Few doubt that mobile is the future and will fundamentally impact our way of life across many areas. But consider these facts – today, there are five times as many mobile phones as there are desktops; 70% of learners feel more motivated accessing training on a mobile device as opposed to a PC; and, by 2020, Gartner predicts that almost 85% of businesses will have some Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program in place. 

This being the case, what does it mean for you, what does it mean for the future of corporate learning and what exactly are the options? Mobile-responsive and mobile-first are buzz words in the online learning today. What’s the difference and why do you need to care? Is one mobile version to be preferred over the other? 

Mobile-responsive design is based on what Gnowbe calls the “graceful degradation” approach, where an original online learning experience is designed for the desktop. The content is rich and the user gets all the bells and whistles. For smaller screens, the experience is then adapted, but degrades. If you consider designing for mobile as an afterthought, the end user experience on mobile devices will be diluted.    

Contrast that to mobile-first design which starts on the opposite end and follows the “progressive enhancement” philosophy. The starting point is the small screen. which leads to a very different approach on how to deal with content. There is no mindspace for appearance and effects, the focus is 100% on content. All content must be relevant and concise and presented in the most rational way. If there is a need for a thrilling web appearance, all the eye candy will be added later. 

As you can see, there is a significant difference between  mobile-responsive and mobile-first design, and you should care when selecting a learning solution. Mobile-first is the preferred design model, delivering a superior user experience not only on mobile phones but actually across devices in principle. Mobile-first is not just a new design mode but a disruptive innovation in the learning space. The smartphone is a very different device compared to the desktop, and its unique functionality enables a much more active, social and ‘in-the-moment’ learning experience.  

Read the full article here for the top three criteria to look for in a mobile-first learning solution. 

As mobile-first continues to gain momentum, instructional designers need to catch up with the change and truly put the learner experience at the heart of all design. Business leaders should push for solutions that may be seen as disruptive in the training departments but benefit learners and organizations with better learning success and business results.