Top 10 Trends In eLearning
Keeping up with trends in eLearning can be a challenge because this industry appeared not so long ago and now it quickly develops. eLearning enables educators and companies to choose a collaborative, flexible, and inclusive approach to training. Video content and gamification have proven to be highly effective learning tools, and these are just the two of many advantages that eLearning has to offer. Here are the top 10 eLearning trends you should know about.
After the COVID-19 pandemic forced educators to implement eLearning as the only available method of education, the mobile learning market started to grow rapidly. Different sources predict it to grow from $80 million to $280 million in the next few years. It makes sense to also expect the growth of performance support tools that will provide students with not only training but also the necessary assistance.
Microlearning is popular for many reasons, and the main reason is that modern people don’t have much time. Students are constantly overwhelmed with homework and assignments so they often look for writing help on websites like Online Writers Rating or Writing Judge Besides, modern students have a very short attention span, and it’s difficult to keep their attention for longer than 10-15 minutes.
Providing the educational materials in bite-sized chunks is a very effective approach that is also cost-efficient. This is a great solution for organizations that don’t have much time for training and don’t want it to be a distraction for employees.
Personalization is a strong trend in many niches, and eLearning is no exception. When we use Instagram, Amazon, Netflix, or Spotify, we enjoy these services because of their personalized recommendations. The same approach can also be used in education, as well. Personalization is attractive not only to students: 77% of learning and development professionals say that personalization is vital for employee engagement.
Given that eLearning allows for making the learning process much more engaging, gamification is one of the main things to look for when creating eLearning courses. First, gamification can make the learning process fun. Secondly, and most importantly, it enables students to interact with the material or to quickly use their new knowledge in practice.
Gamification also fosters competition and provides instant gratification when students achieve certain goals. Therefore, gamification can make the learning process more effective and enjoyable, at the same time. There’s no surprise that gamification is already used by schools, big companies, including Walmart, and even in the military.
One of the biggest advantages of eLearning is that it provides flexibility and enables learners to adjust the pace of learning according to their capabilities and preferences. Although many eLearning programs still rely on supervision from an instructor, there are also many self-directed programs that help students to study without an instructor, evaluating their learning needs and results with the help of various software tools. Self-directed learning is the most accessible type of learning, and it’s also cost-efficient, which makes it attractive for businesses.
Story-based learning is a type of gamified learning that relies on the idea of presenting different learning modules as chapters of a story. This approach can be used to create simple courses with elements of storytelling. However, when combined with VR and AR technologies, story-based learning can also evolve into realistic simulations that imitate real work environments.
Many people prefer to study in groups because this way, the learning process can be more fun and engaging. Besides, studying in groups enables students to exchange knowledge. Therefore, there is no surprise that social learning becomes a trend in eLearning, which initially was only associated with individual sessions.
The two key elements of social learning are a community of learners and friendly competition. The former is achieved by establishing effective communication, while the latter becomes possible thanks to gamification. Communities of learners are no longer limited to forums and groups on social media: students can communicate in real-time using video calls and live chats.
Big data is a very popular topic in various industries, and it finds many great applications in the eLearning industry, as well. In eLearning, big data refers to the data on students’ activity and performance. By analyzing big data, educators and businesses can evaluate a particular learner’s progress and adjust the training process to make it more efficient. Besides, big data provides countless personalization opportunities.
Soft skills training
Many companies have been training their employees so that they can be better at their job, for years. Now businesses start to focus on soft skills. Thanks to the rapid development of AI and machine learning technologies, up to 50% of the work processes can be automated. Therefore, organizations focus training efforts on the things that computers cannot do, improving employees’ efficiency. Soft skills can be measured with KPIs, and training materials can be designed for a continuous learning process so that employees can integrate bite-sized lessons into their daily routine.
Learning management systems
As eLearning becomes more common, educators and businesses create a demand for tools that would help them manage the learning process itself and educational materials. Learning management systems (LMS) enable eLearning practitioners to plan and adjust courses on the go, integrating the necessary materials so that all students can access them immediately. The most popular LMS solutions are Adobe Captivate Prime, Docebo LMS, iSpring Learn, TalentLMS, and eFront.
eLearning has never been so common, and it may be difficult to keep up with this industry that quickly expands and grows. Some existing trends, like personalization and gamification, are not going anywhere anytime soon. At the same time, eLearning becomes even more flexible and accessible thanks to mobile learning, the use of big data, and self-directed learning. Today, eLearning even includes elements of social learning, providing a comprehensive and engaging educational experience.