Are you ready to go mobile?
I blame Steve Jobs. The creation of the slick, fun mobile phones and tablets sent ripples through the learning community like eLearning did 10 years ago. As a multiple iDevice user, I am a case study in this affliction. Looking back, there is no other piece of technology that employees will purchase themselves and want to use for every interaction. Quickly other companies pushed the market with newer, faster, thinner, bigger, and smaller devices. What’s the result? We live in an always connected world full of demands and expectations.
How do companies meet this demand? At first glance, it is an incredible opportunity to deliver training to a hungry audience. There is also the perceived bonus of training being 10 times cooler just by being mobile. Unfortunately it’s not as simple as your IT department deciding to go with a different brand of computer. At least then compatible browsers and constraints are in place for consistency. With mobile, there is an entirely new lexicon. HTML5? App? Native? No Flash? No problem. Right?
Wrong. As much as your learners will be clamoring to access the LMS from their phone and take that latest course from their iPad, are you ready?
I live in the world of content development. It used to be quite simple. I could be content to enjoy the world of design and engagement with my greatest worry being SCORM or AICC compliance. As I start to ask the important questions, I realize there is only one critical question to ask: Do you have a mobile learning strategy?
Do you have a mobile learning strategy?
A mobile learning strategy is the single most important part of mobile deployment. Without a strategy, get ready for content challenges, missed deadlines, help desk calls, disappointment, and the financial impacts that will follow. It doesn’t need to be complicated. We have a simple five-step action plan to help you REACH your learners.
Research
Your first step is to research the different ways to develop mobile content. Your research should be more than just the software specs on the company’s website. Get acquainted with the new terminology. Learn what software requires an app. Remember that every app is like having a new piece of software on your computer. Having a few key pieces of software on a computer leads to a productive individual. Too many apps, like too many pieces of software, can lead to “app confusion,” which is the moment where you blankly stare at your device not knowing which of the bright shiny icons will get you what you need. Talk to people (real people) and get their impressions. And, hey, give me a call. I’m always happy to share my opinions.
Evaluate
Once you’ve found a few programs that might do the trick, put them to the test. Do they work on your LMS (or for that matter, does your LMS work on mobile devices)? Do they work on a desktop computer? How easy is it to create and edit content? What is the user experience like? As much as users are hungry for learning, they do want it to be GOOD, too. No pressure.
Adopt
If you haven’t called the super tech savvy people in your organization, call them now. Talk to them about what you’ve learned and the direction you want to go, but leave the conversation open to discussion. These individuals need to have buy-in to what you are doing or they will go rogue, and all of the sudden, you will have a slew of apps within your organization (more app confusion) and most likely lack of direction or focus. If you get their buy-in and they feel like a part of the solution, they can help you with the next two phases (and you will need them).
Communicate
So you’ve made a decision. GREAT! You’re 15 percent there. Now you need to communicate across your organization how mobile learning is done. This is where your friends from the Adopt phase can help get your message out. Hold lunch and learns, send out communication pieces, tweet your message across the enterprise, and remember that choosing phone or face-to-face is still an option.
Help
The most critical phase is to support the organization as it begins to deploy mobile content. You and the early adopters can guide, coach, and support as your organization embarks on this exciting adventure. If you find yourself in need of extra help, give us a call at GP Strategies. That’s what we’re here for!
Want to hear more from Sheri Weppel, Director of the Professional and Technical Services Group for GP Strategies? View her 20 Minute Webinar as she discusses tools and techniques to leverage the capabilities of SMEs and maximize their engagement – Training Takes Time: The SME Commitment in Outsourced Training.