We’ve always had mobile learners… “road warriors” like field sales and service people are prime examples of a population that often strains our ability to provide effective training. But in the next few years, we will see an extraordinary increase in the number of people who conduct business outside of the traditional workplace. According to IDC, the global mobile worker population is expected to increase from more than 650 million in 2004, to more than 850 million in 2009, representing more than one-quarter of the worldwide workforce.

 These mobile professionals represent one of the toughest challenges and most exciting opportunities in learning today.  So here is my question: 

 

What is your organization doing to meet the needs of mobile learners?  

 

When I pose this question to organizational learning professionals around the country, it never fails to provoke an intense debate… how do we reach these mobile learners, how do we develop content and package it for mobile professionals, how small is too small when it comes to mobile devices and must we adopt a “fast-food” learning model to service mobile learner’s needs?

 

I’d like to begin a dialog with you to get your ideas about mobile learning.  Let's examine these issues together and explore how learning organizations can deliver on-demand, just-in-time information and training to this unique population. I look forward to hearing from you.