What is mLearning? A Guide to Mobile Learning & Microlearning

What is mLearning? Simply put, it’s a revolution. Online Training, or eLearning, is already a cornerstone for most companies, but mLearning (Mobile Learning) is the super-charged upgrade. It’s the simple, powerful integration of mobile devices into your training plan. With the world in our pockets, why would training be any different? This is how you take learning “on-the-go” and make it a real-world, everyday tool.

How mLearning Is Used In Learning and Development

The integration of mLearning has allowed organizations to expand their outreach of training and development to any location: whether the learner is in a warehouse, office or out on a construction site. How mLearning works comes down to the delivery method: an application or a responsive website/learning management system. If the delivery comes from an application, the experience for the learner is streamlined and designed in such a way that keeps the mLearning experience in mind. If the delivery method comes from a responsive website/LMS, then the website will adjust its layout specifically for the device thus allowing the learner to train efficiently.

Within this practice of mLearning, there are a couple models that organizations have been using to maximize the effectiveness of mobile learning:

• Complete eLearning Courses – Organizations have started taking full advantage of this model and started assigning complete safety training programs with the intent that it can be completed by mobile. Most LMSs, including WAVE, are mobile responsive; making mLearning a clear and realistic option for safety training

• Microlearning – One of the more popular methods being discussed in today’s safety training marketplace, this type of training is designed to assign and administer in short, regular bursts. Whether the training material is a basic .mp4 or interactive quiz style courses, this method of learning allows users to engage in training more frequently but consume less time in one setting making mLearning a perfect outlet.

• Gamification – Also known as game-based learning, gamification can be a highly engaging style of learning as mobile users are more-and-more reliant on their phones for entertainment. Games have been found to improve the learning experience and encourage replays which helps instill the targeted message into the learners.

• Informal Learning – With the continuous development of training that occurs outside of the classroom, mLearning has allowed learners to share their experiences in the workplace with other team members through video, photo and audio uploads to an LMS (or other internal systems) allowing others to learn from these real-life experiences.

Where mLearning is Going To Take Us

The continued development of mLearning is allowing not only organizations to hold employees accountable to their training, but learners now have access to the necessary information that could save their lives anywhere they go. Learners no longer need to reference a book or poster on the wall for information. With their access to training following them wherever they go, safety culture improves, thus making the workplace safer for all. As the safety training world continues to adapt to new trends and models (eLearning to mLearning), the power of knowledge and its delivery method becomes the tool for success for both the organization and the learner.

Frequently Asked Questions About mLearning

What is the main advantage of mLearning?

The main advantage is flexibility. mLearning allows employees to access training anytime, anywhere, on the devices they already use. This is perfect for remote workers, teams in the field (like construction or sales), and for delivering “just-in-time” training right on the job floor.

What is an example of mLearning?

A great example is microlearning. Instead of a 45-minute desktop course, a manager sends a 3-minute safety video or a 5-question quiz directly to an employee’s phone. This is highly effective for reinforcing key concepts without interrupting the workday.

Is mLearning the same as eLearning?

Not quite! Think of eLearning as the big category of all “electronic learning” (which is mostly done on a desktop). mLearning is a *specific part* of eLearning that is designed and optimized for mobile devices like phones and tablets. All mLearning is eLearning, but not all eLearning is mLearning.