Did you know that 47% of organizations are already using mobile devices in their training programs? Experts are also currently predicting that the mobile learning market will be worth $37.6 billion by 2020. And there’s no surprise that it’s taking off because of its many benefits and because it’s effective.
Mobile learning is more engaging for learners and typically leads to higher knowledge retention rates overall. But it also has one major flaw that you’ll need to weigh heavily if you want it to be implemented and managed properly: It can sometimes offer more distractions for learners.
For instance, other mobile notifications can cause learners to lose focus when they’re in the middle of a lesson, and learners may venture away from their mobile learning content to explore the Internet or engage with others on social media, and so on.
Here are three things you can do to ensure your mobile learning initiatives keep your learners engaged and focused.
1. Implement More Supplemental Hands-On Training Opportunities
Mobile learning should never replace in-person training opportunities and real-life application and should never be implemented solo. Instead, it should supplement other in-person or live virtual training programs and hands-on training opportunities. If your learners can contextualize what they’re learning on mobile with real-life scenarios and applications, they’re far less likely to get distracted when they’re looking at mobile content.
2. Enhance Learner Interactivity and Engagement
Have users interact with the learning content they’re encountering on mobile platforms to prevent them from getting distracted. Make them answer questions and participate in gamified content that allows them to earn rewards and badges as they learn, which will keep mobile learning content fun.
And let them engage in social learning on mobile, too, where they can share answers and questions with others via chat windows and forums in real time as they learn. It’s an efficient and fun way for them to stay focused on what they’re learning while interacting with others and the content they’re encountering. Overall, one of the best ways to keep learners engaged on mobile devices is to allow them to play games as they learn and interact with others.
3. Verify Your Mobile Learning Content Is Properly Designed
Mobile learning content should be less than 5 minutes long; should have easily identifiable learning objectives; and should be entertaining, fun, or at least interesting. Learners have extremely short attention spans on mobile devices, so don’t expect for them to wade through hours of learning content in one sitting on their mobile devices.
Additionally, make sure learners are easily able to track their learning progress on their mobile devices, either with progress bars or via points earned. Learners will get distracted and frustrated and be less engaged with mobile learning content if they’re not aware of their progress and how they’re doing.
If you want your mobile learning initiatives to keep your learners engaged, be sure to do the three things listed above.