Just when you’ve figured out your learning and development budget for 2019, along comes some stats about mobile learning that may change your priorities. These statistics indicate a fundamental shift in how your employees are changing how they access information and learning. Whether you’ve realized it or not, your employees have been learning using mobile devices more often and in more ways. As Daniel Burrus, CEO of Burrus Research Associates, states, “Mobile learning is a bigger deal than most organizations realize. It represents an amazing disruption and opportunity and how we educate.”
Let’s explore four mobile learning statistics that can affect your company’s learning strategy.
Mobile-Only Users Outnumber Desktop-Only Users
DATA: According to data published by Google, 27% of people only use a smartphone while 14% of people only use a computer. A majority of people (57%) actually use multiple digital devices, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, and desktops. Eight out of 10 people use smartphones. Of those people, they look at their smartphones an average of 221 times per day.
IMPLICATION: Most people are using their mobile devices not only to communicate, but to shop, be entertained, and learn. Are you providing training on platforms that your learners are already using?
Your New Workforce Are Tethered to Their Smartphones
DATA: Millennials (aged 18-34) will make up over half of the workforce by 2020. According to Mitek and Zogby Analytics, 97% of Millennials use mobile devices, almost 90% always have their smartphones with them, and 80% of them report that they use their smartphone when they first wake up.
IMPLICATION: Soon, half of your workforce or more will be using a powerful, online device that is always by their side. What would your learning strategy look like if learning on their mobile device was part of their daily work lives?
Companies Are Using Mobile Learning
DATA: According to the Brandon Hall Group, mobile learning is ranked number three in business development priorities. In a report by Ambient Insight, 74% of learners use mobile devices such as smartphones for eLearning. According to Chief Learning Officer magazine, the content areas that one third of managers focus on for mobile learning are compliance and technical skills training.
IMPLICATION: The acceptance of incorporating a mobile based training strategy has reached a tipping point in the industry and is gaining momentum. How will you leverage this trend to support your business objectives?
Mobile Learning Delivers Results
DATA: Learners report improved motivation and increased engagement (up to 70%) when learning on mobile devices. In addition, a study by the Merrill Lynch GoLEarn initiative has shown improvements in learning time of up to 45% faster on mobile devices when compared to desktops.
IMPLICATION: There are measurable benefits not only to the employees’ learning experience, but also to the Return of Investment (ROI) of the learning solution. How well do you track measures such as engagement, motivation, and completion time that can be increased with mobile learning?
Reflect on This
How well is your learning strategy aligned with these changes in mobile learning? As you consider your response, it is important to understand that your employees are already making the shift to a world in which their digital lives are centered not on the computer, but on their smartphones. This doesn’t mean that mobile learning will replace learning on a computer or classroom-based training. However, it does mean that mobile learning can be a significant aspect of your total learning strategy.
