Our Favorite eLearning Trends

Given the warp speed at which knowledge and information are shared in this day and age, companies often find themselves scrambling to keep up. Not only must company leadership stay on top of industry trends, they need to keep their employees up to speed too, especially if their jobs depend on it. And that is where eLearning comes in. The eLearning industry is booming because of the demands by corporations to train their workforce. In fact, the eLearning market has grown by a staggering 900% since the year 2000.[1] As the demands increase, these companies are continuously looking for new ways to deliver high-quality, effective training tools to their clients. And the latest trends do not disappoint. Here are the most popular eLearning trends for 2017.

Mobile Learning

A top trend that is here to stay is unquestionably mobile learning. Mobile-based learning delivers training tools and apps to learners on demand. While this is not a new trend, it is one that is continuously changing and adapting to fit its on-the-go users. And one that continues to gain momentum. Utilizing training on mobile devices makes it accessible for 70% of all learners, which means that your employees can access training tools from anywhere at any time.

For millennials, in particular, this is huge. This generation has essentially grown up with the internet and mobile devices, so it makes perfect sense to them that training and development would be in the palm of their hands. Boardroom training with a group of peers and a large projector screen would feel like a step back in time!

Mobile learning is fast becoming the way to learn and is projected to grow from a $7.98 billion industry in 2015 to a whopping $37.60 billion industry by the year 2020. [2]

Gamification

As mobile learning continues to gain momentum, the eLearning industry must search for new and innovative ways to keep it interesting. The challenge is to engage the learners and make a long-term impact on them. That is where gamification comes in.

Gamification is a form of micro-learning that has truly changed the “game” of learning. By incorporating games into the process, learners are more engaged, and they might even have fun learning new concepts. Gamification breaks down information into smaller chunks and it provides motivation for its learners to grasp it. Let’s face it, people like to be rewarded. Depending on the lesson and the game associated with it, learners can reach high scores, earn achievements and move through levels of the game to access more challenging competitions.

This form of learning is motivating and effective. And the gamification market is forecast to grow on a global scale from a $1.65 billion in 2015 to $11.10 billion by 2020.[3]

HTML5

HTML5 is the mobile-friendly and highly accessible replacement for Flash. It is robust, versatile, and works very well with eLearning applications and tools. While Flash has been a great product for computer-based learning, it is not compatible with all mobile devices, which is a problem. Considering the huge spike in mobile eLearning, developers need a tool that can be utilized on mobile devices, and HTML5 does just that. And it does it well.

It allows eLearning product developers to create engaging materials that are accessible across all platforms, devices, and browsers. So, the audience is not limited in the same way that it is with Flash. HTML5 is also easy to customize and does not require downloading plugins. It is a friendly tool for both users and programmers and it is a trend that is here to stay. In fact, with big companies like YouTube and Google getting on board, HTML5 has become the industry standard.[4]

While these are the top trends in eLearning today, who knows what tomorrow will bring? As technology advances and we grow in the depth of our knowledge, new trends are always developing. Even though eLearning has been around now for a while, the field is not even close to reaching its full potential. It exciting to think of all the possibilities within this ever-changing and fast growing industry!

[1] https://edtechmagazine.com/higher/article/2015/03/20-facts-about-e-learning-todays-colleges-infographic

[2] 5 Elearning Trends in 2017 – The Future is Bright | YouTestMe Blog

[3] 5 Elearning Trends in 2017 – The Future is Bright | YouTestMe Blog

[4] https://elearningindustry.com/6-benefits-of-using-html5-in-elearning