The 10 biggest E-Learning trends in 2020

And how you can utilize them during the Corona Crisis

The online learning world is developing very quickly. In addition to already established eLearning trends such as gamification, mobile learning, and microlearning, experts in L&D are incorporating technologies from other fields: social networking, chatbots, user interface, etc. Today we’ll talk about trends in e-learning in 2020.

 

1) Curation of Content

Much like all the Gatsby themed parties you’ve been invited to this New Year, it’s all old again! The curation of content is based on this principle, which will continue to be a major theme throughout the next decade. Learners also turn to external channels for learning videos, such as YouTube and TedTalks, and many organizations now incorporate publicly available external content with their own content to deliver learner services that are rich in sources, viewpoints, and formats.

 

2) Gamification

gamification in the classroom

Gamification, which Merriam-Webster describes as, “The process of introducing games or games to

something like elements to promote participation” has gained traction in recent years, and this phenomenon shows no signs of slowing. We have recently discussed the advantages of gamification, which include improved learner interaction and motivation, as well as the ability to receive instant feedback. Learners really enjoy well-designed games, which for everyone concerned leads to positive outcomes.

 

3) Video Learning

Over one billion hours of content are viewed on YouTube every day, according to Omnicore, by more than 30 million active users worldwide. The demand for videos from the learners seems almost insatiable, leading to trends in the design such as curation as described above. Designers typically develop and integrate videos outside of YouTube into their eLearning courses to break up long text passages and provide a vibrant, multimedia experience.  

 

4) Microlearning

Microlearning is another phenomenon that has consumed the past decade and will continue far into the next decade, from videos to podcasts, to infographics, to blogs such as this very post. Microlearning, or small “bite-sized bits” of learning, meet the needs of today’s learners. Either on the go, on mobile devices or simply requesting a particular piece of knowledge, microlearning provides learners content “just in time” when they need it.

 

5) Mobile Learning

CNBC released the results of a 2019 study stating that “by 2025, nearly three-quarters (72.6 percent) of internet users will only access the web through their smartphones which is equal to approximately 3.7 billion people. To meet the needs of mobile learners, it is important that course development takes into account. Courses need to be flexible and have the versatility to be published on different outputs so that learners can have positive experiences no matter what platform they select.

 

6) Social Learning

The use of social media is yet another technological trend that has characterized the last decade; Facebook had 2.4 billion users in 2019. It is no wonder that learning has also been affected by this trend. Innovative companies harness the desires of their workers to be social and inspire them to share, hashtag and chat about their learning experiences with each other and with the world at large. Social learning allows colleagues to learn from each other and does not restrict learning to the limits of a classroom or learning program. This pattern embraces the lifelong learning idea, which opens the doors to learning opportunities everywhere and anytime.

 

7) Digitization of Instructor-Led Training (ILT)

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported that, outside conventional workplaces, almost 16 percent of the workforce worked remotely in 2018. Organizations have found eLearning that allows them to deliver clear learning opportunities to their workers no matter where they are located and at a fraction of conventional training costs. In the digital world of eLearning, the costs of travel expenses, physical equipment and renting or buying classroom space are no considerations. While the training in the classroom will never become entirely redundant, it will also be replaced in the very near future by online training.

 

8) Focus on Soft Skills

Many topics of training are common across industries. The 2018 LinkedIn Organizational Learning Study has reported that leadership, communication, and teamwork were the subjects most sought after by organizations. Content curation can be a beneficial activity as such subjects intersect through sectors so that companies don’t waste unnecessary time and resources duplicating content already existing.

 

9) Personalization of Learning Experiences

This trend may have started with the millennial, but the youngest workers joining the workforce, Generation Z, would fully expect to have personal learning experience tailored to match their needs. As true digital natives, this generation’s leaders are accustomed to having the internet at their disposal and would demand workplace experiences of consumer quality. This can be illustrated by workers creating their own learning initiatives out of the material they are curating, or requiring their employers to assist them with mobile-ready gamified material, microlearning tools, and opportunities to socialize with their colleagues.

 

10) Data-Driven Practices

In several ways, the last decade saw the influence of data influencing society, including laws like GDPR that impact both individuals and companies alike. It is no wonder that data is now becoming a topic of discussion in the field of learning and development, as designers need to understand not just how to use data to direct their decisions, but also how to protect the data of online learners. Awareness of both qualitative and quantitative data has the ability to enrich design decisions and inspire designers to develop and meet the individual needs of learners, and designers who understand the power of data will be better prepared to lead the next decade in instructional design.

 

How Coronavirus is affecting the E-learning industry?

The sudden closing of university campuses all over the world has forced large numbers of courses to be delivered online. And while certain teething issues have occurred, observers are speculating whether the future might just have become the present.

All students from kindergarteners to doctoral candidates of coronavirus in almost the rest of the world have been asked to stay home and pursue their education online. This affects 30 million learners at over 3,000 universities, many of whom reacted by rushing to create and introduce compulsory online classes to fill a gap that will last in the most seriously affected areas for the rest of the academic year.

Many students studying at universities have had to log in to start their courses from their home country. Universities in other Covid-19 hotspots, such as Italy, Iran, and Singapore, have also shut down their campuses and Singapore has for the time being replaced in-person teaching with online alternatives.

 

Luis Mantilla

Luis Mantilla

Sales

Luis knows the e-learning market for years already and know the trends, the dos and don’ts.

He is a business development expert who quickly understands the needs of companies and can offer the perfectly suitable solution.

Want to discuss e-learning or digitization of your oranization? Drop him a line at luis@learngrape.com.