One of the best ways in which any company can grow and overcome business challenges is by investing substantially in employment training and development programs. Corporate training plays a major role in enhancing the skills of employees and keeping them updated on the latest technological developments, thereby helping companies to manage their present resources and reduce the need for additional recruitment. Corporate training methodologies have also evolved over a period of time – from the traditional modes of training, the corporate training market has transitioned to e-learning. With increased use of mobile devices, m-learning is widely used for corporate training purposes. According to analysts at Technavio, the market for corporate m-learning has evolved to such an extent that by 2020, it will register a CAGR of nearly 17%.
M-learning and corporate training
As defined by UNESCO, mobile learning or m-learning “involves the use of mobile technology, either alone or in combination with other information and communication technology (ICT), to enable learning anytime and anywhere.” In the corporate scenario, m-learning enables the seamless flow of just-in-time information, including supporting ad-hoc requirements of information across departments and employees. The mobile ecosystem, which comprises of devices, apps and carriers, is increasingly being used in corporate offices for enhanced connectivity and improving employee productivity.
One major reason why corporate training programs have adopted the m-learning medium is because of its flexibility. Unlike traditional training methods and e-learning process, which demand substantial amounts of time from both trainers and learners while on-site, m-learning allows employees to easily log in for meetings from anywhere and at any time. Additionally, as companies are encouraging employees to bring their own or company-sponsored mobile devices to workplaces, employees gain the freedom to access training materials during their leisure time irrespective of any fixed schedule or waiting for the trainer to deliver the same.
As organizations are focusing on offering continuous education programs for their employees, m-learning provides the opportunity for horizontal development through a combination of various methods of learning. One example of a hybrid model of learning provided through this training process is that of combining blended learning with self-paced courses. In this way, mobile devices help employees engage in the training process in a self-directed manner. Thus, employees with mobile devices have control over methods of receiving learning and training. When combined with face-to-face interactions, the m-learning process helps employees achieve optimal benefits from the corporate training process.
A surge in the use of mobile analytics is another major reason why m-learning has gained popularity as a training medium among corporate entities. With the high rate of adoption of mobile devices to access learning materials via apps and LMS (learning management system), large volumes of data on employee feedback, types of courses undertaken, and difficulties faced in understanding the training material all need to be taken into account. It is in this context that mobile analytics and big data play an important role. Not only do they enable the extraction of data, but they also facilitate analysis of this data through learning analytics tools. This allows companies to easily monitor the learning activities of their employees by tracking their real-time online activities. Mobile analytics also assist in personalizing the learning experience for individual employees by providing content that suits their needs and career goals.
Possible challenges
Quantifying the outcomes of m-learning is one major challenge that a number of companies are currently struggling with. In spite of development in mobile analytics, the absence of appropriate m-learning metrics is seen as a hindrance. Likewise, threats pertaining to security and privacy are a major concern that organizations are looking to overcome.
However, these challenges are temporary in nature, and with the adoption of better security features and improvements in m-learning metrics, companies can successfully integrate m-learning into the corporate training process.
Looking for a more in-depth analysis of the corporate m-learning market?
Order the 2016-2020 Report on the Global Corporate M-learning Market
You might also be interested in:
