Overcoming Mobile Learning Challenges in 2024

Nowadays, if you want to go to a sporting event, you have to use the mobile app. Wish to go to the movies? Preference is mobile app. Airlines? You must use the mobile app – yes they take the paper one too, but how many times are you concerned you lost the paper ticket?

As many of you know, or maybe not, I am a believer that every vendor must have a mobile app, with on/off synch. What though is the plan if the person who is using the mobile device has bounced back to flip phones? (Something that is being seen with the latest generation) Or you are a system focusing on K-12, whereas schools are not allowing students to bring in their mobile device to the classroom – it is a growing trend, not just in the States, but in other parts of the world. Sort of takes a hit for those mobile learning systems (only) for K-12. Back up plan?

I’m one of the hundreds of thousands who is experiencing a network outage – thus zero connectivity (thanks Verizon). AT&T customers have experienced this little gem multiple times. Perhaps in your own country something similar. I always tell folks that wherever they are, never assume that the data they have uploaded for someone to see, can be seen without a delay. Yes, you may have 5G, and the country may say it is 5G, but Steve is located in the east highlands, where he can access with only 2G. Or you were foolish to believe – I am in this group – that the latest version of 5G something by Verizon was accessible where I live. Nope, not a chance. Plus there are days I’m lucky to land a signal.

The point to all of this, is every vendor needs to have on/off synch with their mobile apps. And you, as the person overseeing learning/training at your business/association/company/government, etc. – has a plan if the situations of downage of signal, lack of coverage, accessibility challenges arise. You cannot assume that the heavy loaded video course you placed online, will work without issue with someone viewing it on a mobile device, regardless if they are using the app or not.

What you should be doing (or if not yet done) is the following – a quick survey – anonymous – ensure honesty to your learners (even customers), with these questions

a. Do you use a VPN? Importance – VPNs protect privacy (to a point), and are very useful, the downside? They slow down the bandwidth – so someone who normally is getting a high speed and can handle the visual intense courses you have, may not when using a VPN.

b. What browser do you use on your mobile device, and which one on your laptop (let’s say it is a company laptop – this part is crucial). – Why? All vendors say they are browser-agnostic. That is a load of gummy worms.

They are not testing all browsers, and even the big names, they may not work with all versions. There were vendors for many years that didn’t work with Safari – I minor issue if you had a MAC or were using your iPhone whose default browser is Safari.

This one above is beyond crucial – reasons include

• The company’s laptop they are using may have locked down the browser options – so only the one the company is allowing folks to use – is well-being used. If you are still using IE (and yes there are companies who still do), a lot of vendors today will not work with IE. You can say, well, we use Edge. I can tell you that I have had mixed experiences with Edge depending on what I was doing in a variety of systems, even viewing 3rd party courses or those created by folks.

Secondly, the end user should always make sure they have the latest version – especially with Chrome. Why? There are vendors who require a minimum version of Chrome to work.

Thus, if it isn’t updated… How to solve this? You send out to every end user a short IF statement. Example: If you are using Chrome, please make sure you have at least version X. But – they may not know what browser they are using you say – okay – go here first (you, uh, should do the same thing).

The output will also include some other important items too, depending on your needs. However, our goal in this case is to find out what browser they have and what version.

• The browsers I recommend asking about (first identify from the vendor which ones they accept, and what version. Again, many will say browser-agnostic – you then retort – Okay, so Opera V 39.1 works right? – Once you get silence or someone saying yes – you know they have no idea. How do I know this? I just made up the version of Opera. But, Opera is a browser that has a following, more so with mobile). – Browsers to ask about – IE (Internet Explorer) – write it out, Firefox, Chrome, Brave (it is gaining a following – heck I use it), Microsoft Edge, Safari, Other – I would add one last option – don’t know. I guarantee someone will have no idea. Fun fact – at one company I worked at, we found out the person who had no idea was the CEO. He also couldn’t figure out where to find the browser on his desktop. Awesome.

I get there will be folks who say, just mention the biggest names – but that would be basically saying, “just mention the biggest names – to find out what TV brand people own.” Even though HiSense is popular – low cost. I bet, you didn’t put that on your list.

On the customer side, send out the survey too. To ensure higher response rates, maybe you toss in a chance to eat dinner or virtual dinner with the CEO.

I can tell you such ‘goodies’ work in response rates. Plus, a short survey is essential. There is a reason back in the day you would receive a pre-stamped envelope and a quarter in the mail. Studies showed an incentive and already stamped increases response rates. Tada!

Oh and for the youngsters out there – yes, people used to get all their stuff via mail – with a postal carrier – human.

Last Bits mobile wise

a. Always test what your course will look like on a mobile device. Never assume it will look like you think it.

b. Be aware that nowadays telecom companies are capping data – and thus at a certain level, you could either have to pay for more (depending on your program) or the speed drops dramatically, based on factors they say on the net, that nobody pays attention too.

c. Always make sure that when you have someone start to use the mobile app – they are aware you are not responsible for any data charges or fees. You – being you the company. This can be achieved with a simple email to folks with a quick help guide, and it is the last item on there. I have seen ones, where the statement is really tiny, as though they have learned from telecomms on how to write tiny stuff on your bill, nobody reads. I respect that.

External Training

Were you aware that your learning system’s mobile app may have the ability to be scanned to validate attendance of training – externally – using a QR Code? I did a quick test of inquiry, because I had forgotten to mention that external training capture is a variable in this year’s awards.

I was glad to see a few vendors who posted they did (smart biz move, because folks can see it) on my LinkedIn thread. Many of them noted the data goes right into the system – a big win.

My gut though says, a lot of clients have no idea this is possible, because the vendor never mentions or notes it, when they talk about their mobile app – if they even talk about it. If I see a use case which mentions external training OR that the client has a yearly or whatever conference on-site with learning seminars, etc. – then I would bring this up.

Then there are people who do external training, and never mention it in their use case nor note it for mobile. Hence, a salesperson should ask – “Do you plan on having any on-site or off-site training, at a physical location?” If they say yes – pow.

Do vendors have?

Administration capability in their mobile app?

Some do. It should have been around years ago, nevertheless, there are some vendors who do. It is usually not as robust (as you would expect), but there are some items you may want to do – and who knows they could have that capability.

Manager view and capabilities?

Some do. Then there are those which have very limited options. Always ask.

Instructor?

Common nowadays – still, I run into vendors who lack it.

Able to access/take content and assessments?

Yes, very common.

On/Off Synch?

You want it. TRUST ME. And don’t let a vendor spin it as a non-value. If I am taking or watching content on my app, and cannot access due to location, network done, on the plant floor – when I get it back, the data automatically goes into the system. A time saver, and the best capability IMO with mobile app learning – thus you can work offline, go online with connection and everything bounces up into the system.

Ability to change the name of the mobile app – from their name to mine?

A lot do. It is called branded white label. This where your learners go into the iOS or Google Play store and sees WidgetU (your name and a color) and not LMST (name of the system). If you are doing customer training/client/partner OR are with an association, I strongly recommend it. That said, I do know of a very large company who had their name on it for internal training. Clever.

There is always a fee involved. Be aware there are vendors who get confused and think that when you enter the mobile app, this is what you are referring to. It isn’t. It is when you go into the app store, and the learner sees your name, not their name – the vendor’s. Prices range. I’ve seen as low as 10K USD to as high at 50K (ripoff). The common PP seems to be in the 10-15K range. Oh and make sure the vendor adds it to the store – and doesn’t toss it back to you, to do it. That’s their job, not yours.

Are there vendors who still lack a mobile app?

Yes. Just as there are vendors who have a mobile app only for iOS, and not Android. It’s nuts.

If I am not going to use the mobile app, will I get a reduce price?

Not usually. It’s weird, but for a long time, if you resided in Europe or the UK vendors over there got always charging folks for the mobile app – to use. In the states? That would never fly – i.e. work.

At the end of the day, it should be free to use their mobile app. They built it, they have to tie it into the cost of doing business. If they can’t support that, then they should get out of this business and go into Palm Pilot sales. I hear it is the latest rage with Gen Z crowd.

Oh, and the pricing is based on the number of uses accessing the learning system – which includes the mobile app. Not a pay for learning system and then pay for usage for the mobile app. Never underestimate what some vendors will do – or allow their salespeople to do (adds the “oh, that isn’t our policy,” angle).

AI and the mobile app

This gets a bit tricky but if the system is using whatever in Gen AI on the learner side, then it will appear in the mobile app – since it is a reflection of the system itself. It would be similar to you going through the browser into the system – and you are doing it via the mobile device.

However, if I was a vendor what I would do is use a SLM (Small Language Model) within the mobile app itself because it has the capability to run on a mobile device, with enough parameters, output text and other items that the vast majority of people wouldn’t have an issue or problem with or need say a LLM (which is what are the majority of Gen AI models these days). Numerous vendors make SLMs including Microsoft.

Interestingly enough, OpenAI doesn’t.

The unknown of course, is as can do more, achieve more, will this cause anything to happen or not be available more so using your mobile learning app. I cannot stress enough that AI today is an tiny, tiny, tiny stage. In two years time, we will look back and go – “wow, I can’t believe we used this and thought this is great.” Just like we thought when using the 12.2Kbs modem – awesome – now? You would be screaming at your internet provider if you were stuck on that speed.

I normally never recommend books, but there is a great one out there about information networks leading up to AI. It has nothing to do with learning.

If you have MAX, watch the latest Bill Maher episode and go right to the area where he is talking (the author, Yuval), it is the beginning segment of the panel, and they cover AI – you will really be “Awed” on his perspective. I loved how he notes that AI should not be seen as a tool.

Bottom Line

What I find interesting these days are the number of vendors who espouse the content creator tool (with AI), and yet, do not have a capability for someone to create a mini course through their mobile app. Or the vendors who limit what the learner can do with the mobile app, from their own capturing of whatever, uploading direct, sharing, using it on various social media networks as such.

There is less than a handful of vendors in the entire industry, who offer the ability to share and view content on WhatsApp (despite its wide global usage) – one vendor in that list is Juno Journey.

Whenever a vendor says they support mobile learning, you cannot, even in 2024, assume it is via a mobile app. All that statement means is you can access via a mobile web browser.

I am surprised at the number of systems who have a mobile app, that either hasn’t been updated in a while, or who have really awful scores and never read them to see if there is a trend issue or just people griping, because it is human error or they love to gripe.

Yet, here is the twist of it all, is when you mention mobile app with a vendor who either lacks one or doesn’t see it as a benefit, they seem to notice that a competitor of theirs has awful scores – as though that is an indicator on why it isn’t a need or why they haven’t updated it, or why they lack one.

Is that logical?

Not really.

Unless,

They are on a flip phone.

Then yeah,

it’s logical.

E-Learning 24/7

• No blog next week due to a business travel.