The degree at which mobile learning has achieved adoption can be determined by the fact that both mobile learning and eLearning are now being used interchangeably. This is because it resonates more with a wide range of learner profiles.
Mobile Learning Technology
This is a crucial year in the history of mobile learning. Nowadays, mobile learning technology has gone from a “good-to-have” feature to“must-have” functionality. As L&D expands its adoption efforts, let’s have a look at different technologies that will influence mobile learning in 2023 and beyond. However, before that, let’s have a look at the influence of mobile learning for business and how business expectations have changed in terms of learning.
Contemporary learners aren’t very responsive to conventional training formats, due to their tendency to be too prescriptive. L&D teams push these formats in their LMS by focusing on tracking. Here’s what they actually want:
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Modern learners like their training to be accessible .i.e. they can easily open it from any place at any time.
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Training must align well with their current lifestyles.
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There needs to be instant and on-demand access to training.
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They must have full control over the consumption of their training.
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They need the L&D departments to think out-of-the-box, rather than focusing only on structured and formal training. These learners like supporting training having functionalities for Just-In-Time training.
Now, let’s take a look at how mobile learning technology will revolutionize eLearning in the future.
1. Augmented Reality
Augmented reality or simply known as AR is one of the most innovative technologies implemented these days. Simply put, it changes and enhances the real world via interactive, software-based virtual elements, allowing modification in text, objects, and other graphics.
As the technological barriers to explore and develop AR applications disappear over time, experts believe that AR is slated to play a crucial role in mobile learning technology in the upcoming future. Despite the fact that there’s a need to resolve certain challenges, the plethora of features and advantages AR brings to the table is outstanding, to say the least. As per Statista, the global AR revenue is bound to cross the $90 billion mark by this year’s end.
The growing affordability of AR development tools has also caused a noticeable change, leading experts to predict a greater adoption of AR in the mobile learning landscape. For instance, Jaguar Land Rover made headlines when they designed a mobile application to train their employees. The aim of this app was to provide training to new technicians, without the need for reinstalling and removing their vehicle dashboard. All the learner has to do is to place their device camera to the vehicle’s dashboard. After the app recognizes the dashboard, it would launch the training session.
Thus, the arrival of AR on the horizon promises an exciting and innovative future when it comes to mobile learning technologies.
2. Virtual Reality
Virtual reality or VR refers to the use of computer technology for developing a simulated environment. Companies such as Facebook and Microsoft have been among the biggest investors in VR tools and technologies. Over time, these capabilities are going to expand to an extent where each mobile device would be able to support and use them for various applications.
In the last two years, VR has made deep inroads into mobile learning, becoming a powerful tool for hands-on online employee training. Companies such as Volkswagen and Walmart, are embracing VR for this purpose.
3. AI and Machine Learning
AI and machine learning are revolutionizing business processes in various industries. Mobile learning is another area where they have expanded their influence to a significant extent. The evolution of machine learning algorithms has opened doors to several new and exciting opportunities. Today, eLearning is a lot different than it was a few years back. The advancements in mobile learning technologies have been shaped with the release of cutting-edge tablets and smartphones as well as the emergence of AI-powered voice assistants – Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant, and Cortana lead the way. These voice-enabled technologies tailor their user experience with user input, thanks to the use of machine learning algorithms, such as K-means, random forest, and classification.
When it comes to modern mobile learning technology, companies are integrating AI and ML directly to their mobile learning applications and will shape the learning industry by suggesting and recommending what the learner needs at the moment.
In upcoming years, the release of more mobile learning applications is imminent as different mobile learning platforms decide to go ahead with implementing AI and ML in their eLearning solutions. By doing so, they can monitor, track, and recommend suitable learning paths to their audience and determine where they lack in terms of skills and knowledge.
4. Location-Based Technology
Experts have seemed to reach an agreement on an important realization: context and personalization makes learning more engaging and stimulating to learners. Because of which, one of the key metrics is location. It provides optimal support to personalization and builds a relevant user experience. For instance, if your learner is based on Texas, your mobile LMS will display courses that have high employment opportunities, like data science. This way, your learners can find courses on Python, R, Descriptive Statistics, and other core elements of data science.
The enhanced GPS functionalities in wearable and mobile devices play a pivotal role in enhancing the location-based technology in your mobile learning solutions. With this additional functionality you can personalize the learning content as per the geographical whereabouts of your users.
This is particularly advantageous for large firms that are spread throughout the world with different branches and are making efforts for localizing their learning methods to a specific area or region. Similar to how compliance regulations vary across countries, companies are required to make sure that their learners in a certain location get high-quality training for the right technology. Thus, location-based mobile learning technology can provide a massive advantage in this case.
5. 5G Connectivity
As the name suggests, the fifth generation of cellular mobile communication is referred to as 5G. It is unique, because it delivers higher speeds and offers more stable and reliable connections. In this digital age, everyone is connected to the Web, which means that 5G connections are going to provide an excellent boost to industries around the world.
The industry is already seeing the announcements of 5G-supported processors and hardware on mobile devices and is well on its way to becominge a game- changer in the near future.
When it comes to mobile learning technology, 5G is going to bolster the connection speeds and eliminate the frustration caused by slow buffering speeds. With 5G, you can expect more multiplayer-based learning, and a better quality of video and audio content.
6. Cloud Migration
Voluminous amounts of data areis being produced on a daily basis, prompting businesses—both SMEs and large corporations—to move their on-premises infrastructure to the cloud. This helps them to improve their productivity, reduce costs, and enjoy other cloud benefits.
A similar paradigm shift is expected in the realm of mobile learning as the new batch of mobile learning apps are going to be hosted on the cloud servers. Due to this, learners don’t have to be limited by their mobile’s insufficient storage. The use of AI and machine learning will also make more data to be generated in the coming days. Therefore, soon, all the existing mobile learning solutions will move completely to the cloud.
7. Improved Hardware Configuration
Not long ago, 1GB RAM was seen as a luxury on a personal desktop. It was enough to run all the software atof that time. Today, even smartphones have 12GB RAM that isare required to support intensive operations and facilitate multi-tasking. Modern mobile phones are quickly upgrading their hardware capabilities with the objective of supporting multitasking and providing smooth operations in their devices.
Therefore, learners are going to enjoy a smoother and seamless learning experience where they can multitasks easily, without experiencing any lag.
8. Voice Assistants and Smart Speakers
Voice assistants are one of the most promising technologies at the moment. Tablets, smartphones, IoT devices – all modern gadgets are integrated with Siri, Google Assistant, and Alexa. They process voice-based commands to make daily management of tasks more efficient and easy. These voice assistants are powered by AI, ML, and cloud.
In the mobile learning technology space, several innovations and use-cases using voice assistants are coming to the surface. For instance, some mobile learning solutions are using Alexa for creating interactive quizzes .i.e. the learner has to take a short quiz, whereas the smart speaker communicates with them throughout the process. This can also trigger other innovations. For instance, smart speakers can tell users whether a new course has been released that aligns with their needs.
To learn more, you can reach out to us so we can show you how we have improved eLearning solutions for other companies with mobile learning technology.
Choosing the Right Mobile eLearning Software
Selecting the most suitable mobile eLearning software is pivotal for a successful digital learning experience. To make an informed decision, it’s essential to evaluate key features and consider various factors.
Evaluating Essential Features in Mobile eLearning Software
When delving into the selection process of mobile eLearning software, it’s crucial to meticulously evaluate several key features that contribute to a comprehensive and effective learning environment.
User-Friendly Interfaces
A user-friendly interface is paramount for a positive learning experience. Intuitive navigation, clear layouts, and easy access to learning materials enhance engagement and reduce the learning curve for both educators and learners.
Interactive Content Creation Tools
Robust tools for creating interactive content are pivotal. Look for features that facilitate the development of engaging multimedia content, including videos, quizzes, simulations, and interactive assessments. This not only keeps learners actively involved but also caters to diverse learning styles.
Analytics and Reporting Capabilities
The ability to track and analyze learner progress is a cornerstone of effective eLearning. Robust analytics and reporting features provide insights into learner performance, helping educators identify strengths and weaknesses in the curriculum and make data-driven decisions for continuous improvement.
Scalability
As the number of learners grows, the software should seamlessly scale to accommodate the increasing demand. Scalability ensures that the eLearning websites remain efficient and responsive, even in large-scale implementations.
Compatibility Across Devices
Given the variety of devices learners may use, the eLearning software must be compatible across different platforms and devices. Whether accessed on smartphones, tablets, or desktop computers, a consistent and optimized experience ensures accessibility for all.
Integration Capabilities
For a holistic learning experience, consider the software’s integration capabilities with other learning management systems (LMS), third-party tools, and content libraries. Integration streamlines administrative tasks and facilitates a cohesive eLearning ecosystem. As an alternative to Blackboard, certain mobile eLearning software options offer enhanced flexibility and customization to better meet diverse educational needs.
Customization Options
The ability to tailor the eLearning platform to specific educational needs is crucial. Look for software that allows customization of content, assessments, and interfaces, enabling educators to align the platform with their unique teaching methodologies and curriculum requirements.
By prioritizing these essential features during the evaluation process, institutions and educators can select mobile eLearning software that not only meets current needs but also lays the foundation for a scalable, adaptable, and engaging digital learning environment.
Factors to Consider When Selecting the Ideal Mobile eLearning Platform
The process of selecting the ideal mobile eLearning platform is a critical step that requires careful consideration of various factors. To ensure the chosen platform aligns seamlessly with the educational objectives and meets the needs of both educators and learners, it’s essential to delve into the following key factors:
Scalability
The scalability of the mobile eLearning platform is paramount, especially in educational settings where user numbers can vary. An ideal platform should be capable of accommodating growth, ensuring that it remains efficient and effective as the number of users increases over time. This scalability is crucial for institutions planning to expand their online learning initiatives.
Compatibility Across Devices and Operating Systems
In the diverse landscape of digital devices and operating systems, it’s imperative that the chosen platform is compatible across a range of devices, including smartphones, tablets, and various operating systems. This versatility ensures that learners can access educational content seamlessly, regardless of the device they prefer or have available.
Security Measures
Robust security features are non-negotiable when it comes to handling sensitive educational data. The selected platform should employ encryption, secure authentication protocols, and data access controls to safeguard user information and maintain the privacy and integrity of the learning environment.
Cost and Budget Considerations
Assessing the cost of implementing and maintaining the mobile eLearning platform is crucial. Consider not only the initial investment but also ongoing costs such as licensing, updates, and support. Balancing these costs with the available budget ensures a sustainable and financially responsible choice.
User Support and Training Resources
The availability of comprehensive user support and training resources is essential for a smooth implementation. Look for platforms that provide accessible user guides, tutorials, and responsive customer support. Adequate training resources empower educators and learners to maximize the potential of the platform and address any challenges effectively.
By carefully evaluating these factors, educational institutions can make informed decisions in selecting a mobile eLearning platform that aligns with their specific requirements, fosters effective teaching and learning, and contributes to the success of their online education initiatives.
The Growing Need for Mobile eLearning Platforms
When we talk about mobile eLearning, we talk about the countless benefits that are associated with this learning platform. For instance, the most convenient and prominent of all benefits is the flexibility to access the learning material from any location and at any time. This growing need and popularity of mobile eLearning are definitely transforming the eLearning industry immensely. We’ve already covered the topic of mLearning importance in our blog.
So, what tools do you need to create an interactive mobile eLearning course? There are a lot of mobile eLearning tools out there. They are handy, easy to operate and come with numerous features and options to provide you the best content developing experience and to meet your online course requirements. We are going to cover the following tools in this article:
- Claro
- Articulate Storyline
- iSpring Suite
- SumTotal ToolBook
- Lectora
- Adobe Captivate
- IWEBKIT
CLARO
Claro will help you in creating an online course with the use of mobile-compliant HTML5. The tool provides excellent features and options to incorporate into your learning course. The options that come with this tool include pre-designed mobile themes along with a wide variety of assessment functionality, which is commonly available in a desktop course.
Whether you wish to develop responsive content, software stimulation or the conventional eLearning course, the tool provides all the features that you need. Some of the best features of Claro mobile eLearning tool include:
- Adaptive and responsive output
- HTML, full-featured authoring
- Reuse and sharing of content
- Real-time collaboration
- Publishing options for apps, LMS, LRS, print
The content created with the help of Claro tool can easily be re-used to fulfill both formal and informal requirements. Also, it eliminates the need to develop multiple versions.
Articulate Storyline
This is definitely one of the most famous mobile eLearning tools amongst all other available options. Articulate Storyline enables the content developer to publish the learning content either as native iOS app or HTML5, like a web-app. The tool is simple, best for beginners and effective enough for experts. The features of this content creating tool truly consider the mobile functionality and help in developing better, simple and quick mobile capabilities.
You may use the quizzes, slide layers and characters to easily create an interactive course. The easily accessible tool both by iPads and desktop users provides learners the best learning experience. With that, you also get an access to features like touch screen gesture support and mobile-friendly playback. Both of these optimized features offer deep interaction in your eLearning course while making it more responsive and providing an optimal view on every mobile device.
iSpring Suite
iSpring Suite is a great mLearning development tool. It helps in converting content into comprehensive online mobile courses. As you create your eLearning course using iSpring Suite, it runs seamlessly on all operating systems or smartphones. iSpringtool comes with a range of publishing options such as Flash, HTML5, ZIP archives, .exe formats and to the web.
The tool offers some powerful capabilities that help in building engaging and interactive learning content and presentations. The material is easily accessible from all devices such as smartphones, laptops or tablets. Moreover, the learners can even learn in offline mode on their mobile devices.
SumTotal ToolBook
This mobile eLearning tool is one of the oldest ones available today. The tool offers the great feature of geo-location for mobile support. The tool is now being used as version 11 and it is one of the famous content development tools for eLearning courses. With a great many features, this eLearning tool offers templates which are tailor-made for health care training, compliance training, and soft skill training and so on.
All of these mobile features are exceptionally compatible with almost all the mobile web browsers such as Firefox and Safari. The tool also offers the advantage of drag and drop option that is incorporated in iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch. This mobile eLearning tool is commonly used in organizations to provide training material to employees and to help them gain competency and skills to perform their jobs better. The authoring tool offers a design-driven solution to create mobile learning content.
Lectora
Lectora offers content to a variety of mobile devices. It works with HTML5 and provides flexible solution to create content. The content development tool offers three user-friendly models which include Camtasia 8 to enhance and develop video tutorials, Flypaper 3.9 to facilitate Flash animation and Snagit 11 to develop learning tools from screen captures. Moreover, users may receive feedback by publishing course to ReviewLink.
The tool is commonly used to create multi-device eLearning courses and is an ideal solution to create mLearning course by converting text-heavy content. The mobile eLearning tool is popular to fit both native eLearning apps and web-based. Just like above-discussed authoring tool Claro, which enables you to create a course and publish it with the help of HTML5 as web-based apps, Lectora Mobile is offered by Lectora.
The tool is widely being used to create mobile-friendly online courses. It also includes the feature of Responsive Course Design that further facilitates the creation of courses for multiple devices and with improved features.
Adobe Captivate
Anyone who has even the slightest knowledge about mobile authoring tools must know this famous mobile eLearning tool. Just like other content creation tools, Captivate also facilitate in creating eLearning courses and then publish these courses as web-apps with the help of HTML5. The content development tool also integrates with a range of existing LMSs along with HTML5 catalog animations.
The tool offers great features which simplify the process of developing mobile eLearning course. The tool significantly reduces the content creation time by introducing new innovative Fluid Boxes. This feature uses white space to automatically align objects. Most importantly, the tool provides great flexibility to convert the existing desktop course into a responsive mobile learning content along with the feature to customize them. Anyone who has already used the Adobe suite previously must know that this is one of the most popular tools in all other content developing tools.
IWEBKIT
IWEBKIT is an exclusive solution for iOS devices. The content optimization tool is an easy and simple HTML editor that offers a range of templates along with plugins for WordPress and Drupal. The tool comes with many loaded extensions, icons, and different styles. It is a great framework to create professional mobile websites quite conveniently. The tool comes with a user guide which makes this kit easily accessible to everyone.
So, anyone having even the slightest HTML knowledge will find this tool easily comprehensible. The tool is easily customizable, loads extremely fast and is easy to use. The templates offered by this tool includes multiple list views and different navigation bars.
Future Trends in Mobile Learning: What to Expect
As technology continues to evolve at a rapid pace, the future of mobile learning holds exciting possibilities. Anticipating upcoming trends is essential for educators and institutions to stay ahead in the dynamic landscape of online education.
Predictions for the Future of Mobile Learning Platforms
Increased Emphasis on Personalization
Future mobile learning platforms are likely to place a heightened emphasis on personalization. Advanced algorithms and artificial intelligence will enable platforms to tailor educational content based on individual learning preferences, progress, and areas of strength and weakness. This approach ensures a more customized and engaging learning experience for each student.
Integration of Augmented and Virtual Reality
The integration of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies is poised to revolutionize mobile learning. These immersive technologies can transport learners into virtual environments, facilitating hands-on experiences and simulations that were previously challenging in traditional online settings. This trend will enhance engagement and deepen the understanding of complex subjects.
Microlearning Becoming Pervasive
Microlearning, the delivery of educational content in small, digestible units, is expected to become even more pervasive in the future. This approach aligns with the modern learner’s preference for shorter, focused learning sessions. Mobile platforms will likely incorporate more microlearning modules, enabling learners to access information quickly and efficiently, fitting seamlessly into their busy schedules.
Gamification Evolution
Gamification in mobile learning is set to evolve beyond traditional badges and leaderboards. Future platforms may incorporate more sophisticated gaming elements, such as immersive storytelling, interactive scenarios, and adaptive challenges. This evolution aims to enhance learner motivation, engagement, and overall enjoyment of the educational experience.
Anticipated Advancements and Emerging Technologies in the Mobile e-Learning Landscape
Artificial Intelligence for Adaptive Learning
The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) will play a pivotal role in adaptive learning. AI algorithms will analyze learner behavior, identify patterns, and dynamically adjust the learning path to suit individual needs. This level of adaptability ensures that each student receives a personalized learning journey, maximizing comprehension and retention.
Blockchain for Secure Credentialing
Blockchain technology is expected to find applications in the secure credentialing of educational achievements. Mobile learning platforms may leverage blockchain to create tamper-proof digital certificates, making it easier for learners to share and verify their qualifications, ultimately increasing the credibility of online education.
Enhanced Data Analytics for Continuous Improvement
Advanced data analytics tools will empower educators with deeper insights into student performance and engagement. Predictive analytics can identify potential challenges early on, allowing for timely interventions and adjustments to the curriculum. This data-driven approach contributes to continuous improvement in the effectiveness of mobile e-learning platforms.
Mobile-First Design Principles
As mobile devices become increasingly prevalent, future e-learning platforms will adopt mobile-first design principles. User interfaces will be optimized for smaller screens, touch interactions, and varying network conditions. This shift acknowledges the dominance of mobile devices in the learning ecosystem and ensures a seamless experience for learners accessing content on their smartphones and tablets.
In anticipating these future trends and advancements, educational institutions can prepare for the next phase of mobile learning, ensuring that their platforms remain innovative, adaptable, and capable of meeting the evolving needs of both educators and learners.
The Bottom Line
Use the above-discussed mobile eLearning tools and take the expense and time out of creating traditional mobile courses. All of these tools are excellent in terms of creating mobile content and providing a great chance to achieve learning objectives. These tools help you create multi-platform eLearning courses which help the learners in getting convenient access to an eLearning course without the limitation of time, location or the need to follow the race.
Regardless of the technological device your learners choose to go with, use these tools to transform your eLearning course into a user-friendly, interactive, and engaging mobile learning experience.
