes" is very high. According to the eLearning Benchmarking Study "Mobile Learning in Practical Use", this was already true for around 70% of all companies in 2018 – and the trend is increasing.
The study also clearly identifies the three biggest challenges for companies:
Barriers to implementation
Mobile-compatible content
Provision of devices
Challenge 1: Barriers to the Implementation of Mobile Learning
If you think that concerns from management or learners are the biggest blockades to mobile learning in companies, you are mistaken. The most common barriers to mobile learning in companies are actually of a technical nature. The following graphic shows: Often the appropriate infrastructure is lacking for provision, or there are simply no compatible content available for mobile learning.
Graphic 1: Companies mainly lack infrastructure and suitable learning content for mobile learning.
Solution: Due to the positive mood towards mobile learning, less persuasion work is needed. Instead, focus on a simple technological solution and suitable learning content when implementing mobile learning.
Challenge 2: Mobile-Compatible Learning Content
Mobile learning has only become a major topic for companies in the last five years – so it’s no wonder that many companies still lack suitable learning content.
According to the study, content for mobile learning must fulfill two main requirements:
Learning content needs a responsive design that adapts easily to various screen sizes.
To ensure content is easily accessible on mobile devices, learning units should be shorter and files smaller than in “stationary” learning on a PC.
Solution: Companies that are already using mobile learning show which content works well in practice: About 90% use WBTs (web-based trainings) on mobile devices. Videos are used almost as frequently. With nearly 80%, quizzes rank third. These top three provide a good foundation for mobile learning.
Graphic 2: WBT, video, and quiz are by far the most common mobile learning contents.
But beware! WBTs have been in decline as a learning trend for some time! The top training trend for the coming years is Blended Learning. The combination of online and classroom learning can also be easily implemented on mobile – and is future-proof.
More on our info page: Blended Learning in Practice
Challenge 3: Provision of Devices
Mobile learning on a smartphone or tablet sounds simple at first. However, an essential organizational question arises: Should the devices be provided by the company, or will learners use their own personal devices?
The reality for companies that are already using mobile learning shows: At this point, there is (still) no consensus. Half provide devices, while the other half relies on BYOD (“bring your own device”).
Graphic 3: Half of the companies provide devices, while the other half uses employees' devices.
Solution: Existing personal devices are the most cost-effective option. Provided devices, on the other hand, minimize security risks. These points need to be individually weighed when implementing mobile learning for your company.
Conclusion: The Right Tool Helps Overcome Challenges
The benchmarking study shows: Mobile learning is increasingly establishing itself across companies. There are already solutions for many of the challenges. Even within mobile learning, new trends are developing that companies should be aware of in 2019.
Many solutions depend on one decision: The choice of the right tool. A specialized, modern learning tool like blink.it
can integrate with existing infrastructure or function as a stand-alone solution.
allows you to quickly and easily create mobile-optimized content.
minimizes risks through high data protection standards.
