What is mLearning? Definition, benefits, and more

In today’s busy world, it can be difficult to learn new skills and knowledge on the go. Social media and other distractions are common, making it hard to pay attention to our development. Luckily, the solution is right next to us.

mLearning, or mobile learning, is a newer and more convenient way of learning. Discover how to use this compact yet powerful learning method for your next training session.

What is mLearning? 

mLearning stands for mobile learning, where educational or training content is accessed through a mobile device. These include smartphones, electronic tables, and other compact devices. It also refers to the type of learning that you can do anywhere as long as you have a device and an Internet connection. 

Benefits of mobile learning 

mLearning has several benefits that make it a strong training approach for today’s workplaces. These advantages are also unique from those in conventional learning like seminars and in-person classes. Here are 5 key benefits of implementing mobile education. 

1. Accessibility 

The Pew Research Center estimates that about 97% of Americans own a cellphone. Around nine out of ten of them use a smartphone. Nearly everyone has a mobile phone that can access the Internet and use applications. 

This means people already have the tools needed for mLearning. Courses and training apps designed for mLearning are short enough to fit on a small screen. Even the smallest smartphones can receive high-quality training courses that they can interact with.

2. Higher engagement

Since your employees use their phones often, they would be more likely to engage with mobile learning. By designing interactive and immersive training courses for smartphones, your team will already know how to navigate the courses. Through swiping, scrolling, and dragging, mLearning will almost feel like second nature.

A 2023 study found that university students were likely to have higher engagement rates with mLearning. The learning approach was able to engage students through various points of interaction, like games, videos, and social learning. With the right mLearning course, your team will have a fun and rewarding time training with their phones.

3. Instant feedback

By using smartphones and computers for learning, you can automate some of the logistics of conducting a learning session. With mLearning tools, you can upload course updates, gain key learner insights, and receive feedback in just a few minutes. This also makes adding quizzes and activities easier because you don’t need to record results. 

After the lesson is done, you’ll have data on how your team did on the course. This includes completion time, quiz scores, and screen time. This can help you gauge how effective your mLearning lesson was. These insights help you improve and create a consistent, high-quality mLearning course over time. 

4. Flexible learning

Since the only requirement for mLearning is a smartphone and an Internet connection, your team can decide when and where to do the lesson. You just need to set a deadline and wait for them to finish it. Make sure to give them ample time to complete the course. 

This flexibility is one of the best features of mobile learning. If you include the right course in your mLearning program, your team will feel comfortable doing their lesson in their daily commute, lunch break, or anytime they can fit in a 15-minute session. 

5. Continuous learning

After your team has completed your mLearning course, the learning doesn’t stop there. Once they’ve incorporated what they learned into their skillset, they may look for other courses and development opportunities through mLearning. With mLearning’s ease of use and accessibility, they can grow while they work.

This is called continuous learning. It’s a learning concept where your employees keep on learning new skills for their personal development. With a robust mLearning program, you can spark your employees’ growth by transforming their mobile devices into a lifelong learning tool.

The difference between eLearning and mLearning 

Another alternative form of learning you may have heard of is eLearning or electronic learning. This is where lessons are done through computers through the Internet and applications. Though eLearning and mLearning have some similarities, their approach to courses is different.

On one hand, eLearning uses conventional educational design to deliver lengthy and comprehensive lessons. With this method, you can instantly send your learning material to your team’s laptops and computers. This gives them the flexibility to delve into their lessons whenever they want, just like mLearning. These courses are usually 30 minutes and made for large screens.

On the other hand, mLearning works best with bite-sized learning or microlearning. With short and detailed courses that can fit in a phone’s screen, your team will easily learn and memorize the key details of a concept or skill. eLearning can use microlearning as well, but it fits perfectly in mLearning’s tools and framework. mLearning is also more flexible than eLearning. You just need a phone and wi-fi to access the courses.

Both learning approaches are valid. It depends on what kind of training you’ll conduct and the complexity of the topic. For the most flexibility, accessibility, and memorability, a mobile learning strategy should be your go-to method for skills training, compliance training, and other essential corporate training. eLearning works well for topics that need more time and effort to master, like policies and systems.

Examples of mLearning 

mLearning can be done through different mediums. Smartphones and laptops have access to tons of resources for mLearning, like websites, apps, and platforms. Here are a few examples of mLearning that you can use:

• Learning management systems

A learning management system (LMS) is a software that can handle all aspects of virtual learning. It can create online lessons, conduct training sessions, create learner reports, and more to make teaching your team easy and effective. Investing in a LMS is the best way to introduce mLearning to your employees - they just have to download it to get started.

SC Training (formerly EdApp) is one of the best mobile learning apps today. They have an extensive Course Library that hosts over 1,000 courses. Some of the selections include compliance training topics, soft skills, leadership skills, and more. There are even courses made by industry experts and cultural icons like Karamo Brown for the best learnable and actionable insights.

• Videos

Videos are also a mobile-friendly way to learn new things. With websites like YouTube, TikTok, and TED, you can find a wide range of content that can give your team valuable advice. This is also perfect for when your team needs to learn a specific skill in action. Curating a playlist or making an engaging video demonstration are some of the ways you can use videos.

• Podcasts

Another media that can make learning mobile-friendly are podcasts. These are audio-based media where experts, industry leaders, celebrities, and other people share their insights over a conversation. Your team can receive powerful advice from the world’s greatest leaders. It’s a great mLearning medium for when your learning audience only has access to audio.

How to use mLearning for workforce training

Now that you’ve learned the foundations of mLearning, it’s time to incorporate it into your training program. Though it's a different type of training, it can be done in a few simple steps. Follow these tips to get the most out of mLearning:

1. Design for mobile

When choosing or designing your courses, make sure they can fit the screen of a smartphone. This will greatly affect how your team does the course. The font, media, and format of your lessons must be readable and engaging. If they’re hard to read or look at, your team will have a harder time learning.

With SC Training’s Creator Tool, you can check how your course would look on different devices. Whether it’s a smartphone, tablet, or laptop, it takes a single click to see how all your design elements come together. Their drag-and-drop tool makes it easy to create and design courses. You can even edit one of their available courses or use their Create with AI feature to speed up the design process.

2. Incorporate microlearning

As we’ve mentioned before, mLearning works best with microlearning. This is done by making the lessons in your training course brief, repeatable, and informative. When your team regularly reviews the lesson, they can easily recall the key details of what they learned. Keeping your lessons compact can make learning easier and more memorable for your employees.

3. Use gamification

Electronic devices can also be used for games and other online activities. When designed for mLearning, this can turn your ordinary training course into an interactive experience. Your team will be fully engaged with the topic as they go through your planned activities.

SC Training has tons of games that you can use to test your team in their template library. You can use word search, Jeopardy, multiple choice, and many other quiz formats to engage your team with the topic. If you use a variety of games and activities, your team will have a fun time learning important concepts and skills.

4. Include media

These devices can include different kinds of media in your mLearning course. Using pictures, videos, and audio can help your team stay engaged with the lesson. They can also enable scenario-based learning because your learners can visualize how their lesson can be used in a real situation. Make sure to use low-resolution media so it loads quickly.

5. Use notifications

The power of these electronic devices can also hinder your team. With distractions present on your employees’ mobile devices, like social media, mLearning can be difficult to implement without the right precaution. Through push notifications, your team can receive regular updates to do the course. This will help them stay on track with their development.

SC Training lets you do this through its Heads Up feature. These are powerful messages that can help your team stay on top of their assignments. You can plan for reminders to be sent to your team so they’ll be nudged on upcoming deadlines. Your team can also ask questions or share insights in the comment section of your Heads Up message. It’s a notification feature that can increase your course’s attendance in multiple ways.

Start using mLearning for your training program today. Sign up for SC Training now!