E-learning is a popular and evolving technology, so developments are rapid, exciting and engaging, but if we were to get a glimpse of the future, what would it look like? Here are some predictions…

Cloud-based learning
Cloud-based technology will streamline corporate training procedures opening up the technology to small and medium-sized businesses. There is an increasing demand for inexpensive, high-quality, global training, so cloud-based learning will become the norm.

BYOD 

The acronym BYOD stands for: bring your own device. People of all ages are bringing their own devices into the work and learning environment and this will only continue to become more common moving forward. Organizations need to continually develop e-learning content to keep ahead of market trend, so ensuring it is also accessible via learners own devices will be critical.

MOOCs
Massive online courses (MOOCs) are still in the early stages of development, and so far have yet to reach there potential, but it’s likely they a big future, so watch this space.

Informal learning
We are already managing informal learning using easily available new social media tools. This trend is only likely to increase in the future as users increasingly search for and access learning resources freely available on the web, such as, podcasts, videos, and blogs, whenever and wherever they are needed.

Online video
Learners like it online video, as it is more engaging, more versatile and less impersonal. It can be used to trigger interaction, both individual and group – and can be blended with more reflective materials such as web articles, blogs and PDFs. It’s possible we’ll see more of it in the future.

Collaborative learning
This is very popular and is already used by huge global technology corporations, so it’s likely to be a significant element in e-learning development. It enables all participants to contribute to the learning experience, instead of it being led by a traditional facilitator pushing content out to learners. It relies on shared knowledge, experiences and opinions from contributors to create the content.

Mobile learning
Mobile devices can be used to deliver learning to employees on a platform that is integral to their personal and professional lifestyles.
Mobile learning is suited to short bursts of information, which allows you to deliver information to employees when it’s most important that they receive it, for example: before a learning event; to deal with a specific situation and as reinforcement after a learning event.

Spacing
Spacing ­– or interval reinforcement – provides information to learners in a repetitive and consistent way that reinforces a prior learning event, such as a workshop or e-learning session.
Spacing can be used to enhance traditional e-learning sessions, or daily to deliver new learning.

Chunking
Chunking means creating small units of information that can be combined into larger more meaningful ones. Overall, chunking helps people take in more information, and remember more of it.
Combine chunking with spacing to deliver short bursts on a consistent basis, and you begin to create a continuous learning environment.

Gamification

Using game mechanics is proving to be one of the most important measures to get people eager to learn and continue to learn.

Key benefits

The e-learning industry is constantly developing, adapting and improving. It is dynamic, exciting, mobile, engaging and effective. How can you harness the developments in e-learning to benefit your business?

We have put together an essential checklist for the things you need to cover when implementing e-learning.