Mobile Learning: How it Evolved, and Where it’s Headed Next

May 29, 2025 | Articles

Key Takeaways:

  • Mobile learning has evolved over 30 years, beginning with Alan Kay’s concept of the “Dynabook” in 1968.
  • Smartphones are now the primary learning hub, with over 7 billion mobile subscriptions expected worldwide by 2025.
  • Effective mobile learning leverages features like microlearning, gamification, augmented reality, and just-in-time learning.
  • Organizations must overcome barriers like security concerns and device compatibility to ensure accessibility for all employees.

In the U.S. 98% of the population have mobile phones, and 91% have smartphones. Phones have become more ubiquitous than computers. The last census found that just 81% of U.S. households had desktop or laptop computers.

You probably guessed this already, but most people have a mobile phone. Mobile learning, or m-learning, is transforming the way we access knowledge—at work, at home, and everywhere in between. With smartphones now outpacing computers in accessibility, the opportunity for mobile-first training has never been greater.

Mobile usage by the numbers:

  • Over 7 billion mobile subscriptions are expected worldwide by 2025
  • 98% of the U.S. population owns a mobile phone; 91% of those are smartphones
  • Only 81% of U.S. households own a desktop or laptop computer
  • The concept of mobile learning predates smartphones by over 30 years

These stats show that phones are not just a convenience—they’re the new learning hub.

(Sources: Ericsson, GSMA, U.S. Census Bureau, Pew Research Center)

With that in mind, if your learners aren’t using smartphones, they’re an anomaly. Even if your organization doesn’t provide mobile devices to your learners, most of your learners likely have at least one personal device, and that device is probably a phone. We use them for everything: work, play, communication, and of course, learning.

But did you know that the concept of mobile learning is more than 30 years older than the first smartphone?

The history of mobile learning

Mobile learning, or m-learning, as it’s sometimes been called, was first envisioned in 1968 by computer scientist Alan Kay, back when phones were anything but digital. Kay introduced the concept of the “Dynabook,” a portable computer designed to let children learn from anywhere. Not quite a laptop, not quite a tablet (and definitely not a phone), the Dynabook was meant to be both mobile and educational. Though it was never built, it laid the foundation for what we now know as mobile learning.

The concept gained momentum with the rise of smartphone apps. Suddenly, Learning Management Systems (LMSes) could deliver content across multiple mobile devices. Still, that didn’t mean organizations rushed to adopt it. In 2012, several years after apps went mainstream, only 45% of top learning organizations had implemented mobile learning, though 70% planned to do so within two years.

How does mobile learning look today? 

With the introduction of 5G, mobile phones became faster, more responsive, and more capable of providing engaging learning content. However, mobile learning is not necessarily being used to its full potential.

A recent Training Industry article highlights a familiar challenge in L&D: the tendency to apply new technologies using outdated teaching methods. When online learning first emerged, for instance, some organizations simply uploaded recorded lectures and scanned handouts from in-person sessions, missing the opportunity to rethink the learning experience.

The same pattern emerged with mobile learning. A workplace study from 2008 noted that many organizations were simply migrating traditional learning content to mobile platforms, without rethinking how that content should be experienced on a mobile device. Unsurprisingly, this approach wasn’t particularly engaging for learners, especially those trying to complete full-length remote courses on early smartphones and sluggish internet connections.

Unfortunately, this problem persists today. In many cases, organizations release an app containing the same courses that a learner could take on a laptop or PC and call that mobile learning. 

Embracing a mobile-first design

Mobile learning should embrace the strengths of the device. Think about how people already use their phones: watching TikTok, scrolling through social media, taking pictures and videos. In the same way smartphones are built for these activities, they’re also ideal for certain types of learning experiences:

Microlearning

We are used to consuming short videos and other quick content on our phones. Microlearning, which chunks topics into short, easily digestible modules, is a natural fit for mobile learners. 

Gamification

Mobile devices are perfect for adding game-like features that make learning more fun and interactive. Think quick quizzes, badges you can earn, or leaderboards that show your progress compared to others. These small elements, known as gamification, can easily be built into mobile apps and help boost motivation by turning learning into something that feels more like play than work.

Augmented reality 

Phones are an ideal medium for augmented reality. For instance, a retail employee could use their phone’s camera to view a store display and compare it to a reference image, helping ensure everything is set up correctly and consistently.

Just-in-time learning 

We are used to searching for information on our phones when we need it. The same is true in the workplace, which is why manufacturers like Litmos customer Lindt Australia use mobile learning to make training easy to access for everyone in their organization – “from the head office to the production line.”

What are the challenges of mobile learning?

It’s worth noting that mobile learning is popular—68% of learners say they prefer it. But preference doesn’t always equal accessibility. Many organizations restrict the use of personal devices at work due to data security concerns, limiting how easily employees can engage with mobile learning.

Beyond policy, there are practical barriers. Not every employee owns a smartphone that’s compatible with learning apps, and even those who do may be reluctant to use personal devices for work-related tasks. It’s also possible that using online learning applications might eat up data and end up costing an employee money. 

This is where employers should be mindful about the quality and accessibility of potential mobile learning solutions — to ensure any training apps used are secure, responsive, available across devices, and able to provide offline learning options.

To address these challenges effectively, input from cross-functional stakeholders is key. Before implementing mobile learning that uses learners’ personal devices, L&D needs to work with IT, Security, and other business leaders to create a mobile learning program that works for your team and your learners. 

How can mobile learning look in the future? 

To see how mobile learning might look in the future, it’s helpful to look at how high school and college students are using their phones for school now.

In academia, smartphones are a valuable tool. Students are accustomed to accessing their LMS platforms through their phones — it’s how they receive and submit assignments. They use their phones to take pictures of PowerPoint slides during lectures. They use their phones to access online classes. They’re even writing papers on their phones.

In some cases this is a necessity; some students might not own a computer, while others work outside of school and need to study and do coursework from their job sites. However, in other cases it’s a preference: high schoolers who use their phones for everything naturally gravitate towards using their phones for coursework.

The employees of tomorrow are using smartphones for learning now; it’s likely that they’ll expect the same when they join the workforce.

Get ahead with a mobile learning strategy that works

Is your organization prepared for the future of mobile learning? The award-winning Litmos mobile app makes it easy to deliver engaging, accessible learning experiences anytime, anywhere, on any device. Whether you’re just starting your mobile learning journey or looking to improve your current approach, Litmos has the tools to help you succeed. Contact us today to see how mobile learning can fit seamlessly into your training strategy.