The eLearning Guild’s mLearnCon conference in San Diego, CA, on June 15-17 was a clear sign that mobile learning has arrived!
In today’s fast-paced, global business environment, with Smart Phones in more and more people’s hands, mLearning is becoming the preferred learning medium as companies and schools need to connect with learners any place, any time. mLearning allows information and experiences to be chunked into very brief sessions you can complete while waiting for a plane or commuting to work on a train or bus. (We’re all trying to be as green as possible, right?) As training developers, we have to broaden our assumptions about the medium, the location, and the session length of the learning we create, we have to insist on thorough needs analysis.
"Needs Analysis Equates to Successful Deployment on Smart Phones"
That’s why I presented a session on needs analysis as a key to successful smart phone mLearning for an audience of Managers, Instructional Designers, Developers, and others considering mLearning as a medium. Its popularity doesn’t make mLearning the right medium for every course’s objectives. It contains constraints as well as opportunities. A structured approach to needs analysis and planning for development, deployment and evaluation can be the difference between a successful mLearning deployment and frustration of pretty much everybody.
"Beginning with the end in mind," the heart of rigorous needs analysis, saves the company time and money in the course’s development, deployment, and effectiveness.
We explored a case study with a needs analysis strategy for a specific client, focusing on important considerations for interactive mLearning – when it’s most effective and when to choose another medium.
Participants discovered … or re-discovered … that when you begin with a needs analysis, your corporate goals and learning objectives can be met, and if you identify mLearning as the appropriate medium, you’ll need to have full stakeholder buy-in. Participants saw how a structured analysis and the application of best practices result in a successful interactive mLearning deployment on smart phones, along with a demonstration of the interactive mLearning applications, including several custom mLearning solutions for our clients.
Participants discussed interactive mLearning associated with the high level of effectiveness.
We also talked about mLearning deployment/ implementation strategies and shared examples of the forms we use at Sealund & Associates to ensure success all along the development-deployment path. The forms apply best practices for high level planning, stakeholder agreement, resources, project management, and quality assurance.
Our Booth and Beyond …
At the Sealund booth, among all our enthusiastic visitors, Sarah Voit of ARMS won our drawing for an iPod Touch.
And our rooms at the San Diego Marriott had spectacular views of the marina and inlet!
Do you have stories from mLearn conference? Please share your comments.
