The virtual learning industry continues to rise. According to recent research studies, the revenues of this sector have grown by over 90% since 2000. Moreover, the global eLearning market is expected to reach $336.98 billion by 2026.
Let’s learn which technologies hold the key to the future of online learning.
ADAPTIVE LEARNING TECHNOLOGIES
Adaptive learning is a highly learner-centric method of education. It ensures that all resources, activities, assignments, and projects are adjusted to students’ individual needs, requirements, and progress. Adaptive learning technologies can deliver highly personalized learning experiences.
For example, the designers of ScootPad are aware that not every learner understands every concept at the same pace. They built the entire learning platform on that idea. Namely, the software uses real-time technologies that help students with exercises, comprehension, assessments, etc. It adapts to a student’s knowledge and progress, making sure they fully understand all concepts before moving forward.
However, these technologies are still in their infancy. With many eLearning platforms implementing this trend, adaptive learning is expected to gain a massive adoption over the next few years.
OMNICHANNEL LEARNING EXPERIENCES
In today’s hyperconnected era, the way people learn has changed. Cloud platforms, mobile apps, and web conferencing are transforming education for good, making the learning progress faster, personalized, and more convenient. Users can now consume content via websites, video platforms, forums, leader boards, and social networks.
That is where xAPI steps in, enhancing the digital transformation process for many businesses. It is an online learning specification that allows employers to collect data about an employee’s wide range of learning experiences. So, no matter if an employee signed up for a course on Udemy or watched an online tutorial on LinkedIn, xAPI will capture this information.
Namely, an undeniable advantage of xAPI lies in the fact that it does not require 24/7 internet connectivity. It captures both online and offline employee training data and records this information in its Learning Record Store (LRS).
SOCIAL LEARNING PLATFORMS
The idea behind social learning is simple. People can learn from the people around us, including their parents, teachers, siblings, peers, social media influencers, or even celebrities. The applications of social learning in virtual environments are multiple.
Platforms using these technologies provide video tutorials, offer instant chat, and have communities and forums where users can exchange information and experiences. Scores and lesson responses are shared among all participants.
One of the most popular eLearning platforms with social learning functionalities is Moodle. It offers a workshop, a peer assessment activity. Namely, learners submit assignments that are then distributed amongst their peers for assessment based on a previously determined grading scale. Additionally, Moodle offers chat functions, forums, media embedding, and direct messaging features.
LEARNING AS A SERVICE
Over the past few years, streaming services have rapidly gained momentum. Services like Amazon Prime Video or Netflix offer highly personalized user experiences. They let you subscribe for a package that suits you and have unlimited access to all TV shows at the click of a button.
The same trends apply to online learning. Many eLearning platforms, such as Udemy or Coursera, make a wide range of ready-to-use courses available to everyone. Irrespective of users’ industry, profession, and preferences, platforms like these offer multiple benefits.
For starters, they help online learners save money. Instead of purchasing expensive packages of courses that do not meet their specific needs, users can now buy exactly what they need. That is particularly significant to companies that have an opportunity to reduce unnecessary training costs and focus on the programs that align with their core business.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Artificial intelligence benefits the eLearning industry in multiple ways.
It improves learners’ experiences and stimulates them to perform more efficiently. AI also optimizes routine processes and improves their efficiency. By identifying each student’s learning pace and progress, it creates individualized study schedules for them.
Duolingo is a perfect example of the use of AI in online learning. This language learning app offers a placement test that is not the same for everyone. It uses AI to adapt the questions based on your previous responses. Duolingo also uses artificial intelligence to personalize sessions. For example, it shows mistake patterns and lets users practice newly learned words. It even introduced an AI chatbot to help learners practice conversation.
OVER TO YOU
The eLearning industry is evolving at an astounding rate.
Adaptive learning tools and artificial intelligence make education more user-centric and personalized. With their help, both individual learners and corporate workers can adapt the learning process to their knowledge, need, and progress.
Technologies like xAPI, on the other hand, capture and centralize multi-channel training experiences under a single platform and provide greater transparency.
What do you think about the future of online learning? Share your thoughts in the comments!
