Dive Brief:

• The explosion of mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets has hit the workplace big time, but especially in learning and development, according to Talent Management.
• Traditional e-learning and classroom-based learning are contrary to how younger employees use information in two ways: One, they need to learn on-demand when the need arises. And two, it must be packaged in a "convenient, bite-sized format."
• As it turns out, mobile platforms can perfectly deliver this so-called “microlearning,” but many employers are not quite ready for the transition, according to the article.

Dive Insight:

Corporate America is working on catching up to how people learn today, Bill Pelster, an internal practitioner and U.S. learning solutions partner at Deloitte, told Talent Management. Data consumption, in particular, is something that needs more examination.

Kristina Bauer, a visiting assistant professor of psychology at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, told Talent Management that “there is a lot to consider when instituting mobile learning. You can’t just take traditional classroom materials, or even e-learning materials, and force them into a mobile learning platform.”

You have to tread carefully, Talent Management says, because some workers (older ones, mainly) might balk at the changes, so expect to engage in "significant change-management" when trying out new digital-based learning programs.

But, as work complexity continues to increase, mobile platforms will continue to make their mark – meaning they are certainly here to stay.