According to comScore’s new report - 2017 US Cross-Platform Future in Focus, “digital media consumption is growing, and nearly 70% is from mobile usage.” A study by Nielsen revealed that, “When looking at smartphone owners by age, penetration is highest among Millennials aged 18-24, 98% of whom own smartphones. Millennials aged 25-34 are right on their heels, with a 97% ownership rate, followed by Gen Xers aged 35-44 at 96%, making smartphones nearly ubiquitous among these generational segments.”
Putting two and two together, Mobile Learning is definitely a growing force considering the cumulative penetration of mobile workforce in today’s organizations, lack of time and many other factors adding to the need.
Few months back, we discussed about the aspects to be considered while designing eLearning for millennials. Taking it a step forward, let’s take a look at how to use mobile learning to best appeal to millennials.
- Flexibility is the Key
Freedom and flexibility are considered as the key benefits of mobile learning. Millennials value their choices and like to do things their way. Mobile learning in this case should not only facilitate ease of use, but also provide the freedom to learn from anywhere (online or offline), with communication tools and additional tools for getting answers immediately.
- Bite-sizing Makes the Cut
With so much to do at a short time, millennials usually juggle the tasks. While multitasking is tough, taking up eLearning can be even more of a task considering the length of an average eLearning course. Mobile learning can be used to deliver both formal training and just-in-time support using learning nuggets or microlearning- that too as videos or even mini-games.
- Exploration Can be an Experience
The millennials love an adventure when they have one, an aspect that needs to be utilized when it comes to using mobile learning. Mobile learning modules should allow the learners to choose the path, find various options, experiment with the possibilities and learn from their mistakes. Not just that create a strong story as to why the particular module is needed, giving the learners a strong purpose to stay engaged with the learning.
- Videos hold the Appeal
Videos have already been established as powerful tools for knowledge delivery, and research points out that a larger proportion of videos are watched on mobile devices. Video-based mobile learning can hence be more effective in comparison with other modes.
- Social Media is a Must-have
Learning is social, more so for the millennials. On any day, they prefer learning from peers or from various social media channels over a face to face session, or a lengthy eLearning module. Mobile learning with integrations to social media assist millennials to learn, share, analyse, implement and re-learn.
- Innovation adds Versatility
Millennials tend to get bored easily, and hence innovation becomes a necessity. Mobile Learning can be used to deliver videos, podcasts, case studies, simulations, interactives and even game-based learning, to top that mobiles can be used to open discussions, access additional information and share additional information. The trick lies in how well the features are utilized and how versatile the mobile learning turns out to be.
Millennials like other learners look for learning that they can relate with and that is relevant to the learning requirement. Mobile Learning offers the technological upgrade that caters to the digitally advanced learners (benefits discussed here). Mobile learning also allows learners to have a personalized experience and hence can best appeal to the millennials.
