Mobile Learning

Are you aiming to get learning out to a busy workforce who struggle to make the time for e-learning, or need something in a specific time and place? At Kineo we continually look for new ways to deliver learning to modern learners on the move. The development in smartphones and devices such as the iPad are increasing the various ways in which learning can be delivered to learners, and we have been helping our clients take advantage of the opportunities they provide.

What are the potential benefits?

There are many benefits to delivering learning and support via mobile devices. These include:

• Access any time, anywhere – makes learning available in new situations, making use of ‘non-places’
• Just in time reinforcement and reminders – great for product knowledge, compliance updates  and performance support
• Location specific opportunities including use of QR codes
• Extending the learning blend experience
• Using cameras and video for user-generated content and informal learning

What are the design considerations?

Here are 5 quick tips for effective mobile learning design. You’ll find these and more tips in our Top Tips section – now available as a Free Kineo App, of course...

• Keep it short: in our view, e-learning courses do not port well ‘as is’ to mobile devices. Recognising that mobile learners on probably on the move and may be fitting learning around other things, we believe in keeping any individual module to 5-10 minutes maximum.

• Keep it simple: Screen size restrictions mean that we need to keep the number of options and interactions on the screen to a minimum for usability. We typically aim to have no more than 1-2 options at any one time available to the user.

• Make the most of media: one of the great advantages that modern smart phones bring is the ability to integrate rich media well. Our designs make full use of this and use audio, video and animations where relevant to illustrate learning points.

• Use the features: Mobile devices enable us to do a lot more then receive learning. We can communicate with each other, upload information, use geo location to get place-specific guidance, create and share your own content e.g. photos, audio, video, SMS and text – yes even make phone calls! So our designs look to get learners connected with the topic, and each other, by making use of the communication features on the phone. This can include access to coaches using SMS and voice.

• Keep it current: Updating mobile learning is relatively simple, and it’s a great way to push updates on product knowledge, legislation and key information to learners  - they’re more likely to check their phone for 2 minutes for a quick refresher than to go into the LMS to find it.

• Blend with the rest: Mobile learning in our view is often best deployed as part of a blend. For example, our Health and Safety e-learning mobile app is designed to complement our Health and Safety e-learning module. It is designed to provide fast access to key information and to act as performance support tool. Download our free Health and safety App from the iPhone app store, available from mid-October.

iPad App design for Marine Surveyors:

Delivery options

You have a number of delivery options which will be influenced by the mobile devices you are delivering to. Mobile platforms include Apple’s iPad and iPhone, Android and Blackberry. You can develop native Apps to deliver to these platforms or a web app designed to work across all mobile devices using html 5 which operates in a similar manner to a native app.

The new Financial Times web app operates very much like a native App when accessed by an iPhone or iPad.  The new web app was built in html 5 and takes advantage of developments in the technology and various features available in the latest iOS version of the Safari browser including offline caching of stories, subscription storage, scrubber menus, smooth scrolling and navigation, action buttons and pop-ups.  Rob Grimshaw, managing director of FT.com commented: "There isn't a single feature in the native app we haven't been able to replicate in the Web app."

See our separate market update on the pros and cons of native v webapps.

Let us help you

Whether you want an iPhone app or a web app we can help you. We are one of leading developers of mobile learning and support solutions. Our clients include mobile companies themselves such as O2 Telefonica. We are also independent and do not have an app authoring tool we are trying to sell you. If you would like to discuss how we can help you please get in touch.

You might also be interested in..