Mobile learning: Devices widespread, m-learning not so much

IMC survey with 147 international participants 

Sevenoaks/Saarbruecken, 6 July 2012

At the beginning of May 2012, IMC AG requested responses to an international survey about the use of mobile learning within enterprises. 147 companies from the UK, Australia and the Nordics – mainly Finland – took part and answered 19 questions about usage, application of and barriers to m-learning in business. The findings show that in spite of high expectations and a wide distribution of mobile devices, many companies lag behind with their actual introduction of mobile learning supplies.

The participants of IMC’s survey ”Mobile Learning in business: expectations, attitudes and barriers“ almost equally work in SMEs (about 40 %) as well as big companies and represent all kind of industries. Most of the responders (34 %) rank among the group of senior managers and department heads.

The results of the survey show that smartphones are very widespread (87 %) and nearly every other person (41.1 %) already works with a tablet PC. However, mobile devices are mainly used for e-mails and internet access, as well as for the use of native apps. Videos, podcasts, music and e-books are accessed rarely, if never.

High distribution of devices, but not of m-learning

A noticeable gap was uncovered between the distribution of e-learning and m-learning: Only
16 % of the polled companies neither provide e-learning nor plan to do so in the near future but for more than 55 % the same is the case when it comes to m-learning. The most usual reasons for this mismatch are costs, safety-aspects, problems with the integration of other IT systems, too high data transfer and too small displays. Furthermore, 20.3 % of the companies currently do not allow their staff to access the company network with their smartphones or tablets. These and other hurdles will have to be overcome by the learning industry in the future.

The function of m-learning

Mobile learning is mainly perceived as an instrument for staff on the road: 79.3 % of the responders consider sales and field manager to be the main target audience of m-learning. However, besides learning on the go, preparation for meetings and performance support on the job are also seen as important functions of mobile learning. Great benefit also comes from the possibility to access knowledge databases and learning materials, to check upcoming training appointments as well as administering messages and work with exercises within the learning management system.

The future of mobile learning

Most respondents believe that the effectiveness of learning applications clearly rises with m-learning. It becomes clear that there certainly is a great interest and demand for mobile learning. Companies will have to deal with this trend much more intensively and prepare a speedy implementation.

With its mobile solutions for learning and talent management, individual and standardized mobile learning content as well as mobile authoring tools, IMC offers a broad range of services and applications for professional m-learning that can be adapted to the needs of any company and industry. IMC thus positions itself as a visionary service provider with its finger on the pulse of what customers need.