Corporate learning has been increasing significantly in the last decade. A trend study shows that eLearning will be a required standard in Germany until 2017. The current development process is definitely connected with an increase in mobility. Mobile phones and other technical devices such as tablets grant us a complete location-independent learning access. In this context, mobile learning also creates the perfect conditions for informal learning and offers a high flexibility level.
You can have it all.
Even though the new mobility standards seem to offer various learning communication possibilities, the time factor still plays a crucial role. So theoretically, we have always the possibility to learn. However, time is a limited resource. Moreover, other factors such as the willingness to learn and the contextual framework have to be considered. The willingness to learn also depends on a variety of social, psychological and contextual factors, like health, stress or is there a special deadline to complete the learning content.
Mobile Learning strategies made in Vienna
The Vienna-based company CREATE set its goal to generate learning experience of special kind. In order to test and further develop mobile learning concepts and strategies, CREATE conducted a company internal research study, in which mployees monitored their personal learning behaviour for a short previously defined period of time. The surprizing conclusion was that even though they had the option to learn whenever and wherever they wanted, they still scheduled the exact location and duration of the learning sessions. However, the flexibility provided by mobile devices still played an important role in enabling people to learn everywhere and anytime. This had a very motivating effect because the mobile devices represented in this case a freedom of choice and more learning decision power. All these aspects lead to a need of exciting and easy accessible learning nuggets. These short learning nuggets can transmit important information despite the lack of time and the sometimes stressful daily routine making even spontaneous learning sessions possible. This requirement is a challenge for the Mobile Learning content developers. The learning content has to be engaging, motivating and has to lead to a diversified learning experience.
Social Learning
The fast development of mobile communication led to a wider range of social learning possibilities. Social Learning is a process of social change in which people learn from each other in ways that can benefit wider social-ecological systems. The process of learning occurs through engaging in context-related social interactions with other people. The communication has multiple dimensions, since it relies not only on the actual information exchange, but also on various social and psychological factors which are a defining part of the process. There is clear proof that collective learning can perform lead to better results than the sum of individual learning. Social Learning happens within a social exchange with individuals, people learn continuously from one another. Social media encourages the principle of communicating and learning from each other anywhere and anytime by offering complete flexibility and information transparency. For example, by having connected Mobile and Social Learning CREATE has built a new dimension of learning communication-the cBook. This new approach and perspective was awarded with the German IT Innovation Prize in 2015.
3 X Experience in Mobile and Social Learning
CREATE’s approach in Mobile and Social Learning includes 3XExperience: User Experience, Learning Experience and Customer Experience. A combination of these three experiences leads to successful learning communication strategies. User Experience makes the navigation within a complex and ever-growing learning offer simple, clear and, above all, interesting! This is a virtual place which begins to convey statements and content immediately upon entry and navigation, it transforms the navigation journey into a memorable experience.
The involving user experience is already paving the road towards a positive Learning Experience. The combination of storytelling and media dramaturgical codes based on CREATE’s know-how motivates people to perceive the provided learning content as an enrichment and a help in their daily business. The typical school didactic is out of the picture, the focus is now a need-oriented and praxis-drive learning path. A truly successful learning experience significantly influences the experience.
How? There is a direct connection between the effects of positive learning experiences and a higher learner satisfaction level. Employees with more know-how, better soft-skills and so on provide customers for example with a higher consultancy quality enabling a positive customer experience. Achieving a good learning experience is therefore the key piece of a thoroughly complex puzzle and the secret of a continuous improvement of the company’s performance.
All these facts, lead to the conclusion that Mobile and Social Learning should NOT be analysed individually or just within the company’s microsystem, but as fundamental parts of a permanently changing socio-economical ecosystem. Mobile and Social Learning also supported by the technological innovations, have to be perceived as an opportunity to adapt, develop and perform even better and faster in this ever changing environment. Mobile and Social Learning represent the survival kit of the New World.
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