Mobile eLearning seems nearly limitless!  It can happen anywhere at anytime. But is “what’s happening” truly engaging and memorable? It will be if you remember these tips!

1. Clean and Concise

Remember- mobile learners are already being inundated with external distractions. Rather than add one more, make your eLearning a little safe haven. Don’t make them sort through clutter or unnecessary information. Embrace white space, make navigation simple and avoid cognitive overload.

2. Screen Space Is Gold

Screen space is your prime real estate. Reduce image size. Substitute large blocks of text with bullets. Avoid graphics, text, and graphs that require excessive screen scrolling.

3. Compress and Link

Mobile learning is often limited by bandwidth. Images that show up instantly on a laptop can take much longer on smartphones. Optimize all of your multi-media elements. Compress large files and/or include links to external sites that can be accessed later.

4. One Touch Navigation

For navigation, opt for an icon with a drop down list. This minimizes space without sacrificing navigation. Make them clear and easy to tap. Use hot spot graphics or buttons instead of hyperlinks. Remember the the mobile learner is often operating with one finger.

5. Audio Autocracy

Audio can be challenging for mobile learners, thanks to those external distractions. If learners don’t have headphones, they aren’t going to reap the rewards of your audio. So give them complete control of the audio playback, including muting, pausing, and adjusting volume. Include subtitles when possible.

6. Make Sure You’ve “One” Them Over

Mobile learning dictates small doses. That’s why it works well as a moment of need support tool or  knowledge refresher. Learning courses must be bite-sized and easy to swallow. Think one learning objective; one goal, or topic for each mobile-friendly online course. Break complex subject matter into separate modules. One complicated course might become 5-10 mobile-learning modules.

7. The Right Tool for the Job

Responsive design authoring tools give you the power to create a master layout that automatically adjusts to fit the screen. Look for an development software or LMS that has a previewer that allows you to make adjustments. Consider support for downloadable eLearning content, which allows learners to view the content offline and then sync back up with the LMS later.

These seven tips will help insure that your mobile elearning is one more tool to engage, educate and prepare your learner. Want to know more? Feel free to contact me and I will “Illumen”ate you further!