2021 eLearning Trends

2021 eLearning Trends: What To Expect
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Summary: eLearning is an industry at the forefront of innovation. Therefore, there are loads of opportunities for businesses and education providers to improve their eLearning material to improve their students' experiences and increase their ROI.

What eLearning Trends To Expect In 2021

Even before the coronavirus pandemic, eLearning was an industry that was growing year on year. With businesses, schools, and educational institutions operating remotely this year, eLearning has seen exponential growth. A report by Global Market Insights suggests by 2026 the industry is expected to be worth $375 billion. With an industry worth so much, there are loads of opportunities for businesses and education providers to improve their eLearning courses.

Mobile Learning

A study says 2 billion people currently access the internet through their phones. The increased mobile usage extends to candidates accessing learning material on their phones. This means that when making learning content, it’s vital to build webpages, videos, and other resources with mobile compatibility in mind. Having responsive content across all devices ensures your materials are flexible enough to give your students the best experience however they choose to access the course.

Immersive Technology

Immersive technologies such as Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Mixed Reality (MR) all have the potential to boost the eLearning capabilities. AR creates an interactive learning experience by cleverly incorporating computer-generated graphics with the real world.

Augmented Reality is an emerging technology in education that combines modern tech with real-world settings to provide an immersive eLearning experience. In contrast, Virtual Reality (VR) creates a new digital world, while AR brings the real world and the digital world together.

From human anatomy and interior design to architecture, AR can be used to improve learning in a variety of industries. For example, health and safety training can utilize AR to show health hazards and highlight dangers in certain workplace scenarios.

Video-Based Learning

Has anything been used more in 2020 than video? As a result of the pandemic, the majority of learning around the world was carried out by video lectures and virtual classrooms. One of the best things about real-time video learning—as opposed to pre-recorded videos—is the higher level of engagement between students and professors. Also, video supports quick learning, makes learning easier, and increases retention rates.

Big Data In Learning

Big data refers to the large volume of data businesses collect on a day-to-day basis. What's important, however, is what businesses do with the data that matters.

For example, this can include learners’ progress, examination grades, and further significant data. By collecting this data, organizations can adjust their training on an individual basis and gain insights into how to make the learning process more adaptable.

Microlearning

Given that learners have a decreasing attention span, microlearning is imperative. Microlearning is a practice of supplying students with a small amount of digestible content that can be quickly consumed. This easy-to-consume method of learning helps learners meet specific goals and makes every minute of learning valuable.

Also, microlearning can be held on any device, including mobile, desktop, and video. This is one of the main reasons why microlearning is growing and is well received on social media. The way in which microlearning is adopted and adapted, alongside its benefits, will cause it to continue to grow at a quicker rate in 2021.

Social Learning

According to a 2016 study by Degreed, staff first go to their colleagues (55%) when they want to learn a new skill before asking their bosses. The majority of soft skills development that takes place throughout most businesses happens through learning content which is created by peers and co-workers. This is something which can be lost while the staff works remotely.

Peer-to-peer learning is a straightforward method when there is face-to-face interaction. This isn't the case with online classes, however. Like group projects, you can separate students into individual groups and have them work on a project together. This collaborative learning style helps students learn from each other and pick up on skills outside of the set curriculum.

Conclusion

Education providers and businesses experienced major disruptions in 2020. Thanks to the advancements in modern-day technology, organizations were able to quickly react to the ever-changing and challenging landscape. It’s vital that you keep on top of the latest technological advancements to keep on top of your eLearning material and to keep enhancing your students’ experiences.

To see more about the powers of learning, check out these shocking stats which show just how dominant the eLearning market is.