eLearning Development Trends You Need To Look Out For
eLearning programs and courses are becoming the talk of the town. Their nature of being based on technology allows them to be very effective in our tech savvy world of today. First of all, companies are being able to reduce costs by providing online readily available platforms. Secondly, they are saving a lot of time and effort that would otherwise be used in creating and implementing learning programs in traditional classrooms. Different eLearning development trends are helping in boosting the success rates of learning programs by offering solutions that improve interactivity of participants and allow them to have better retention of study material.
These and many other benefits of eLearning programs keep eLearning at the top of the most awaited trends list. In the year 2016, the focus remains on improving existing eLearning solutions by providing fun and interactive solutions based on the self-regulated study. That, in turn, will prove to be significantly beneficial for both employers and employees worldwide.
1. Mobile Learning
The increased use of mobile devices cannot be neglected. Mobiles have become an essential part of our lives, and they are helping people stay on top of important tasks and commitments. That is why we can now see an increase in the mobile eLearning market. Students of today wish to have a mobile app for everything. Whether it’s online banking, shopping, playing games, or having access to their important files, being able to have information at hand is much appreciated. Mobile learning also proves to be a great topic for student projects and writing assignments, allowing them to give their views and suggestions of mobile learning. Some of the obvious benefits of handheld learning or eLearning include:
- Scheduled flexibility.
- Portability.
- Ease of access.
- Distraction-free learning.
- Information available at the touch of a button.
- Quick access to study material around the clock.
- Concise presentation of learning concepts.
It is no wonder that eLearning is a design trend with many success factors. The convenience of handheld learning cannot be neglected and we can confidently say that it’s here to stay.
2. Adaptive Programs
As their name suggest, these programs enable experienced employees to adapt to new concepts fairly quickly. Through the use of these adaptive programs, employees can avoid wasting their time on things they have already studied. Adaptive programs make it possible for employees to speed up their learning process, allowing them to become productive and effective learners.
The use of infographics also proves to be very effective. The time that users save with these programs can be utilized on learning new tasks. These programs are being implemented in different parts of the world. It won’t be long before we see competency-driven online learning programs outshining their competitors in the eLearning market. A fine example includes Smart Sparrow, an adaptive eLearning program that focuses on engaging each student.
3. Gamification
When you combine gamification techniques with online learning, you take the concept to an exciting new level! Gamification has been around for quite some time now and it's becoming one of the most powerful eLearning development trends. It is the concept that makes use of game mechanics to provide a fun and interactive approach to learning. Gamification trends are successful in improving employee participation and focus retention. Not only are employees prone to picking up concepts faster. The process of learning is also made effective and one that all employees can look forward to.
The popular fast food chain “McDonald’s” is also using gamification-based learning to train its employees on the new till systems being implemented. The game simulates the working of the new till system and allows employees to demonstrate their knowledge of offering quality customer service. Not only is this process of learning fun and interactive, but it also provides a very real feel of actual business situations. This process of learning is motivational and helps employees offer their absolute best when it comes to customer service.
4. Automated Technology
Automated technologies help with exercises, assessments, games, and tests that are based on study material of different eLearning courses. When companies make use of these automated technologies, they are significantly saving on design time. Furthermore, their costs associated with creating learning programs are noticeable reduced. With automated technologies, it becomes easier to focus on polishing the content of eLearning courses. Instead of providing more information, the focus shifts to providing quality content.
Final Thoughts
2016 will be an exciting year for various eLearning development trends. The focus will be on providing automated, gamification-based, competency-based, mobile-friendly eLearning solutions. These will in turn help in keeping users actively engaged and keen on learning.
It won’t be too long before you see new and improved eLearning development trends in the online study world. In order to ensure that you don’t miss out on the exciting news, follow different eLearning providers on social media. That will help you keep on top of what’s hot in the eLearning world. If you would like to have a taste of these eLearning models, there are countless test and demo online learning models that you can play around with online. These allow you to get a good feel of how companies can teach their users through fun and interactive digital learning experience.
