Creating a mobile mindset for E-learning

Creating a mobile mindset for E-learning

The way we access information has changed in the last few years. Today, most of our activities have switched from laptops/desktops to mobiles; be it browsing, chatting, sending e-mails, watching videos, reading new info etc. Our mobile interactions are now customized; and its low friction in routine tasks tends us to move towards it. With the increasing usage, it is now relevant to consider its use in the L&D domain.

Think E-learning through a mobile lens

Why do we prefer using mobile devices? There are many answers to this. No doubt, the best is the convenience and speed, its ability to multi-task is also a crucial component. We can seamlessly transition from texts to audio to video to anything else. It is this feature that we can leverage; selecting, structuring and delivering content that suits the platform. Safety learnings can be well-retained through mobiles with the simple fact that they provide info at the time of need.

If a person working at a construction site is stuck while operating an equipment, having a video handy on ‘How to operate..’ will guide him through the process. If they are lifting heavy weights, a learning module on safe lifting practices will guide them well. These mobile learning job-aids and such performance tools help shift to a mobile mindset, enable safety learnings, leading to a safe workplace.

Getting the EHS team on-board is a must

Top-down management must embrace the solution and ‘walk down the talk’ to achieve benefits. When they help learn, they inspire their team to be an active part of this mindset. Millennials are already living ‘the mobile lifestyle’ and it is the older generation that needs this motivation. EHS top management are often the people responsible for reinforcing safety trainings.

Think in this way – if the safety team needs to refresh their fire/electrical tips, delivering them a bite-sized summary video of the same serves the purpose. Leaders lead through the process, and such blended learnings can happen even if everyone isn’t at the same place, at the same time. Sending them notifications on their mobiles regarding such trainings helps especially when people are busy in their routine operations.

So, the time-consuming exercise and wastage of man-hours can be avoided, the whole exercise turns productive. It is therefore important that older workers or people who are less accustomed to using mobiles, actively use such solutions.

Integrate the beneficial aspects to improve E-learning performances

One can be very specific while designing the E-learning course; eliminating unrelated content and delivering the core ideas and elements first (show relevance). The ‘nice to know’ info can be replaced by the ‘need to know’. Also, there are space considerations in mobiles, so the trainings can be more succinct and to-the-point.

One hour course can be broken down to 10-15 minute sections, as people spend those minutes on mobiles at a stretch. Such modules can be even personalized; 2-3 minute videos, interactive infographics and fun-filled assessments make learnings interesting and engaging.

People who are mostly away at field, or in remote locations, can truly live the mobile experience. Additional resources in safety are only a click away. Disseminating granular information such as learnings on outdoor safety, virtual tour of their safety systems, hazard guides increase their field-level learnings.

In the coming days, its reach and uniformity will hopefully solve the safety needs of the organizations.

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