Top 3 Global eLearning Trends

eLearning has come a long way from simply reading pages upon pages of online training. The latest trends in eLearning include dynamic, user-based training that accounts for learners’ current methods of engaging with technology. In this article, we will cover the top 3 global eLearning trends in 2017 so that you can create an engaging, relevant training experience for your learners.

Technology users are currently digesting information in formats that are short and sweet. Tweets remain under 280 characters, Snapchat videos are capped at 20 seconds, and complex topics are broken down into simplified infographic images. We skim. We scan. We want to find that nugget of information. Micro-learning accommodates this bite-size approach to information consumption

In Micro-learning, training is delivered in small assets, and learners select the most relevant assets for their needs. These can include brief videos, succinct documents, concise lessons, and other short, digestible formats.

Ease of Accessibility

By dividing a larger chunk of training into smaller segments & activities, companies can make it easier for trainees to easily integrate learning into their busy day-to-day lives. An employee with a few minutes between tasks could complete a small micro-learning lesson. If an individual has a question, it could be answered by quickly going to a brief lesson rather than having to through large amounts of material to find an answer.

Improved Retention

Delivering eLearning content in small pieces also makes it easier for a learner to consume. Rather than learners trying to take in a large chunk of information, they can look at small pieces in isolation and can understand each small piece before moving on.

Opportunity for Application and Practice

Learning in pieces also allows to the learner some time to practice applying those concepts on-site, rather than receiving a lump sum of training and thrown into the wild.

Personalized Learning Experience

In a successful micro-learning format, each asset is tagged according to learning outcome or skill. Users can therefore customize their learning experiences by finding the lessons related to their specific tasks.

On-the-Job Learning

Micro-learning allows for effective on-the-job training because as learners encounter particular situations and don’t know what to do, they can quickly access micro-learning lessons related to their tasks. Since lessons are short and also tagged appropriately, users could easily access the mini lessons when in a particular situation.

Accommodates Multi-Modal Learning

Micro-learning can work with a variety of modalities: video, audio, games, infographics, and so on. This allows you to easily use the most appropriate modality for the job.

Affordable

These shorter lessons are more affordable to produce and easier to maintain than a large piece of training. For example, let’s say that you modify one portion of your company process. Rather than having to completely overhaul your training, you would simply need to re-create any micro-learning activities related to that process.

mLearning allows learners to easily access your training using mobile technology. Given the dominant use of handheld technology (such as phones and tablets), this method makes training incredibly accessible for many learner.

Benefits of mLearning

Several of the benefits of mLearning are similar to those of Micro-learning, since mLearning often includes mini lessons as its format. However, there are a few other additional benefits:

Feedback and Community

Many of the mLearning apps allow users to offer feedback and participate in a community, rather than other static, less-engaging learning formats.

Ease of Accessibility

Since users often have a phone or tablet nearby, if they are ever in a position where they are on the job and don’t know how to do something, they could easily access the training through their device. This provides the learner with the opportunity to quickly learn (or re-learn) the skill right on the spot.

Gamification has been defined as “use of game design elements in non-game contexts.” (Gamification-Research.org). In other words, you could use game elements in your employee training experience. This could elevate the learning experience by making it more engaging and fun for your learners.

More-Engaging On-Boarding Training

New employee training often consists of hours of studying new materials, which can make for a pretty boring learning experience. Gamification livens up training as users engage in fun activities while learning new skills.

Real-Time Feedback

As learners participate in a gamification learning process. They can receive real-time feedback on their learning assessments. For example, a gamification format could include a gameshow where the learners must answer questions related to the lesson topic. If learners answer a question incorrectly, they could receive feedback on why the answer is wrong and learn more about the correct answer.

Improve Employee Performance

Gamification can improve employee performance because as employees are more engaged in training (which will most likely happen because of the entertaining format), they are performing better. Companies have even used gamification tools to help employees receive an analysis of their workday and strategic advice based on their performance (eLearning Industry).

Encourage Teamwork

You could create gamification learning environments that require teamwork. Co-workers could work as teams to complete a training task (and possibly compete with other teams). This encourages collaboration among co-workers and boosts individual learning since learners tend to engage more when they don’t want to let their teammates down.

Ongoing Training Among Employees

Gamification training does not need to apply simply to onboarding new employees. In fact, the gamification format makes it easier to keep employees engaged in training long after their hire. For example, they could continue earning points and badges for completing various training activities related to their position.

Accommodates Multi-Modal Learning

Micro-learning can work with a variety of modalities: video, audio, games, infographics, and so on. This allows you to easily use the most appropriate modality for the job.

To sum it up: right now, learning is about keeping it short and engaging. The eLearning environment is working to match how users are already engaging with technology. As technology changes, learning changes. At Verbis, we stay on top of the latest research in eLearning. For more information, email us at info@verbisinc.com or call us at 281-223-1107.

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