Mobile learning is in the air. It’s the buzz word in training these days and you can’t escape all the noise surrounding it. At Upside Learning, we have been doing a fair bit of mobile learning for more than two years now. During this period we’ve tried several things; experimented a lot; and in the process have built a good understanding and capability in the mobile learning space. Recently we released an innovative mobile learning platform – Upside2Go.  Along the way we’ve shared quite a few blog posts , a few SlideShare presentations, and a whitepaper about mobile learning.

Is mobile learning becoming a reality rather than a prediction? And has this led to new generation of players emerging in the learning market place?

Over the last three years there have been various predictions, ranging from pessimistic to optimistic about the role that mobile learning will play in the world of learning. The range and use of devices from the ipad, tablet, smartphones and android devices has exploded over this period. These devices have quickly become tools for business providing users with instant access to information at the point of need, be it in the office, on the move or at home.

I recently came across a report on the Deloitte website, which estimates that global Smartphone market sales will touch 375 million by the end of 2011. This means that there are going to be millions of Smartphone users out there, who can access mobile learning anywhere, at any time. That’s a huge market whose needs we can hardly afford to ignore.

Mobile hardware has its own limitations and hence we need to adhere to some critical design conventions in order to make our mobile applications a success.

Globalization has changed the paradigms of business dramatically. The organizations of today need to be more agile than ever to maintain their competitive edge in the marketplace. That involves adapting to situations and regularly updating strategies, structures and processes. The global workforce today is confronted with a demanding environment in which to perform. In such a situation, it is vital for employees to be connected to information constantly.

In an earlier blog post, I had written about how Microlearning is changing the face of learning at the workplace. This post specifically talks about how a Mobile Learning Platform can be used as an effective Performance Support System.

What is a ‘Performance Support System’?

A ‘Performance Support System’ or PSS refers to any system that improves worker productivity by providing on-the-job access to integrated information, advice and learning experiences.

“There is only one thing stronger than all the armies of the world: and that is an idea whose time has come.” – Victor Hugo

At Upside Learning, we believe that this is the right time to leverage mobile learning at the workplace. We worked hard, came up with ideas, criticized them, went back to the drawing board, and came back with better ideas. Upside2Go – our mobile learning solution, is the culmination of our innovation process.

Upside2Go is a novel platform for mobile learning. It is a solution that will not only help your training department reach out to your mobile workforce easily, but would also enable a mobile-based approach to real-time sharing and collaborating, within and outside a team.

I spent a day at the Learning Technologies show exhibition in London this week. There is a lot of talk of mobile, social, and informal learning at the vendor stalls this year. Good sign I’d say. Unfortunately everyone has their own definition of each of these terms. The most confused, if not misused, term seems to be mobile learning.

The Neilsen Company, the well-known advertising and market research company published an interesting report recently about mobile phone usage amongst youth in certain countries. You can download the report here. (registration required)

Mobile learning is certainly a hot discussion topic with elearning and training solutions providers in Australia – like anywhere else in the world. In my meetings with clients and prospects in Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne over that last couple of weeks, it is clear that the interest in mobile learning is very strong. Yet, the most common question is – how do we actually use it in workplace?

I’m of the opinion that there are 3 primary types of usage for mobile devices in the context of learning.

Recently, Upside Learning updated its website to reflect the evolution of our brand and services. We added pages that focus on our mobile learning services as well. I designed a simple diagram to visually communicate what learning situations mobile learning is apt for and the various that may go into making a mobile learning solution.

A few weeks back we received Gary Woodill’s latest book ‘The Mobile Learning Edge’; after a few weeks of hanging around on my desk, I’ve found the time to read it. Let me dive straight in and make some comments about it.

This is perhaps the first book I’m reading that looks at mobile learning from more than just a pedagogical perspective, it has a definite business focus. It’s evidently written for business managers and executives looking to see if mobile learning can align with their business goals and necessities. Dr. Woodill covers the mobile technology and it’s applications in fair detail. Every element that might go into a mobile learning solution is described and pieced together to give a whole picture.

Technology around us is evolving at a rapid pace and is in turn affecting a speedy evolution of learning technology. Work is changing and, to keep pace with it, training is changing too.

Which of these technology changes will impact training the most?

I think mobile applications are the game changer for training.
Let me explain why I think that way.