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The rising adoption of smartphones and the availability of the internet in higher bandwidths have given eLearning a real boost. The convenience eLearning offers in terms of pursuing learning at your own pace, viewing recorded lessons, or attending interactive lectures in real-time from the comfort of your home makes it highly sought after among students and corporate trainees alike.
The COVID-19 pandemic has seen a spurt in people opting for digital eLearning courses as every educational institution came to a close. The eLearning market is expected to touch $336.98 billion by 2026, which may change due to the impact of the pandemic (Source: Syngene Research, 2019.) Based on the changed circumstances, the eLearning trends for 2021 are as follows:
eLearning trends to dominate in 2021
The growth of eLearning has been consistent with the advent of new devices, better quality internet bandwidth, and the lowered cost of bandwidth and devices. The trends that are likely to dominate in 2021 are as follows:
Mobile-based learning to lead the race: Among all devices, mobile-based browsing seems to be winning the race. This is due to the convenience a mobile offers to the users on the go. As per Statista, around 3.5 billion people were using smartphones in 2019, which is expected to reach a staggering 3.8 billion by 2021. Further, users have taken to using smartphones in greater numbers to browse the internet, and the same is visible in eLearning in terms of pursuing academic and job-oriented online courses. The excellent mobile interface and eLearning software compatible with the platform are making things easy for mobile-based learning.
Training the trainers: Delivering virtual training through the internet requires a different skillset, which traditional trainers or teachers do not necessarily possess. Given the push for virtual training, there would be a greater demand to upskill trainers/teachers/instructors in virtual environments. Besides, training materials for eLearning are going to be made more interactive and engaging to give students/trainees on the other side a real-time experience.
Increasing demand for asynchronous learning: Asynchronous learning allows students or trainees to learn at their own pace and understand the concepts better. In conventional classroom teaching, students have to follow the pace of the teacher/trainer, which does not always lead to better learning outcomes given that every student has his or her learning curve. By following online classes in India or elsewhere, students can set their own pace and retain the concepts better. Besides, such learning comes with the use of graphics and videos making complex topics appear simple.
Integration of AI tools: AI has facilitated customization without the need for manual intervention. So, a scenario may evolve wherein AI can help to configure the design of eLearning software based on study patterns, interests of users, and daily interaction. Besides, AI can deliver quality and in-depth content quickly and consistently even at cost-effective rates. It can deliver analytics-based insights based on the changing dynamics of user patterns and real-time interaction.
Demand for more flexible training at the workplace: In 2020, when the pandemic stopped all activities where people had to interact with each other, the concept of ‘Work from Home’ got a boost. However, somewhere down the line, people seem to have started grudgingly liking it and want to continue. This would mean workplace-based skill development training can become more flexible with employees getting the training as per the need.
The above-mentioned trends notwithstanding, there may be other developments like the use of advanced data analytics, improved security, integration of interactive media, and the use of Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and Mixed Reality tools. Anudip is one such non-profit organization that has been using the eLearning model, especially during the pandemic, to offer digital skills for employment. For details, visit www.anudip.org, send an email to info@anudip.org, call 033-4062-4187/033-4060-8484, or WhatsApp 8145111444.
