Currently, the global e-learning market is expected to reach $275.10 billion by 2022, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.5% during the forecasted period. The market has exploded, as learning technology continues to get more affordable and accessible across the globe. It’s becoming easier and easier for companies of all shapes and sizes to acquire and implement e-learning technology quickly for a decent price.
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But what technologies and trends do you need to know about as a learning and development (L&D) professional, and what’s in store for L&D professionals in 2019?
E-Learning Trends from 2018
Earlier this year, experts projected the following trends would take hold in the e-learning marketplace, and they were right. So, if you haven’t adopted these trends yet, you’ll want to think about doing so before 2018 comes to an end.
Microlearning and mobile learning. With most businesses now adopting bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies in the workplace, the popularity of mobile learning has skyrocketed over the past year or so. And microlearning, with its short bursts of learning content, is perfect for learners on a mobile device who are always on-the-go. Here’s why we’re still talking about microlearning:
- Eight out of ten L&D professionals favor microlearning because their learners prefer it.
- Microlearning makes the transfer of learning 17% more efficient.
- Microlearning creates 50% more engagement.
- Microlearning courses can be produced in 300% less time and for 50% less cost than traditional courses.
(Source: Shift E-Learning)
Social learning. Employees like exchanging information and tips with their peers and other professionals in their networks and prefer the more informal avenues of learning offered via social learning.
It’s now easier than ever for employees to ask one another questions and exchange information through cloud-based systems and messaging tools. So, whether you endorse it or not, or have a strategy for it or not, social learning will remain strong in any workplace in 2018 and beyond.
Adaptive or personalized learning. With newer learning management systems (LMSs), adaptive and personalized learning has become a strong force in the L&D industry. Soon there will be a time when there is no such thing as workplace learning that’s not highly personalized and adaptive. For more information about why this trend took off this year and how it works inside LMSs, read the following posts:
- “Top 8 Benefits of Adaptive E-Learning” Part 1 and Part 2
- “How Does Adaptive Learning Work Inside an LMS?”
- “6 Adaptive Learning Features You Need Your LMS to Have”
VR and AR. Because virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technology is becoming a lot less expensive and more widely used, more and more businesses are using it—for everything from safety training to customer service training. Read “9 Companies Currently Leading the Way in VR Training” Part 1 and Part 2 and “How to Create Virtual Reality Training Content that Sticks” to see what others are doing.
Be sure to read “E-Learning Trends You Need to Know About in 2018” Part 1 and Part 2 to learn more about trends that were projected for this year and whether they were accurate and noteworthy. And stay tuned for tomorrow’s post for more information about e-learning technologies and forecasts you need to know about.