Could your brand use a boost in efficiency or productivity when it comes to your eLearning capabilities and offerings? We’ve rounded up some of the hottest emerging trends we’re seeing in 2020, each that has had a significant impact on the eLearning landscape and that can benefit your brand. Whether you want to streamline the process, improve compliance or provide adaptive learning support, one of these eLearning trends is sure to appeal to you.
1. The rise of microlearning
Microlearning began to pop up in 2018 and has gained significant ground as we continue into 2020. By incorporating information and learning into smaller pieces, competence can rapidly develop and users are more likely to buy in and participate. Microlearning can incorporate a variety of modes, from quizzes to interactive forms and even games; variety increases interest and focus for learners.
In a typical organization, the need to pick up new skills via learning or training is standard practice, but in some cases, employees can feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of time involved. The eLearning industry has long sought to solve this problem and has already done so in many ways as technology makes the learning process far more efficient and streamlined, but the adoption of microlearning takes this efficiency one step further.
By providing information and education objectives in small, easily-managed segments, microlearning accomplishes two big goals: 1. Employees are better able to work learning into their schedules and the information is parceled out in a way that ensures success; and 2. Successful completion of each element keeps learners engaged and positive about the experience and makes it easier for details to be retained.
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2. Dramatic increases in the demand for Corporate Compliance Training
From healthcare to HR, and every place in between, compliance is becoming increasingly critical at all levels, and organizations are embracing eLearning as a key way to mitigate risk and promote compliance. The global eLearning market focus on Corporate Compliance Training is experiencing incredibly rapid growth. Researchers predict this market will be valued at over 6,420 million USD in just 4 years; this is a staggering CAGR of 13%!
Corporate Compliance Training includes a diverse group of solutions designed to help brands meet industry-specific regulations and guidelines. In many cases, failure to comply with established regulations can lead to sanctions, fines and a PR nightmare for the brand in question. Because of the high cost of non-compliance, organizations are focusing on increasing employee understanding and buy-in, resulting in fewer complaints and sanctions.
For some industries, compliance is critical for every member of the organization, but training and education may be overly focused on a key group. For those in healthcare, the need to comply with the Heath Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is critical, but some employees may receive far more training on it than others. Compliance training that is separate from job or task-specific training can easily be offered in the eLearning space, and all employees can complete tasks on-site. This ensures mistakes are dramatically reduced and that brands stay within compliance. Industries with similar stringent restrictions are all now facing the same potential issues, but thanks to eLearning, an affordable solution that can bring employees rapidly up to speed is widely available.
Large employers are investing in compliance training across all verticals, both to mitigate risk and to enhance the customer or end-user experience. The robust growth in this portion of the global eLearning market means that compliance training is and will continue to be a leading trend in 2020 and beyond. The eLearning industry already delivers a potent blend of convenience and high success for brands and learners, and is the ideal match for the growing corporate concerns surrounding compliance.
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3. Brand focus on adaptive and accessible learning
Adaptive learning can make the education process more streamlined and accessible for a wide range of learning styles. We all learn and access information in different ways, and adaptive learning levels the playing field for those who may need more support or a different approach. Differences in learning styles mean that one employee may thrive when given written notes to follow and a written quiz to check their retention, while another employee could end up struggling to complete the class when taught in the same way. Adaptive learning takes the diverse learning styles available and makes it easier for eLearners to succeed.
Incorporating assessments that boost confidence, using analytics tracking and following up on effectiveness and long-term retention allows the eLearning industry to refine and adapt teaching methods and strategies. The incorporation of AI into learning strategies is also beginning to emerge, which ensures that users are offered content that not only helps them meet their goals, but also aligns with their preferred learning styles.
An increase in adaptive learning not only makes information more relatable and accessible, it allows for personalization, allowing a user to see content tailored to their needs and past history of success.
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4. Gamification
With the emergence of books and apps designed to help users improve everything from their de-cluttering habits to the amount of exercise they get each day, it was only a matter of time before gamification spilled over into the eLearning industry too. This trend started in the personal-development and self-help space, but is rapidly being incorporated into all types of learning to boost engagement and keep learners interested.
According to researchers from Johns Hopkins University, gamification, which includes both competitive and collaborative goals, helps students become more interested and engaged in learning. It also significantly boosts enthusiasm and retention. These factors spill over into the adult workplace as well and can help increase employee interest in learning.
Game-based learning solutions add value in a variety of ways; games simply make learning more fun for most users! When employees can indulge in a game-based learning session, they feel like they are taking a break – not having to complete yet another task in an already busy day.
Since gamification and gaming can be collaborative or competitive, it can be used in a variety of ways. Rewarding the entire group when everyone completes a module or unit is a powerful motivator and team builder. This approach will keep everyone engaged and encourage employees to support one another.
The more competitive approach can also be used to boost interest in eLearning. Setting up a leader board and displaying the names of top users can often lead to intense but positive competition. While some competitive departments will cheerfully work towards a goal of simply securing the top spots, a small but desirable reward for top finishers can also be a powerful motivator.
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5. Augmented reality and virtual reality
Video is already a highly successful, highly visual addition to the eLearning industry. When either Augmented Reality (AR) or Virtual Reality (VR) is added however, then both engagement and success rates can improve even further. For those students with a more hands-on, kinesthetic learning style, accessing information via either of these technologies can make eLearning not only successful, but something to look forward to as well.
AR is becoming increasingly familiar to consumers and learners alike as an increasing number of brands today are using it to enhance shopping experiences or to tempt buyers into making a purchase. In the global eLearning industry, the ability to generate images, infographics, charts and other details in the AR space can have a significant impact on retention and awareness. The use of this technology is already an attention-getter, so learners automatically remember and retain what they’ve seen using this emerging technology.
For positions and roles that have an element of risk or where precision is absolutely required, VR can offer a safe way to learn and practice. VR can also help support employees with special needs or learning differences, and can make information more accessible and understandable. From the medical industry to the construction space and even law enforcement, the ability to learn in real time, and to incorporate actual hands-on training into the learning environment, can enhance both success and confidence in the field.
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Get expert help for your eLearning localization needs
From the significant risk reduction achieved by focusing on corporate compliance to enhancing the retention of information with VR and microlearning, the latest global eLearning industry trends focus on building success and confidence in an increasingly diverse workforce. They offer ways for organizations to boost employee buy-in and motivation, making the training process more successful and enjoyable for all.
In light of this, ensuring that your eLearning content will have a significant and lasting impact across your brand's global workforce is very important. Bringing eLearning into other countries and languages can have its fair share of problems as the nuances of language and culture can result in the effectiveness of your materials getting lost in translation. Choosing an expert eLearning localization provider should therefore be a high priority when bringing your modules worldwide.
As a leading provider of localization for eLearning, we take great pride in our ability to offer translation and localization services that are culturally sensitive, accurately relay your messaging and are tailored to the learning needs of your organization, no matter the location or language. If you're ready to take the next step then we can help you get started. You don't have to go it alone -- our team is here to help you every step of the way. Get in touch to see how easy it is to reach new markets, no matter where they are in the world.
