Individuals worldwide are using mobile technology everywhere and all day long: at work, while shopping, while dining out, in front of the TV, at concerts, while walking, etc. Many people are texting, checking e-mails or viewing Facebook for the 100th time that day on their Smartphone. Each time someone uses a mobile device, there is an opportunity for learning. As safety professionals, we can take advantage of these plentiful opportunities and develop m-learning programs. It is important to note that 60% of the workforce is not behind a computer and the same 60% is more likely to have accidents.
Never before have businesses seen such diversity between employee groups, as what exists today. From Millennials to Baby Boomers, and even the last of the WWII Generation workers are still in the workforce. This has led to new issues in the workplace, one of the most significant being employee training. While Baby Boomers are still going strong in the workplace, Generation X and Millennials are about to become the dominant demographic in business. Each has their own learning style and this is compounded because we must develop training for the future.
Aside from generational considerations for training, there has been significant development in brain science and our understanding of how people learn and retain knowledge. Based on the concepts of Interval Reinforcement, Active Recall and Chunking, we must provide learning in bite-sized chunks in a learn-test-feedback model, proven to enhance learning and retention.
M-Learning has vastly more potential than eLearning. Modern mobile devices are highly sophisticated and easy to learn. Mobile has superpowers such as: digital compasses, multiple cameras and microphones for video/audio recording and conferencing, location awareness, and proximity-based communications. Each of these technology features can be combined with formal or informal learning tasks and interactions, and design and deliver completely new experiences for workers on the go.
