The Best Mobile Learning Technologies in 2020

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 in 2020

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 expand their adoption efforts, let’s have a look at different technologies that will influence mobile learning in 2020 and beyond. However, before that, let’s have a look at 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:

• Modern learners like their training to be accessible .i.e. they can easily open it from any place at any time.

• Training must align well with their current lifestyles.

• There needs to be instant and on-demand access to training.

• They must have full control over their consumption of their training.

• 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 one of 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 in mobile learning where they have become a powerful tool for hands-on online employee training. Companies, such as Volkswagen and Walmart are embracing VR for this purpose. By the end of 2020, expect SMEs to follow their lead and include VR in their mobile learning solutions.

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.

Popular Mobile Learning Platforms

Want to find out which mobile learning platforms are popular? Here are some of the powerful mobile learning platforms and the features that make them stand out from the rest.

SAP Litmos Training

SAP has been one of the most trusted authorities in the IT landscape for around 50 years. For mobile learning, it provides Sap Litmos Training LMS, a cloud-based and user-oriented LMS solution. It can assist companies with customer training (according to their products), employees training, enterprise training, and compliance training.

Features

• eCommerce shopping cart

• Messages and notifications

• Assessment quizzes and surveys

• Multi-language and localization support

• TIN CAN and SCORM certified

• Customization

• Gamification

• Real-time reporting

• Built-in content creation tools with support for all the mainstream formats

• Uniform and intuitive user interface.

TalentLMS

TalentLMS is a fully customizable cloud-powered eLearning tool that allows you to conduct training programs and online seminars.

Features

• ILT support

• Customer report

• Registration management

• Testing

• Enables course building via pre-existing material

• Web conferencing

• Notifications

• Support for eCommerce integration

• Grading

• Course personalization

Adobe Captivate Prime

Adobe Captivate Prime is touted as the next- generation mobile learning platform that leverages AI-powered social learning in a collaborative P2P learning environment.

Features

• Certification management

• AI-based social learning

• Learner-friendly dashboard

• Multimedia support

• Offline access

• Gamification

• Easy integration with enterprise applications

• Learners tracking and feedback

• 24/7 customer support

Final Thoughts

As long as learners have a reliable Internet connection, mobile learning technologies empowers them to learn anything at any time from any location. The emergence of mobile learning technology has reduced the location and cost barriers that existed in traditional learning.

The benefits of mobile learning aren’t only limited to providing an upgraded functionality to access and interact with online training from remote locations, but also includes changing locations, offering flexibility at a rapid pace. Of course, these benefits capture the interest of certain user-types and sectors.

In case you are in the middle of planning an eLearning solution, you need to prioritize mobile learning technology – it’s the future of learning.

Send us a message and share your concerns, so we can guide you on developing a high-quality mobile learning solution, an area where we have already assisted companies belonging to different verticals.