Producing e-learning content and materials is time and resource-consuming. As you wouldn’t want to waste any time, it is worthwhile to consider user experience before you develop any of your course material.
To develop a user-friendly and effective learning program, you must understand how modern students interact with online learning materials.
Hence, this knowledge will enable you to create learning materials and programs that are targeted and optimized for your learners. In addition, since there has been a steady increase in the use of mobile phones, it is crucial to factor this into your instructional design process.
Here are the top mobile learning trends that can aid you in the online learning creation process.
Top Mobile Learning Trends
There are various trends in e-learning, many of which come under mobile e-learning.
Here are the latest mobile learning trends you must look out for.
Microlearning Provides Faster Learning & Higher Retention
Instead of delivering lectures in large chunks, microlearning is a better option. Thanks to microlearning techniques, students learn faster and remember more of what they have learned throughout the course. Therefore, you should consider microlearning while designing your program, as this mobile learning trend is here to stay.
Mobile Micro Assessments
Micro-content, micro-learning, micro-marketing, what do these terms have in common?
The answer is sound bytes.
So, the average consumer today is short on time to spend on text but is willing to set aside a minute or so to watch a short video clip. And, more than likely, they will watch that video on their mobile devices.
Micro-assessments take this whole process to a new level by taking quizzes and exams in a mobile format.
If you can squeeze in a few minutes to watch a video while waiting in a line or on the bus, you will likely take a few more minutes to assess what you just watched. This mobile learning trend will continue as everything has moved to byte-sized and on-the-go worldwide.
Mobile Apps Enhance Completion Rates
Mobile apps can improve completion rates for many reasons. Firstly, mobile apps are readily accessible on tablets and smartphones, which must carry with them at almost all times. It means that they can easily access information whenever they need to.
Secondly, mobile apps can be customized to meet individual needs and preferences, thus increasing course completion rates. Thirdly, mobile apps can be faster and more responsive than web-based applications, reducing user frustration and enhancing the completion rate.
Overall, mobile apps offer a more seamless and user-friendly experience to complete tasks and access knowledge, helping improve completion rates compared to other content delivery methods.
Personalization is Essential in e-Learning
Personalization is vital in e-learning, as it can help students feel more engaged, supported, and motivated in their learning journey. When online learning courses are personalized to students’ preferences, needs, and goals, they can effectively and efficiently achieve the desired learning outcomes.
Personalization increases learner engagement by offering exciting and relevant content, activities, and assessments. Thus, learners stay motivated and interested in the learning process, leading to better retention and recall of information.
Furthermore, personalization provides students with better support by giving them access to resources and feedback that meet their unique needs. So, learners are better equipped to overcome challenges and achieve their learning goals more quickly.
Game-Like Designs Improve Productivity
Game-like designs are likely to improve productivity in e-learning. Game-like methods can increase engagement, motivation, and learning outcomes.
Game-like designs, such as game-based learning and gamification, utilize game elements to create a more interactive and immersive learning experience. These designs often include features like badges, leaderboards, points, and challenges that imitate the qualities of games.
If educators include these elements, e-learning becomes more engaging and motivating for students. Learners are more likely to be invested in the learning process if they feel like they are part of a competition or game. In addition, game-like designs can make learning more interactive and hands-on, leading to better retention of information.
Moreover, game-like designs improve productivity by creating a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. When students receive badges or points for completing assignments and tasks, they are likely to feel a sense of accomplishment and achievement, thus motivating them to continue learning.
Notifications Increase Engagement & Completion
Notifications can be an effective way to increase engagement and course completion rates. When learners receive notifications, it can remind them to take action on pending assignments and tasks. Notifications can also provide important information on time, such as upgrades, features, and content.
However, using notifications appropriately and not overusing them is crucial, as this can annoy learners and decrease engagement. Therefore, notifications should be timely and relevant, and learners should have the option to control their frequency. Besides, notifications should be designed to respect users’ privacy and security.
Location-Based Technology
Your devices know precisely where you are and are not shy about sharing them. According to reports, 70 percent of location queries are shared with third-party marketing apps. However, you can use them for e-learning purposes.
Organizations can then turn your geographical location activity data into targeted location-based marketing promotions to reach where you are present. In the mobile learning sense, location-based technology can aid in creating a personalized experience for students based on their location.
Virtual Reality
The combination of mobile learning and virtual reality has the potential to revolutionize the way we learn. With mobile VR, students can access immersive educational content anytime, anywhere, using only their smartphones or tablets and a VR headset. This allows for a more flexible and personalized learning experience, as students can learn at their own pace and in their environment.
Mobile VR can also provide more engaging and interactive learning experiences, as students can explore 3D environments and interact with objects and characters in a more immersive way. This can be particularly useful for subjects such as science, geography, and history, where students can virtually explore different parts of the world or historical events.
Overall, the mobile learning and virtual reality trend will likely grow as technology advances and more educational content becomes available in VR format.
Augmented Reality
AR-based mobile learning apps can offer a range of benefits, such as improved engagement, enhanced learning outcomes, and increased motivation. For example, learners can use AR to visualize complex concepts more interactively and engagingly, allowing them to understand better and retain the information. AR can also enable learners to practice real-world skills in a simulated environment, which can help to improve performance and reduce errors.
Additionally, AR-based mobile learning can be more cost effective than traditional training methods, eliminating the need for physical materials or training facilities.
Hence, mobile learning with AR is a trend that is likely to continue growing in the coming years as more educational institutions and organizations recognize its potential to enhance learning outcomes and improve accessibility.
Voice Assistants
Apple’s Siri, Google’s Assistant, Amazon’s Alexa, Samsung’s Bixby, Microsoft’s Cortana, and more marketers have their voice assistant-enabled apps in place. From product discovery and virtual commerce decisions to marketing promotion interactions, voice assistants represent a crucial element in the race to develop AI-based innovative technology.
For instance, imagine asking your AI-enabled voice assistant to assist you in customizing a learning pathway through a mobile training course or having them retrieve your scores, so you can review and assess where you are at on the go.
Machine Learning
Machine learning is a subset of artificial intelligence that uses algorithms to learn patterns in data and make predictions or decisions automatically. Machine learning has several educational applications, including personalized learning, adaptive assessments, and academic analytics.
Regarding mobile learning, machine learning can be used to enhance the learning experience. For instance, machine learning algorithms can personalize learning content based on a student’s learning style, preferences, and performance. In addition, machine learning can also provide real-time feedback and recommendations to students and predict which students may be at risk of dropping out of a course or program.
Furthermore, machine learning can analyze vast amounts of data generated by mobile learning platforms, such as user interactions, learning outcomes, and performance metrics. You can then use this data to optimize mobile learning programs’ design and delivery and identify areas where students may need additional support or resources.
Hence, machine learning has the potential to revolutionize mobile education by enabling adaptive, personalized, and data-driven experiences. As mobile learning devices continue to increase and machine learning algorithms become increasingly intelligent, we can expect to see even more innovative applications of such technologies.
Faster Mobile Connections
Faster mobile connections, such as 5G, will improve the mobile learning experience by allowing faster download and streaming speeds. Therefore, learners can access and interact with larger, more complex educational content without experiencing buffering or lag. It will also empower the development of more sophisticated and interactive mobile learning apps, such as augmented and virtual reality experiences.
Additionally, faster mobile connections will make it easier for students to communicate and collaborate with each other and with educators, regardless of their geographical location. Eventually, it will foster a sense of community and support for learners, which can benefit especially those who are studying remotely.
Overall, the combination of faster mobile connections and mobile learning will likely transform how we teach and learn, making education more engaging, accessible, and effective for students of all ages and backgrounds.
Final Thoughts!
As you can see, there are numerous benefits to creating mobile-friendly learning. It is essential to consider that we are in a mobile-first future. It means that there will be more mobile internet users than ever before.
So, when you design your next online training course or decide to update a previous one, use these trends to guide the design and development process.
These mobile learning trends reveal helpful information that can make your online learning program more successful in terms of completion rates and engagement.
