As 2017 draws to a close, many have started to wonder how elearning will shape up in 2018 and beyond. With multiple trends predicting the growth of eLearning industry, online training indeed has a bright future ahead. According to Research and Markets, the global elearning market is poised to grow at a CAGR of around 7.2% over the next decade to reach approximately $325 billion by 2025. Few of the key trends that the market is witnessing include game-based learning, implementation of IT security and cloud-based solutions, rapid growth in online content & digitization, innovations in wearable technologies, enhanced use of cloud learning management systems (LMS) etc.
The way eLearning is fast progressing ahead, traditional learning methods may become obsolete. It not only trains employees on the field but also bridges the gap between the classrooms to the work desk.
In simple words, eLearning is powerful.
Today we are be discussing few of the top trends which businesses and training providers can offer to ensure elearning success in 2018.
Gamification
Many dismissed gamification initially, writing it off as a fad or a buzz word in the elearning industry. But it has come to represent a huge chunk of the changing eLearning strategy over time. 80% of students claimed learning would be more productive if it were more game-oriented. On a worldwide scale, revenues for game-based learning were around $2.6 billion in 2016. By 2021, those numbers are predicted to touch $7.3 billion.
Gamified eLearning courses can improve learning experience through enhanced retention of course content and easier learning process. A learner is more likely to access a game based learning content. Gamification makes a course easy to consume and boosts its attractiveness.
A reward-based system can be used to design content. Games can contain intangible incentives like gift cards, financial rewards, etc. An online course(created using an online learning software) can follow a badge/points earning system based on modules and chapters so the learners earn a score while learning all along. Game-based learning is useful for corporate training as well because it enables an intensive and emotional learning experience.
Microlearning
On an average, an employee only has 1% of their work week to devote to professional development. This means a trainer can anticipate an employee invest 24 minutes a week, 4.8 minutes a day to training in a regular 40-hour work week. It means employees don’t have sufficient time for learning in-depth content. The eLearning course needs to be custom designed to suit the learning needs of busy students. This is where Micro-learning enters the picture.
An accepted definition of Micro-learning is a practice that supplies learners with bite-sized learning material to promote quick consumption and longer knowledge retention. With microlearning, short and easy to consume course material replaces long text-heavy content.
Workplace learning faces numerous constraints like lack of longer hours for intensive study, dwindling attention spans. With microlearning, it is possible to make workplace training more effective.
Video-based learning
By 2019, videos will be responsible for 80% of the internet traffic in the world. Video-based learning is gaining momentum because it is able to hold the attention of the learner’s without fail. This elearning trend is becoming widely accepted. Reason? They are engaging and also easy to absorb.
Micro-learning can be used in combination with videos to enable quick distribution of knowledge. While the former will help in designing shorter courses, quick facts-summaries, easy infographics, elaborated pictures, captions, maps, etc, the latter will assist in enhanced information consumption and retention.
While using videos in elearning, it needs to be ensured that they are designed in a manner that it evoke thoughts, allows interaction with learners, make information memorable and leave the learner with factual knowledge which they can remember easily. The eLearning videos should be compressed, interactive, well produced, and interesting in terms of content. Although. illustrating textual information in visual terms is a challenging job but it is definitely worth the effort.
Mobile Learning
Reports suggest that 70% of learners felt more motivated when training on a mobile device, as opposed to a computer. Mobile Learners typically study for 40 minutes longer than students using a desktop or tablet. Smartphone learners complete course material 45% faster than those using a computer. It proves that mobile learners are most likely to finish their eLearning course quicker than those accessing it on computers. The reason is simple: Mobile is convenient and works on the go. Students/employees can access responsive course material/content when travelling or anytime of the day as per their convenience.
The mlearning market is predicted to be a $37.6 billion market by 2020. This is one of the reasons many eLearning courses are being designed as mobile first. Mobile friendly content makes it easy for the learners to study at their own pace. It frees them from the burden of dragging their laptop everywhere or keeping close to the computer when studying.
Responsive elearning design
Another trend that’s finding momentum with eLearning designers is responsiveness. Given the magnitude of people using smartphones to access courses, the need for responsive courses is indisputable. Statistics have established that a huge chunk of learners accesses courses on devices other than laptops and computers. Keeping this mind, the eLearning Authoring Tool needs to be designed to build responsive courses so it fits the resolution of all devices. A responsive course improves the learning experience and allow ease of use, accessibility to learners, enabling better content consumption.
Augmented reality and mentorship are few of the other trends influencing the eLearning Industry and are likely to gain pace with time.
Summing up
There’s no denying that elearning will grow more powerful in 2018. Businesses should spend time to reevaluate their training approach keeping in mind the above-mentioned trends to boost its reach and effectiveness.
Author Bio :
Kamy Anderson is an ed-tech enthusiast with a passion for writing on emerging technologies in the areas of corporate training and education. He is an expert in learning management system & elearning authoring tools – currently associated with ProProfs.
