Mobile Learning Versus ELearning

By: Justin Ferriman • January 21, 2016
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There was once a time when the term “elearning” encompassed what we know today as mobile learning.

When mobile learning (also referred to as mlearning) first came about it wasn’t exactly clear the difference between the two.

Now the distinction isn’t as fuzzy as people generally have an understanding of what constitutes elearning versus what constitutes mobile learning.

Personally, I have always thought of elearning as an umbrella that includes mobile learning, but I am not starting to do away with that perception given the rise of the mobile learning market.

When most people think of mobile learning today they think of the devices that people use to access course content.

Tablets and smartphones lead the charge in this area, while laptops and desktops would constitute the workhorses of the elearning realm.

There are other factors that make learning distinctly different between these two areas. For example, you are more likely to use certain media in elearning that might not be conducive to the mobile platform just given the screen size.

The amount of content packed into a lesson is likely to be different too. Mobile learning course content often includes smaller “bite-sized” chunks instead of the longer, more detailed lessons that elearning can get away with.

The challenge for instructional designers is understanding how to create their content so that it is acceptable for both elearning and mobile learning platforms.

Content has to contain enough detail so that the key messages are consumed, but not too much that the mobile learning experience is negatively impacted. It really is a delicate balance.

For more information regarding the differences between these two modes of learning, please see the infographic above created by WebAnywhere.

Justin Ferriman

Justin started LearnDash, the WordPress LMS trusted by Fortune 500 companies, major universities, training organizations, and entrepreneurs worldwide. He is currently founder & CEO of GapScout. Justin’s Homepage | GapScout | Twitter