In this blog post we look at seven elearning trends and how they might affect you, your learners, and your institution or business.
Mobile learning, microlearning, and gamification will continue to be relevant. But what about modern and exciting elearning developments; the ones that will change training in a variety of industries? What does COVID-19 mean for the future of training and elearning, and how will more automation and digital transformation affect organisational training needs?
With elearning, students organise their learning themselves. Institutions and organisations that wish to offer consistent education in several different locations should use elearning. Any teacher and trainer with some form of Learning Management System or LMS training will have an advantage when using elearning during this strange time in the world.
Learners say that elearning has improved education. The most basic advantage of elearning, it is often said, is versatility. In terms of self-efficacy, elearning can be a significant motivator. But how might that change in the future, and what are the elearning trends we should look for?
Smart campus
For schools that want to remain in the race, having a smart campus will soon become a necessity. Every school will have to incorporate technology on a wide scale to improve students’ learning experiences, just as the world is witnessing the rise of virtual classrooms.
Technology comes naturally to digital natives, and their learning experiences are best characterised by technologically guided approaches. To meet the changing needs of the new generation of students, schools must implement ground-breaking teaching methods that make use of cutting-edge technology. A smart school needs high-tech multimedia equipment, virtual reality applications, 3D technology, interactive classrooms, design labs, and maker spaces, to name a few.
Artificial intelligence
It’s easy to disregard the individual differences of learners. Configuring the learning environment and personalising teaching for each individual is critical. The elearning environments generated in this manner could in the future be designed using artificial intelligence algorithms.
New technologies are now seen as a supplement to, rather than a replacement for, traditional teaching methods. In this regard, the use of machine learning (in the case of Moodle Analytics) or artificial intelligence (AI) techniques is advantageous to students. With evolutionary algorithms, fuzzy logic, and neural networks principles, AI is on the rise.
Education and AI are two sides of the same coin: education assists learners in learning and expanding a society’s cumulative knowledge, while AI offers strategies for understanding the processes underlying thought and intelligent action. As a result, educational institutions are increasingly using artificial intelligence-assisted elearning scenarios to improve teaching and learning environments during their training activities. As a theory and practice, artificial intelligence contributes to the advancement of a broad variety of teaching methods.
Mobile-first training, not only mobile-ready
Previously, ‘mobile-ready’ elearning was considered a minimum requirement. The training was generally designed with desktop users in mind and then adapted for mobile devices as required.
In one of the most significant elearning trends, the conventional method of creating content for desktop users and then adjusting it to mobile users is being reversed. Many courses or programs are designed with a mobile user experience in mind first, before switching to a desktop user experience. This changes the way we used to think about elearning architecture.
A good mobile experience is essential, particularly because many employees are still working outside the office and they or their children are learning at home. This allows companies to provide resources to workers when and where they are needed.
Social Learning
Companies have already begun collaborating, connecting, and working with remote teams through online communication and collaboration platforms such as BigBlueButton, Zoom, Slack, FaceTime, and MS Teams to meet the new work-life paradigm. The partnership is likely to expand even more, spilling over into other social media networks.
Microlearning and elearning trends
Many students, regardless of age are likely to be intimidated by the prospect of massive projects. Breaking up tasks, lessons, and other learning resources into manageable chunks has proven to be a huge success for those students. These ‘chunks’ may take the form of video lectures, readable text, or interactive activities, to name a few examples.
Gamification
Learning is often more enjoyable, not to mention more digestible, when it is fun, whether you are five years old or fifty. Gamification is a form of elearning that aims to make learning more enjoyable.
It isn’t just about fun and games, however, as there are known advantages to using games after a lesson has been introduced or reviewed. For starters, it can provide immediate material application and interaction. As students’ comprehension improves, so do their participation, retention, grades, and overall satisfaction in the classroom.
Advanced automated elearning trends
With over half of the world already using virtual learning, it’s only a matter of time before AI and chatbots play a bigger role in helping teachers in classrooms and labs.
Chatbots can assist teachers as in-house knowledge kiosks or problem-solvers, allowing students to seek versatile and individualised learning opportunities. Human interaction will be limited to monitoring and inputs made only when appropriate, as training will be increasingly digitised and distributed. This can be seen in on-field technology like SPEDAS (Performance Enhancing Data Analytics System), used in sports as an AI-integrated solution that helps coaches improve the talents of their players on the field by analysing data.
The education infrastructures and methods of conventional teaching as we know it are being disrupted with digital advancement. Over time, elearning trends will change and flow with the constant influx of developments in tech. It is therefore crucial that educators keep a close eye on these trends to stay relevant, focused and productive as we move further into the future of learning.
eLearning Trends FAQs
What’s next in eLearning?
Without doubt, the rise of immersive technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and extended reality (XR) are predicted to be the next big thing in eLearning. These technologies have the potential to shift the eLearning landscape and make learning more engaging and interactive.
What are the recent trends in e-training?
Some eLearning trends to watch in 2023 include:
- Microlearning to enhance student engagement
- Assistive and adaptive tech
- Game-based learning
- Artificial intelligence
- Augmented reality and virtual reality
- Mobile applications
What is the eLearning market trends & forecast?
The global E-Learning market size was valued at USD 210.1 billion in 2021 and is expected to surpass USD 848.12 billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 17.54% during the forecast period (2022-2030). Learn more about the market projections in this Facts & Factors report.
What are 3 emerging trends in technology?
Three emerging trends in technology include:
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) for development
- IoT technologies, infrastructure, and applications (smart societies)
- Blockchain technologies, infrastructure, and applications
Discover more about these trends at the ITU Emerging Technologies Trends page.
What is modern eLearning?
Modern eLearning refers to courses that are specifically delivered through the internet, excluding traditional classroom teaching. eLearning utilises technology and the internet to provide students with a flexible, accessible, and interactive learning experience. It aims to accommodate various learning needs, helping learners acquire knowledge and skills in a more engaging and convenient way.
What are the 3 main advantages of eLearning?
The top 3 benefits of eLearning include:
- Adjustability: eLearning is designed to accommodate everyone’s needs, offering flexibility and personalisation.
- Reduced cost: Online courses often have lower costs than traditional in-person classes, making education more accessible to a wider audience.
- Remote access: Students can access a variety of classes from anywhere with an internet connection, providing opportunities to learn new skills or advance their careers.
Explore more about the Top 10 Benefits of eLearning & Online Studies.
Is eLearning a growing industry?
Yes, eLearning is a growing industry. The 2021 global e-learning market revenue is about USD 15,000 million, with an expected CAGR of 6.5% from 2021 to 2028. Read about the growth of the industry in this Yahoo Finance article.
What is the biggest challenge in online learning?
Some of the biggest challenges of online education today include:
- Lack of motivation in students
- Infrastructural problems
- Digital literacy and technical issues
- Lack of in-person interaction
- Limited edtech and online learning options for students with special needs
- Course structure and quality
What are the biggest challenges in online teaching?
Online teaching presents several challenges:
- Work organisation and time management
- Technology shortage
- Connectivity issues
- Computer literacy
- Accommodating hard of hearing students
- Data privacy and insecurity
What are the 5 most important aspects of effective online learning?
The five factors for successful online learning include:
- A systems approach to course design
- Professional development for educators
- Setting student expectations
- Creating a sense of community
- Taking advantage of the online environment
Learn more about these factors in this PPIC blog post.
Pukunui provides LMS hosting services, support, training, consulting and site design for Moodle™ software along with BigBlueButton™ and Mahara™ integrations.
