Originally published on PAR
As associations look for new ways to educate and inform members, one answer is in the palm of their hands: Mobile learning. It’s a growing industry that’s expected to reach $78.5 billion by 2025 as corporations, educational institutions and associations work to better meet customer, student and member needs wherever they are — and that is increasingly in front of their smartphones.
In 2021, 85% of American adults own a smartphone, up from just 35% in 2011. These devices allow users to consume information and products, engage in media and entertainment, and interact with friends or strangers — all within the palm of their hand. Mobile learning, or m-learning, combines each of those realities to create an untethered learning experience that fits the on-the-go lifestyle its users have grown accustomed to. Whether it compliments an e-learning program already in place or serves as an independent learning program, mobile learning allows users to learn when and where they want.
“The mobile learning industry recognizes the way people want and expect to learn has changed, just as the way they access personal entertainment through streaming and mobile devices has changed,” says Mike Thompson, Chief Executive Officer of Learner Mobile, a mobile learning platform that combines convenience, continuous learning and configurability. “Keeping the modern learner’s experience top-of-mind not only benefits the individual, but also supports an organization’s growth by making sure its members, employees or students receive information in the way they want so that all have the opportunity for success.”
In 2021, successful associations are the ones that have been able to increase, or at least maintain, member engagement through relevant digital offerings. The pandemic has only accelerated this need. Ongoing webinar learning, sponsored webcasts, event apps, directory services and digital event environments have taken center stage as associations transition into a 21st century digital content strategy. Now, associations like the Society of Cannabis Clinicians (SCC) are adding mobile learning to that list.
Mobile Learning in Action
Like m-learning, SCC is at the forefront of another booming industry: medical cannabis. This nonprofit, which is comprised of medical and health professionals dedicated to education and research for the medical use of cannabis, understands their members need more connectivity and greater access to educational materials. With that need in mind, SCC enlisted the help of Learner Mobile to launch a mobile learning platform in 2021.
Using Learner Mobile’s EdTech platform, SCC was able to strengthen both these member needs by launching the first phase of its mobile education courses.
SCC’s new courses were made available through its OnDemand portal, delivering evidence-based educational content to clinicians, professionals and patients around the world that was authored by top experts with decades of hands-on experience in the field. Nineteen courses — covering topics ranging from treatment options for diseases and conditions, dosage and delivery, lab analysis and drug interactions — were launched in early 2021, with four additional courses expected to be added this year.
This launch comes at an important time as increased medical use of cannabis means more patients will be seeking credible information from providers. A recent study conducted by SCC found that 56% of clinicians felt that there was adequate information available to ethically practice cannabis medicine; however, a 2018 study in Vermont found that only 18% of patients reported that their provider was a good information source about medical cannabis. With the help of Learner Mobile, SCC OnDemand will play a key role in closing that gap.
“As the medical use of cannabis grows in acceptance and practice, medical and health professionals need on demand, real-time access to knowledge and training in order to treat patients safely and effectively,” says Dr. Genester Wilson-King, SCC’s Vice President. “As a long-time source of credible research and education resources, SCC wanted to make these resources as widely available and as easily accessible as possible. We chose Learner Mobile as our EdTech, learning partner because it has reimagined the remote education experience for modern learners — whether on smartphones, desktops or just on the go — who want compelling and informative content that is consumable, convenient and engaging.”