The process of getting newly hired salespeople trained and actively selling products is a key concern for most businesses. Organizations typically throw new hires into a classroom for a week or two, and then send them on their way with a couple of three-ring binders and with little or no follow-up. Grainger was seeking faster and more innovative ways to make its new hires successful while recognizing that people learn better over time.

In this case-study session you will explore how Grainger’s L&D team redesigned the onboarding process around each seller’s smartphone, tablet, or laptop as their primary access point to their training. You’ll discover how this restructured approach uses a combination of learning modules, live and virtual classroom experiences, interactive forums, and game mechanics to make the new-hire learning experience more continuous, inclusive, and engaging. You will learn how we overcame the challenges of packaging and delivering varied formal-learning experiences and informal-learning interactions, both online and via mobile app, in a highly secure IT environment.

In this session, you will learn:

• The importance of mobile and online access to all on-boarding tasks
• How to integrate with other internal systems like single sign-on, Cisco Webex, and an LMS
• How to use a blended-learning environment with interactive forums, gamification, and ride-along surveys
• The importance of a highly-customized interface from the application’s launch icon to a fully customized user experience

Audience:
Novice designers, developers, project managers, managers, and directors.

Technology discussed in this session:
Microsoft Office Professional, Epic Learning’s GoMo authoring tool, Adobe Acrobat Professional, Articulate Storyline, and Cisco Webex—all delivered and accessible via OnPoint Digital’s CellCast Solution mobile-learning platform on Apple iOS devices.

Mobile design and development is a new discipline for many in the learning industry. A user-centric design-thinking approach is necessary for positive results. However, this type of approach is counter to how most of us have approached instructional design and we must understand it if we are to truly address the mobile learner’s needs.

In this interactive session you will learn how to build amazing mobile learning by leveraging the device’s unique affordances. You will discuss what device affordances are and explore various examples of them. You will examine how best to embrace learner needs and match them against mobile opportunities. You will brainstorm and share your ideas on how to leverage these affordances in learning programs. All content generated during the session will be shared back to the participants for later use.

In this session, you will learn:

• What device affordances are
• Why they matter and how to use them
• Some quick ideas for creating true mobile learning
• How to embrace the learner’s needs and design effective mobile learning

Audience:
Novice designers, developers, project managers, and managers with a basic understanding of mobile devices and their usage.

Technology discussed in this session:
Mobile devices.

On the job performance support is often a key area of professional development that may not always be adequately addressed or sustainable, particularly in instances where workers are part of a mobile/virtual workforce. Traditional forms of training are often leveraged to bridge performance gaps and provide ongoing development opportunities. However, the methods often fail to deliver on the performance support needs of today’s mobile worker.

In this session participants will explore a case study from Saint Elizabeth Health Care that identified the readiness and value of implementing a mobile learning strategy to bridge performance and training gaps by providing just-in-time and just-enough training at the point of need. You will learn from the findings of a pilot study that was conducted to observe the readiness of front line staff to leverage mLearning and the impact it might have as a sustainable performance and training strategy. You will leave this session able to able to identify key factors required to build an mLearning strategy and many fundamental design principles of mLearning.

In this session, you will learn:

• The key factors required to build an mLearning strategy
• The fundamental design principles for mLearning
• The difference in design strategies between mLearning and other forms of training design
• How mLearning advances just-in-time and just-enough training at the point of need of training strategy

Audience:
Novice and intermediate designers, developers, managers, and directors.

Technology discussed in this session:
Mobile phones.

Learning to leverage the specific tools and capabilities in mobile devices can be challenging for eLearning developers. Effective mLearning goes beyond converting traditional eLearning for use on mobile and actually applies techniques of responsive design and maximizes technologies like geolocation and gestural inputs to become authentic mobile learning.  

In this session you will learn how to create authentic mobile-learning content, and how you can leverage the device-specific tools to create powerful mLearning experiences. You will explore examples of both authentic mLearning projects and of mLearning project creation. You will discuss how you can use device-specific tools and features to accomplish feats like location-aware learning. You will discover why intuitive gestural and physical inputs provide rich experiences that are most appropriate for mobile devices. You will explore examples of functional mLearning courses that leverage these capabilities, and learn how you can create these examples today.

In this session, you will learn:

• Why mLearning courses should be different from eLearning courses
• What responsive mLearning is and why you should employ it
• How to use gestural inputs to control mLearning on devices
• What makes mLearning experiences on devices authentic
• Who will use authentic mLearning and how learners feel about it
• Why location-based learning is important to the future of mLearning

Audience:
Intermediate designers, developers, project managers, managers, and directors with a basic understanding of eLearning, and an awareness of mLearning’s challenges.

Technology discussed in this session:
Android phones and tablets, iOS phones and tablets, and mLearning authoring tools.

Maybe you’ve heard some of the following in your workplace learning discussions about mobile: Mobile learning just means HTML5, right? Mobile really isn’t that important to me because I’m an instructional designer. I let the developers worry about that part. I have XYZ rapid development tool and it works with mobile devices, so I feel pretty good about mobile. If any of these comments sound familiar, then this session is for you.

In this session you will learn what you need to know about the current state of mobile learning and how to begin taking steps to prepare for the future. You will explore what mobile learning truly is and what it isn’t. You will separate the terminology from the buzzwords. You will discuss the key strategic considerations you need to think about before making the move to mobile. You will leave this session with a basic foundation for understanding the mobile space, and what you need to do to get started.

In this session, you will learn:

• What mobile is, and what it isn’t
• Mobile terminology and buzzwords
• Strategic considerations for making the move to mobile
• Mobile design and development principles, practices, and tools
• Considerations for implementation and security

Audience:
Novice and intermediate designers, developers, project managers, and directors.

Technology discussed in this session:
Content management systems, mobile design tools, mobile prototype tools, mobile development tools, mobile security services.