What will happen to E-learning in the Future?
With our students securing access to some of the most exciting e-learning technologies today, it is indeed the right time to explore the future of this particular form of education. No, we aren’t really spelling out flawless predictions but are looking at trends that will possibly shape the future of e-learning. So, let us explore.
Future of E-learning: Looking at a Few Trends
In the future, e-learning will become more and more popular. Here are a few trends that will influence this growth:
- More and more people will learn online. According to a study by the Pew Research Center, nearly half of all American adults (47%) say they have used digital media to learn something in the past year. That’s up from just 36% in 2013. And it’s not just kids learning on their parents’ smartphones anymore: A whopping 78% of adults ages 50 to 64 say they’ve taken courses or read materials online during that period, compared with just 47% of those ages 18 to 29.
- Virtual/augmented reality will play a significant role in e-learning. Currently, virtual reality is most used for gaming and other entertainment purposes, but that’s likely to change soon. We’re already seeing major educational institutions experimenting with using VR to teach various subjects – from engineering to history – and the trend seems set to continue. In fact, according to research firm Gartner, by 2025, at least 50% of all business value creation will come from VR/AR applications.
- E-learning platforms will become increasingly mobile-friendly. For e-learning platforms to be successful, users need access to them whenever and wherever they want – making them mobile-friendly is essential. And this is where things start getting interesting: Already today, almost Half (49
E-learning has been on the rise for a while now, and it seems like it will keep doing so. So, what trends do we predict for e-learning in the future?
We predict that more and more organizations will move towards e-learning due to its many benefits. Below are some of the reasons why:
- E-learning is More Affordable Than Traditional Training: One of the biggest benefits of e-learning is that it can be more affordable than traditional training methods. This is because e-learning doesn’t require expensive equipment or facilities, and you can also conduct it online. Additionally, e-learning can be delivered in a fraction of the time needed for traditional training methods, which means that organizations can save money by using it instead.
- E-Learning Is More Personalized: Another great benefit of e-learning is that it’s more personalized. This means you can customize everyone’s learning experience to ensure they get the most out of it. This is especially important for employees who want to keep up with changes in their field, as you can provide them with relevant training without taking time off from work.
- E-Learning Is More Flexible: One of the most significant benefits of e-learning is flexibility. This means that you can adapt it to meet the needs of your organization perfectly, which makes it a great option when compared to traditional training methods.
Automated Course Authoring will only Grow from Here
Trends indicate that automated course authoring will only grow from here. According to a report by Forrester, this type of learning will account for 43% of the e-learning market share by 2021. This is due to the increasing demand for skill-based training and the growing preference of businesses for on-demand learning.
The platforms that are currently most popular for automated course authoring are Blackboard Learn and Adobe Captivate. These platforms allow instructors to create custom courses using a drag-and-drop interface. Other popular venues include Moodle and Sprout Social’s Canvas.
One of the benefits of using an automated platform is that it allows instructors to focus on teaching instead of formatting and designing the course content. Furthermore, these platforms often have built-in assessment tools that help students assess their skills and knowledge after completing the course.
Mobile Learning: How can you Miss that?
The current scenario of mobile learning is that it is becoming increasingly popular as people use their smartphones and tablets more for various purposes. In terms of e-learning, this means that users are no longer confined to traditional teaching and learning methods through face-to-face interaction.
This has a lot of advantages for learners since they can access courses anytime, anywhere, and on any device. Moreover, this type of learning gives them a sense of autonomy since they can control their learning process. However, there are also some disadvantages to consider when it comes to mobile learning. For instance, there is the issue of distraction which can hinder learners’ ability to focus on the course material. Additionally, some learners may find it challenging to tolerate disruptions in their normal working schedule.
Growth of Gamification in Learning
In the recent past, e-learning has seen rapid growth in popularity as its many benefits have become increasingly evident. However, this growth seems to be coming to an end. While there are still plenty of people using e-learning platforms, the rate of change is slowly declining. This is likely due to several reasons, one of which is that many people have already experienced the benefits of e-learning and no longer see it as a novelty.
The trend toward greater use of gamification in learning is also likely to slow down in the future. This is because gamification generally requires a lot of investment on the part of the learning provider, and this investment may not be viable for smaller businesses or those without a large budget. Furthermore, while gamification can be very effective in motivating learners, it may also be harmful if used excessively. Therefore, while gamification will undoubtedly remain an essential part of learning strategies for some time to come, its growth may eventually come to a halt.