MLearning or mobile learning is an educational method that uses portable tech devices for training. While it is important to note that every student has a preferred method of learning, mLearning is suitable for auditory, visual and kinesthetic learners.
While you cannot require your staff to take part in informal learning practices during work hours, you can create a comprehensive and easy accessible program with 24-hour access via a tablet or smartphone.
Using the following tips, you can implement an effective and useful mobile video learning program for your organization.
1. Launch a small video series before investing in a large content library. Begin with 20 pieces of instructional video content that helps your sales team sell more or provides step-by-step product demonstrations. Once you receive feedback from your users, then you can expand your training options.
2. Consider the context in which the end-users interact with your mobile videos. According to Compete’s Quarterly Smartphone Report, 84% of users interact with their mobile phones at home. That’s why it is important to know when and where users are watching your videos. Are they viewing the content primarily after hours, at home? On the other hand, are they using the content on their tablets during product demonstrations with your customers? By understanding when and how your sales staff uses your training videos, you can design content that is appropriate for the real needs of the users.
3. Make sure your videos use responsive design techniques. With KZO’s online video player, video content adjusts to smartphones and larger tablet devices. When you design your videos for multiple devices, it also allows you to create content that is easy to view and effective no matter how and where it is viewed.
4. Don’t plan desktop content for the small mobile screen. Not all training methods are transferable from small devices to large devices, and vice versa. For example, tablets and desktops are best for complex and deep learning. While mobile video provides bite-size, videos that reinforce established training methods and concepts.
5. Make sure that you can share the videos across all content marketing channels. When you create content for the mobile learner you are designing videos that are used anytime and anywhere — and will be instantly discussed and shared with other staff. To encourage collaboration with other team members, the mobile videos must have sharing capabilities across your internal intranet, email and SMS platforms.
6. Keep your video content short, simple and easy-to-use. When viewing your content on mobile screens the end-user could be dealing with browser limitations, wireless connectivity issues, large files and interruptions. To create a smooth and seamless video viewing experience, keep file sizes under 4MB, publish in a MP4 (MPEG4) format and keep your video segments between two to five minutes.
7. Plan for metrics and measurements. To gauge the ROI on your video library investment, try to implement mobile analytics that’ll measure user behavior and find the most popular video content in your training library. By measuring popular behavior patterns, you can modify or expand the content library and improve the mobile video viewing experience for all users.
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Dorian Travers is a Search Analyst at digital marketing firm, Wpromote and has always had a particular interest in content marketing and coming up with creative ways to help businesses grow.