Today, technology in education is confidently changing the way people learn, whether in childhood or professional life. School closures and a wave of layoffs during the pandemic made people search for other opportunities to acquire knowledge and improve their qualifications. And the majority of them felt it was undeniably advantageous.
Now the learning process mixed with gamification helps children to watch the materials longer without losing interest. Students receive more time to learn subjects outside classrooms. And corporations create an efficient environment for improving employees' skills most cost-effectively.
In this article, we’ll talk about future e-learning trends that can become commonly used in school and online business training. So keep reading to discover valuable insights for your personal case.
The EdTech market (including solutions for primary, secondary, higher, and business education) was valued at $340 billion at the beginning of 2023 and may reach $605.4 billion by 2027. New technological approaches like machine learning, the Internet of Things (IoT), augmented and virtual reality (AR and VR) are the key drivers to the annual 15% potential industry growth.
Since 2000, e-learning is convinced the most rapidly growing sector in the educational sphere (up to 900%). The reason for its popularity lies in the undeniable benefits for all the participants, from lecturers and business owners to students and corporate workers.
Around 73% of US teachers confirm it’s easier to present materials for students with free access to individual computers and gadgets. And EdTech solutions help them plan and give lessons more efficiently. 96% of respondents believe technology positively impacts the learning process, making it more engaging and motivating.
While gamification in school e-learning is boosting now and can potentially increase by $9.03 billion by 2025, the availability of personal devices remains one of the main challenges which limits its growth. Although the usage of gadgets has increased by 99% since 2020, around 50% of learners worldwide still don’t have household computers or an Internet connection to continue their education at home.
At the same time, the lack of trained online teachers and e-learning apps for mobile are other issues college students face when it comes to using technologies in higher education. These are the things to consider for institutions providing EdTech in their study.
81% of students confess that digital devices helped them spend more time studying their lessons at home and made the process more productive. 85% of graduates believe that e-learning enabled them to compile a better CV and get a job easier. And 86% of respondents are convinced personalized online courses and webinars were excellent investments that helped them return spending and earn more.
Considering corporate EdTechs, 76% of employees state they are more likely to work with a company that follows the latest trends in e-learning and provides continuous training. Statistics show that workers forget around 65% of educational information within seven days after they complete the course and almost 90% during the next six months. That’s why regular repeat and free access to educational materials are crucial for employees’ efficiency and experience.
More entrepreneurs focus on developing an effective learning environment that allows them to upskill workers in a less cost- and time-consuming way. Every dollar spent on implementing an online educational program brings a 30x return in corporate productivity, enduring businesses to a new level of development. With such an approach, the EdTech corporate industry, with a current market share of $22.5 billion, will reach the $44.6 billion point by 2028.
The future of e-learning seems to be very promising. While the peak of EdTech development mostly happened during the pandemic, the industry continues to gain momentum. Short video courses, gamification elements, and progress assessments remain the most popular approaches used in school and corporate study. But this article will focus on new strategies which can enhance the educational process and improve the efficiency of online training.
Learning Experience Platforms (LXP)
A lot of users think of LXP as an innovative LMS. But, in fact, their methods significantly differ. While learning management system requirements and curriculums are designed and moderated by courses authors, AI-powered experience platforms automatically gather content offerings from several resources based on the students'/employees’ previous behavior.
LMS represents a structured educational program. On the other hand, LXP is more flexible and user-oriented. It picks up the training materials for each customer depending on his job/department and identified bottlenecks in knowledge. If learners often use the platform, they receive more targeted propositions. In fact, LXP is gathering content similar to a social media engine, allowing participants to build personalized educational paths.
Mobile-first learning
Apps for personal gadgets with an opportunity to access data and use it without a worldwide network are one of the e-learning technology trends that can increase customers’ retention and improve their loyalty. Mobile programs allow students and corporate workers to download training courses faster at any time and place. Information represented in bite-sized videos helps learners to adopt new skills easier and efficiently.
In-depth assessments
Course authors now have more space to evaluate whether customers memorize the lessons and can apply them in practice. Instead of simple tests at the end of the course, participants can join group AR or VR projects and check their obtained skills and critical thinking in circumstances close to the real world. Such methods help trainers to provide quick communication and support, defining strong and weak sides for each learner.
Moreover, e-learning industry trends allow creators to make their assessments more inclusive. For example, people with different disabilities can choose the testing method that suits their case better, like a written quiz or video recording.
Group-based learning
This method considers group courses where participants pass through the educational process together, collaborating and interacting to solve common tasks. Students learn the essentials of time management, meet project deadlines and work for the community goals. During cohort-based training, curators communicate with users, giving the most relevant materials according to their reviews and interests.
Hybrid education
It is one of the massive current trends in e-learning which combines real-life lessons in classrooms and on-site materials for self-study. Participants learn to interact with peers and instructors at live meetings and receive in-depth knowledge from courses in online repositories (Google Drive, LMS, etc.) simultaneously. This type of education keeps students engaged, allows them to build their own schedules, and choose a convenient place to work with the materials.
Teachers can provide hybrid courses in online and offline formats, making learning more accessible for users with different capabilities. Such an approach helps tutors deliver materials to remote areas and encourages mentees to continue their education if they can’t attend classes physically.
Moreover, subject specialists from various locations can participate in the process, enhancing the learning experience. Hybrid education increases engagement and overall student performance because teachers can use various interactive tools to make lessons more interesting.
Micro-credentials
Often, when users complete courses, they receive certificates validating upgraded skills. These documents, called micro-credentials, may be associated with mini degrees or specifications and are transferred from one educational organization to another or additionally added to the candidate's resume.
The main difference between this emerging trend in e-learning from an undergraduate or master's certificate is the course length. Typically, it requires several months (from 9 to 12 quarter credits) to complete the study and receive a document. However, it takes around 180 credits to obtain a bachelor’s degree.
Moreover, digital certificates are not a stand-alone offering but rather an addition to the main study which ensures individuals’ knowledge in a specialized area and covers related topics. Micro-credentials help employees gain new skills in demand in the labor market and showcase their readiness for the next phase in their careers.
Online memberships
Creating a website where users can pay for subscriptions and access the training community takes a vital place among e-learning trends in 2023. Memberships are so popular among teachers because of additional revenue, which they receive from customers in the form of commissions on a monthly or annual base. What makes learners follow the instructors' website is the diversity of learning materials, the desire to belong to a community with the same objectives, and the possibility to leave reviews and interact with the content creator directly.
Online membership websites are a perfect way to reach new audiences worldwide, establish an additional source of income, and build solid brand awareness. You may create a password-protected platform with a diversity of useful services, like online courses, live events, webinars, coaching, interviews, or guides.
Customers can pay for exclusive content either on a one-time or a monthly basis. Consider a free membership option that will cater to the majority of clients and offer paid access to the premium content helping them upgrade skills according to changing needs.
AR and VR
Virtual practices are probably one of the top e-learning trends which allow participants to train their skills and knowledge in a safe digital environment without harmful consequences. In AR courses, the technology creates a suitable response to the users’ actions, while VR provides a more immersive experience, fully distracting learners from the real world.
Such simulations (sometimes game-based) can become an essential part of educating construction and mechanical engineering workers, surgeons and healthcare specialists, emergency and rescue staff.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
AI-powered e-learning market trends benefit both learners and teachers. While users receive individual educational materials based on their online activity and search queries, creators save time and cost on content preparation, sorting, quiz generation, assessments, etc. Also, AI approaches allow instructors to develop intuitive chatbots which automatically handle simple users' questions and choose the correct answer from the previously determined knowledge base.
AI in digital learning is used for creating more personalized courses that are tailored to individual’s needs and preferences. The technology helps to adapt the educational journey for each customer based on their current level of knowledge, previous experiences, and performance. AI tools improve the students’ engagement leading to better outcomes.
Additionally, artificial intelligence simplifies administrative tasks streamlining course management, providing assignments, and generating feedback. AI is also widely used for reporting and analyzing students’ behavior which allows identifying patterns for possible improvements.
Data analysis
Together with AI trends in e-learning, data-driven predictions can significantly improve educational effectiveness. It can offer users materials they like and make the process faster, easier, and more productive. Data analysis helps course creators develop programs that will cater to consumers’ needs. Moreover, predictive analytics detect negative performance and notify trainers to support learners in their current difficulties.
As mentioned above, new trends in e-learning are expected to become the driving force in boosting skills improvement for students and employees in 2023. So if you are planning to develop an educational program that can attract the target audience, you may apply the given examples in your course creation process.
User Generated Content
If you are looking for e-learning trends and predictions for 2024 to enhance your online courses, user-generated content (UGC) may become a perfect solution. Allow customers to share their ideas, stories, and suggestions with each other to foster confidence and self-expression. UGC can greatly boost the efficiency of the educational platform because it increases users’ motivation and encourages collaboration.
The content type will depend on your target audience's objectives, online training trends, and available system features. For example, you can enable customers to write reviews or interact with other participants by asking questions on forums. As an option, you can allow learners to share videos demonstrating their achievements, record audio or create posts summarizing their progress. Follow these tips to get the maximum efficiency from your UGC:
Provide clear instructions about the goal, length, and format of their content. Explain what you expect to receive from learners and how it will affect their productivity.
Offer resources and tools to create UGC. You may upload examples and templates enabling customers to add high-quality data.
Diversify the learning experience by allowing users to choose suitable formats and styles that serve their interests.
Create opportunities to share each other UGC, comment, and offer personal insights. Thus, you’ll promote engagement and collaboration.
Custom eLearning development
Most of the time, companies choose off-the-shelf solutions for corporate training that are cheap, readymade, and easy to launch. They may seem a perfect fit at first glance, but things can be the opposite in reality. What is quick and inexpensive may not be suitable for employees.
On the other hand, custom eLearning development can satisfy individual business needs delivering educational content personalized to organizations’ and trainees’ objectives. Although such software solutions may require bigger investments in time and resources, they can result in better outcomes. Here are the top 4 reasons for building fully custom courses:
Training, completely tailored to meet companies’ needs and strategies, enhances learners' motivation and retention. Customers receive relevant, meaningful materials that directly cater to current preferences.
Focuses on brand image and values increasing its overall performance. Developing courses with business logos and corporate colors makes them a recognizable organizational asset.
Requires one-time investments and ensures lifetime ownership. Once developed, the complete solution will be available for all the corporate workers across the company as it becomes the sole owner of the product.
Minimises employee recruiting costs by delivering a supportive and motivating onboarding experience.
Bonus: Accessible and Inclusive Design
LMS trends in 2024 stand for equal opportunities for all individuals including those with disabilities, diverse backgrounds, and uncommon preferences in educational styles. By considering these factors, course designers can develop effective, engaging, and accessible digital environments for those willing to lifelong studying and continuous self-improvement.
To promote inclusion in e-learning creators should follow several key principles:
Provide inclusive language that excludes gender or racial biases and stereotypes. Represent imagery that reflects different cultures, traditions, and abilities making every individual feel included and valued.
Ensure content usability for any audience. For example, designers may consider alternatives for visual and audio materials (changeable contrast, keyboard-friendly navigation, video transcripts or sound support, etc.)
Properly structure content making it appealing and readable to customers. Use clear headings, and break texts into consistent paragraphs or lists.
Offer diverse assessment methods (written, oral, multimedia, etc.) to help learners demonstrate their achievements most conveniently.
To ensure your inclusive courses are effective, you may provide testing involving diverse learners. Gather their feedback on system compatibility, usability, and friendliness and make continuous improvements to your educational content.
Continuous learning and profitability
Many success stories showcase innovative technologies, lucrative development strategies, and business models. But what makes real leaders stand out is their commitment to the continuous corporate e-learning trend. This concept refers to a constant expansion of employees’ knowledge to gain new skills and expertise. For entrepreneurs, it means regular support and providing up-to-date tools that encourage in-house training.
The importance of continuous learning is directly connected with business outcomes and revenue. In today’s highly competitive market companies should become more flexible and adapt to quickly changing demands, technological advancements, and customers' expectations. The most reported benefits of constant corporate learning are the following:
Facilitate adaptation. Employees have all the necessary resources and tools to keep up with the new technologies, practices, and industry standards.
Enable knowledge sharing. Creating a safe supportive environment for learners allows them to discover best practices, learn from past errors, gaining new skills faster and effectively.
Creates progression opportunities. Continuous education helps workers to achieve career development goals and contribute to the overall business growth. Entrepreneurs who teach staff from within save time, money, and resources on hiring and reduce turnover.
By providing constant training and access to valuable content, business owners help employees to become more skilled and productive, facilitate critical thinking, and fast decision-making.
Here are some of the simple steps for creating a successful continuous learning strategy:
Examine the current state of the educational environment in your organization. Explore the main resources or situations where your employees receive new knowledge.
Talk to peers. Your workers may provide you with valuable insights into the existing gaps and preferable methods of delivering data.
Determine how you will provide courses: through face-to-face communication of integrated LMS (preferable for fast-growing and international companies).
Create a learning culture. Your employees should know how they would be trained. Onboarding lessons are a perfect way to start.
Motivate and reward. Offer incentives for best results in the form of half-days off work or prizes to encourage workers to do their best at training.
Ensuring your organization has developed a learning culture will highly increase your staff productivity and retention rates, and make routine more engaging which in turn will positively impact your profitability.
The Best Learning Management Systems (LMS) Of 2024
Now with a clear understanding of e-learning market trends and forecasts, it’s time to pick up the right LMS where you can implement fresh ideas for online courses. We’ve compiled a list of the most popular platforms for various occasions.
D2L Brightspace LMS: Best for educators
This platform will be useful for K-12 (primary and secondary schools), higher educational establishments, and businesses. LMS is easy to set up and has a set of valuable functions like contextual and personalized feedback via videos, badges, icons, and other features. D2L has a special “Funster” mode allowing to educate early or nonreaders. Owners can customize the design of the system to fit their brand better.
TalentLMS: Best for small businesses
This learning management system is a perfect solution for tiny teams of up to 5 members because you can access it for free and upload around ten courses without any fee. TalentLMS supports 30 languages and offers such features as quizzes, tests, customization, video sessions, reports generation, task automation, and more. The platform also allows third-party integrations and has a Talent Library (in the paid mode) for soft skills training.
Edmodo LMS: Best free option
If you are searching for a free solution for school courses or business training, Edmodo will be the right choice. LMS has a mobile app, built-in planner, games, tests, teacher and parent resources, etc. It also provides content moderation and automatic updates but may not suit higher education institutions.
You may acquire MPS development company support if you want to develop a unique one-of-a-kind LMS for personal purposes and strictly determined scope. Our experts will help you to define a stand-alone learning management system design, keep high-quality functionality, and transform your creative ideas into life.
Looking at the statistics, we see how innovations change education and can forecast the future of e-learning technology. The growing use of artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented realities, data analytics, and adaptive learning systems helps students and employees to achieve better outcomes during online courses and retain their knowledge longer.
Today's EdTech focuses more on personalized suggestions for learners, inclusivity, and lifelong study. Those instructors who want to make their training more engaging and motivating should pay close attention to new approaches in assessments, group tasks, and constant interactions with their customers.
E-learning trends can change rapidly, so keeping an eye on the industry market and quickly adapting to new environments is the first and foremost task for teachers and business owners.
Every self-respecting business owner, at some point, thinks of improving employees' knowledge, mastery, and confidence. They may already succeed in creating an eLearning platform for corporate training. However, it still needs constant updating to keep the staff up with time and deliver the most relevant data. While developing online lessons is a lengthy process requiring experience and tech power, distributing tasks can become the only solution for companies searching for quick and efficient results.
Today’s busy and tech-savvy online customers are interested in mobile-friendly educational courses suitable for smartphones, tablets, and other gadgets. User-centric and accessible, gamified and bite-sized, mLearning can happen anytime, anywhere. You should learn how to implement it in the organization to make it a part of your corporate culture.
If you practice edtech in your organization, then you might already understand the crucial role of digital learning platforms in constant employee growth. Corporate training has a direct impact on your company’s productivity.
