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Top 10 eLearning Trends to Watch Out for in 2023

We can expect great things from eLearning in the years to come. There was a high point in the eLearning market during the COVID-19 pandemic, and projections show it will grow by more than 200% between 2020 and 2025. Not surprisingly, companies in this sector have already started taking measures that should benefit their bottom lines.

eLearning Trends

Market analysts are under a lot of pressure to provide a satisfying customer experience and must consider many factors. It will be interesting to observe how businesses respond to the new e-learning trends in learning and development and how they choose which ones to adopt and integrate. Check out our article about educational technology to learn more.

In 2022, online education and training programs are still using many of the same tried-and-true learning tools and delivery methods that were popular in the previous year. The use of video, gamification, and microlearning in e-learning are all as popular as ever. These have played a pivotal role in the evolution of eLearning thus far, and they will continue to do so in the future, making online education more engaging and efficient.

This piece is not a retrospective on fads that have long since passed. In its place, we talk about the most promising developments in e-learning that promise to transform the digital education landscape in the coming year.

By monitoring the eLearning market and delving into the rich data, we have gathered from thousands of our customers and their e-learning courses and online academies, we have identified the top 10 eLearning trends for the coming year and beyond.


1. Learning on the Go

The trend toward creating mobile-first experiences for online education is gaining momentum. The market value for mobile education is expected to reach $46.9 billion by 2024, developing at an annual average growth rate of around 26%.

Online courses have evolved to be mobile-friendly, allowing students to access course materials and communicate with their peers to replicate the feel of in-person education. In today's world, this won't do.

Building a mobile app is essential for a mobile-first design. Creators can provide students with a superior mobile learning experience via an app, increasing student engagement and retention. A mobile app for corporate training allows remote workers to quickly and easily access online training materials whenever and wherever they may be needed.

Having the option to download media and watch it without an internet connection is essential. A growing number of educational apps now allow users to download content for offline use, intending to provide the best possible mobile learning experience.

Finally, one sub-trend of mobile learning is known as "microlearning." In particular, learning materials in the form of short videos remain the most popular and effective for use on mobile devices.


2. Platforms for Learning Experience

A Learning Experience Platform (LXP) aims to improve the user's learning experience through adaptive learning and to give the learner more control over their own education. Many people mistake them for the next generation of LMSs, but they are designed for something completely different.

Learning management systems (LMSs) have traditionally been used to disseminate training largely governed by instructional designers and course creators.

This method is perfectly acceptable for the delivery of more formal training, such as compliance, health and safety, or job-specific new skills. A formalised program for mandatory and high-risk training is recommended and often required.

Instead, an LXP platform will suggest content for you based on what it thinks you might like. Your company's LMS can complement other external resources, such as a blog. Similarly to learning management systems, LXPs welcomes a wide range of content types.

In addition, the more the learner uses the platform, the more personalised the recommendations become, thanks to the platform's AI and machine learning capabilities. Additionally, the platform recommends content based on the user's profile data (occupation, division, skill gaps, etc.) and the preferences of people with similar profiles.

For voluntary education, the LXP provides a superior learning solution. It's a more laid-back method that prioritises the learner and encourages continuous education.

The popularity of LXPs has grown alongside the trend toward student independence in the classroom. While online education has always afforded students some leeway in pace and location, LXPs go further by letting students design their courses. Artificial intelligence (AI) also plays a crucial role by facilitating the delivery of individualised recommendations based on the learner's previous actions.

Finally, it's important to remember that students are now more accustomed to the "social media" approach to education, characterised by individualised feeds filled with user-generated content. Similar user experiences can be generated by LXP platforms, "tricking" users into learning.


3. Hybrid Instructional Strategies

Hybrid learning, a concept more commonly associated with higher education and universities, is now widely used in K-12 classrooms. It's no secret that most businesses now employ a hybrid workforce, which means that training methods must adapt.

Both online and in-person instruction is utilised during a hybrid course of study. It's frequently confused with blended learning, but the latter focuses primarily on in-person instruction supplemented by digital resources.

Students in a hybrid course can access all of the course materials online and study at their own pace during the course's online component. Depending on the structure of the course materials, this repository could be anything from a learning management system (LMS) to a cloud storage service like Google Drive.

Learning in a hybrid format combines the best features of both online and face-to-face instruction. On the one hand, students can study whenever and wherever it is most suitable for them. In addition, they find the collaboration with other students and the teacher enjoyable, which boosts their motivation to learn and retention.


4. Evaluation is Transforming

In most cases, a multiple-choice quiz taken at the end of a module is used for online assessment, even in MOOCs. In recent years, however, assessment has undergone significant change. It has been enriched with various assessment types that allow course creators to evaluate whether or not their learners have achieved the desired learning objectives.

Recent efforts to evaluate teaching and learning have shifted from being an afterthought to an integral part. There has been an increase concerning the use of formative assessments because of their positive effects on learning by allowing teachers to give immediate feedback, intervene when necessary, and guide students in the right direction.

Performance-based evaluation is another rising trend. Students are required to demonstrate their competence through the completion of collaborative group projects and final presentations or the successful completion of problems based on "real-world" scenarios with the assistance of augmented and virtual reality tools. These assessments evaluate learning while simultaneously enhancing soft skills like critical thinking, problem-solving, resourcefulness, and collaboration to provide a more well-rounded and beneficial learning experience that aids in the development of personality traits in addition to technical skills.

The good news is that evaluation is also becoming more open and accessible. Those designing courses can choose the most appropriate assessment method for evaluating students' abilities, regardless of whether they have a learning or physical disability. Students with difficulties submitting written work, such as those with dyslexia or visual impairments, may submit video recordings instead.


5. Artificial Intelligence

By providing users with personalised recommendations, deep search capabilities, and tools that accommodate learning disabilities, artificial intelligence (AI) significantly improves the quality of the learning experience for the end user.

When applied to eLearning, AI has the added benefit of saving time and effort for the course's creator. AI tools have allowed for the automation of a wide variety of processes, including translating content, tagging and grouping content, allocating courses to users, and creating quizzes. Of course, deep data analysis is one of AI's most valuable features. Training providers will benefit significantly from learning analytics tools because they will illuminate every facet of an online course and student behaviour.

The story doesn't end there regarding AI's impact on e-learning. The artificial intelligence subfield of Natural Language Processing allows chatbots to function as helpful digital helpers. They help both students and teachers by quickly responding to essential questions with relevant data from a database.


6. Micro-Credentials

Certifications known as "micro-credentials" are given out after a brief training or course has been finished. Consider them like short courses in a particular field. Micro-credentials' popularity is rising because they verify quick and easy ways to prove fundamental knowledge and abilities in the workplace.

Credits earned from micro-credentials can be transferred from one educational institution to another and applied to the final total required for graduation. A micro-credential is an excellent addition to a professional profile.

The fact that there is always some assignment to complete to prove that learning objectives have been met makes micro-credentials a trustworthy proof of knowledge and skills acquired, even in the absence of official guidelines for how such knowledge is to be evaluated.

Micro-credentials will continue to rise in popularity and become the de facto solution for skills enhancement as modern professionals invest heavily in building impressive resumes and acquiring versatile skills.


7. Cohort-based education and training

Cohort-based learning is a teaching strategy in which a whole class works through a curriculum simultaneously. Cohort-based online courses typically combine synchronous and asynchronous learning, with students working together on group projects and interacting in real-time with their peers.

Courses in a cohort model typically have a beginning and an end date, as well as due dates for assignments, which promotes accountability and demonstrates high course completion rates. Cohort-based education helps students become more responsible with their time and tasks.

In cohort-based education, interactive elements encourage students to stay engaged and motivated. They also present excellent opportunities for the teacher to engage with the class and tailor the material presented in light of the student's responses. Students benefit from individualised instruction and a stronger sense of camaraderie.


8. In-Depth Data Analysis

Analysing data is crucial for e-learning but essential for corporate training and higher education. AI is commonly used in predictive analytics because it quickly and accurately analyses large amounts of data, allowing for accurate predictions of future learner behaviour.

The efficiency of learning can be significantly enhanced by analysing data. It can point students toward the courses and resources that best suit their needs and interests. It can also detect deteriorating performance and alert the teacher so that they can intervene at the appropriate time.

The value of analysing data and learning from it will only increase over time. Students' preferences and expectations are shaped by various extra-academic factors and are in a constant state of flux. The only way course designers and training providers can meet their student's needs at any given time is to keep a close eye on their behaviour as customers and students.


9. Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR)

Surely you've heard of the new mobile game "Pokemon GO." In 2016, this augmented reality (AR) game was released and immediately became a smashing success. It's one thing to form an opinion on chasing imaginary friends down the street based on your experience or agreement with the concept. You have to admit, though, that the idea sounds fascinating when applied to the context of a game-based educational system.

Augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) offers two significant advantages for eLearning: unparalleled immersion and lightning-fast, in-depth comprehension.

In many ways, virtual and augmented reality (VR) systems exceed the value of actual practice. These tools give students a risk-free environment to experiment with and internalise procedures before applying them in the real world.

Employees in various fields, including those who operate heavy machinery, construct buildings, provide medical care, and respond to emergencies, can gain a great deal from training in AR and VR. Using simulations in education has increased retention rates and created a conducive, distraction-free learning atmosphere.

Compared to Augmented Reality, Virtual reality provides a much more immersive experience. To fully engage in a virtual reality (VR) experience, the student typically dons a headset or visor, allowing them to become detached from the "real world."

Although Augmented reality has fewer capabilities, it is still impressive. We have a piece of technology that "responds" to the user's input. Envision a system whereby you can hover your phone over a plant and have digital elements or imagery appear, elucidating what you're looking at. Smart glasses or a mobile app downloaded to a smartphone are required to access augmented reality content.

Despite their more common association with video games, augmented and virtual reality can also be used to deliver educational content through educational simulations.


10. Memberships and Subscriptions

According to feedback from our patrons, membership sites are becoming increasingly popular among those who offer online courses. Why is this business model so widespread, and what makes it unique? It's like being back on your favourite social media site, only without all the noise, and it'll help you connect better with your fellow users and the people who follow your work. One practical benefit of a subscription is that it guarantees the creator a regular income stream.

In exchange for a subscription fee, creators provide their audience with various benefits, such as early access, discounts, and community forums. Consistent effort on the creator's part is required to maintain a membership site to keep the community active.

For their members to continue engaging with each other and the creators, membership sites often feature frequent updates and even live events. Participating in a vibrant online learning community is, in the eyes of many students, far superior to taking classes at their own pace. Therefore, take heed; subscription-based websites are here to stay.


Conclusion

2023 will be a year full of exciting new developments for eLearning. How students will react to these emerging trends, as well as any surprises that may lie in store for us, is something that we cannot wait to find out. To find more helpful articles, please click here.