Personalized learning leaving you befuddled? Don’t worry, mobile learning technology comes to the rescue!
A standardized, one-size-fits-all, training works well in most cases. But when learning becomes more specialized and intense, it would be flawed to assume that a common digital teaching method would sit well for all the learners. In cases like this, a little personal touch, that takes into account individual learners, is necessary in the digital learning strategy.
Personalized learning refers to a strategy in which the pace of learning and the instructional approach are optimized for the needs of each learner. Learning objectives, instructional approaches, and content (and its sequencing) may all vary based on learner needs. In addition, learning activities are made available that are meaningful and relevant to learners, driven by their interests and are often self-initiated.
A personalized, learner-centered approach tailored to users’ educational needs and preferences can not only fulfill learning interests and objectives but also serve as an efficient approach for delivering specialized training.
But adapting a personalized approach comes with its own set of challenges. So how can personalized learning attain its full potential? Nothing says personal learning more than a customized course running on the learners’ mobile device. Mobile technology is quickly becoming the new norm in education. More and more organizations are discovering the benefits mobile technology brings to their digital learning program. Below are some of the challenges that personalized learning faces, and how mobile learning helps overcome them:
The Need for Different Learning Approaches
At its essence, this is what personalized learning really means. Different people have different ways to grasp information. Some do it visually, some read to remember, some write it down, some associate pictures with data, while some retain knowledge after listening. So how can a personalized learning strategy develop modules that satisfy the learning preferences of every user?
Mobile Solution: Mobile learning happens on the limited screen sizes of smartphones and tablets. On top of that, users are always distracted due to a plethora of social and personal applications that are commonplace on mobile devices. The combination of these two reasons compels developers to keep mobile courses short and crisp, yet effective. This means that each micro-module for mobile learning can be designed keeping in mind the different learning preferences of the target audience. Users get a more personalized learning experience as one or the other module will suit their ideal learning conditions.
Involvement and Engagement of Learners
When will learners feel that a digital course is tailor made for their needs? This happens when an e-learning course connects with them. A personalized learning strategy should ensure that users are involved in the learning process rather than just being passive observers.
Mobile Solution: Mobile devices are touchscreen gadgets having considerable processing power and screen resolution. This gives developers a good playground to include interactive elements in the mobile learning modules. Developers can create attractive videos, fun games, animations, innovative quizzes or polls, etc. to keep the learners thoroughly invested in the learning process happening on their mobile devices. This kind of interactive content connects well with today’s millennial users and gives them a personalized learning experience.
Provide Need-based Content
A personalized learning strategy has to know the strengths and deficiencies of learners. Based on their learning needs, the strategy should modify itself and give them relevant courses that help fill their knowledge gaps.
Mobile Solution: Mobile devices enable leaners to access courses anywhere, anytime. Using smart algorithms, the progress of individual users can be tracked through their assessment and feedback data. Based on this, micro-courses focusing on the users’ areas of improvement or enhancement can be suggested. This strategy personalizes suggestions as per each learner’s proficiency and gives them new content best suited to their needs.
Promote Experiential Learning
Personalized learning does not just mean holding each learner’s hand and guiding them through the labyrinth of vast information. Personalized learning should give users the right amount of freedom to form independent thoughts and opinions.
Mobile Solution: Mobile-learning technology can provide learners with experiential learning environments. Using short videos or animations or infographics, micro-modules can give learners brief insights on topics, giving them the freedom to form their own thoughts, opinions and doubts on the topic. If a topic interests them, then links and resources should be provided for further studies. Using interactive elements, you can also convey scenario-based learning through mobile platforms. This gives learners a real life experience of their knowledge application.
Personalized learning is an amazing concept to take your digital learning strategy to new heights. Use mobile technology to incorporate it and get the best of two very powerful modes of transferring knowledge.
