Education is increasingly becoming high-tech
The level of technology has been increasing at a rapid rate over the past decade. As a result, this changes in technology is reflected in the education system where various trends are being applied. Such trends make the learning process an easy one through the use of computers. People used to carry out their study manually, but computers have changed this dramatically. Experts from Essayzoo.org argue that various eLearning trends are being implemented and widely used in 2018.
Top eLearning trends for 2018
- Intelligent Assistants
People are looking to implement intelligent voice assistants as evidenced by Siri on iPhones. However, it is not easy to determine the manner in which the intelligent assistants will be programmed because AI technology is still in the process of being developed. Organizations will seek to develop various prototype chatbots based on specific topics, such as data protection, and implement them in the workplace as intelligent search applications. Although this has not been developed, it is a trend to look out for in eLearning 2018.
- Micro learning
Micro learning has already been implemented in organizations. However, with the increased rate at which most people are using smartphones, this trend will spread widely in 2018. Micro learning has proven to work well in situations whereby organizations have decided to create modules guided by specific learning objectives. This is best understood as short clips, games and quizzes, among other things. The main benefit of Micro learning is that it leads to increased productivity due to quick learning of production processes.
- Social learning
In 2018, organizations will be interested in experimenting with the concept of social learning whereby platforms will be created with the aim of discussing organizational matters only. Sharing of learning skills is a great way of improving education and, therefore, learning with other peers will enhance the understanding capability of the learners. There is a great difference between social media and social learning because both of them should not take place on the same platforms. Social media is not made for professional interactions. However, learning platforms need to have special robust tools made to enhance learning and prevent the sharing of personal information. Organizations are already experimenting with LMSs, and huge growth is expected by the end of 2018.
- Content curation
Various open-source tools have been developed with the aim of helping learners with the curation of information and getting just-in-time information. Organizations will implement mobile learning and eLearning technology as well as use content curation for content regulations. This trend has been on the market, but in regard to its popularity, more organizations will implement it in 2018. In addition, content libraries can be curated to ensure that learners achieve the best results.
- Gamification and game-based learning
Gaming is being used to pass across role-based information, and thus, it will continue to be a useful trend in 2018. Organizations plan to invest in gamification to enhance the learning abilities of their workers by capturing their interests and making them learn by having fun. The process of gaming can be complex hence requiring a lot of attention from the learner. This enables them to take the role that was intended to be learned seriously. Gaming will enhance the training activities in organizations and, in turn, do away with the traditional way of training for various activities.
- Interactive video-based learning
There has been a noticeable growth in the use of video-based tutorials on various online services. Therefore, organizations are taking advantage of this trend by creating their videos to enhance the learning process. Such videos are posted on the organization’s internal sites to engage employees and make them invest in the learning process. The trend will continue to grow in 2018. The content in the videos is made strong by the incorporation of an organization’s branding. Questions can be added in the videos to create room for discussions.
Expert opinion on the impact of eLearning in higher education
Workplaces have changed, causing people to have less time to complete their duties. Therefore, this makes it difficult to attend training classes that are not made to directly solve a problem. The use of Micro learning to solve a particular problem is a move in the right direction because it will reduce time wastage and enhance the learning process. Micro learning focuses on what is helpful to the learner.
The video-based learning is moving in the right direction because an individual can learn from the comfort of their home and still understand a concept. The videos can be accessed on any devices hence reducing the time that would have been spent on a face-to-face learning process. Most of the social tools are incorporating video functionality as part of the application, hence making it easy for individuals to access information. This trend will keep on growing with new video applications being implemented. In the event whereby a person has not understood a certain concept, they can replay the video until they have grasped it.
In summary, organizations should make sure that they implement the latest eLearning technologies to ensure that their employees are up-to-date with what is happening. The trends have proven to be an advantage to organizations by reducing the possibility of losses.
