E-learning Trends To Watch

As the new year is upon us, and face-to-face interactions continue to be challenged by health risks, it is interesting to look at the numerous technology, workplace and e-learning trends driving change in training.

Understanding the trends in digital training will enable you to execute effective training delivery and adjust your training strategies to reach your desired goals.

Organisations have realised using the best e-learning software tools can greatly increase productivity, boost employee engagement and require up to 60 percent less employee time, according to industry studies. Most importantly, digital training has better knowledge retention rates compared with in-person training. These benefits cannot be ignored.

The following trends will help you transform your learning and development to satisfy the needs of the modern workforce:

Mobile Learning

As more and more people are accessing learning through their mobile devices, enterprises are making mobile learning a key part of their L&D strategy. Mobile’s accessibility and flexibility allows learners to consume content wherever they want and helps instructors to closely monitor their performance.

Mobile-ready will soon evolve into mobile-first. Instead of creating digital content for desktop users and then adapting it for mobile users, this process will switch to ensure the highest-quality mobile experience.

Social Learning

Social learning is becoming more and more commonplace in the modern workplace. It involves collaboration between colleagues through software such as FUEL’s community-based platform. The closed social platform uses forums, chat, file sharing, rewards, calendars and webinars to enable peer-to-peer learning. It provides a an effective way to strengthen a community while helping to retain and motivate employees and members.

Immersive Technologies

These technologies include Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Extended Reality (XR).

AR is the most prevalent in  online learning. It enhances existing training material using images and graphics. The aim is to deliver an immersive experience that excites and engages users.

VR uses 360° photography, real interactions and other elements. Together, these combine to bridge the gap between theory and real application. VR technology is now being used in internship training and group learning. Its ability to support distance learning is suitable for modern corporate training where remote work occurs.

These technologies are still at an early adoption stage, but the results they can deliver are promising.

Microlearning

Microlearning is a basic tenet of corporate e-learning as it takes up a small amount of the limited time employees have available. It allow enables quick knowledge consumption and a high level of retention. Dwindling modern attention spans are also overcome.

Normally, digital learning modules of between 2 – 7 minutes in length are created as part of a bigger learning pathway. This allows content to be consumed easily on any device.

Soft Skills

These days, soft skills are deemed as critical as hard skills. Problem-solving, communication, leadership and collaboration have assumed much more importance among employers. Empowering staff allows companies to retain top talent and help them succeed across different roles.

Data

The huge amount of data collected by learning management systems, or learning experience platforms such as FUEL Learn, is what makes digital learning even more valuable to organisations. It allows them to track detailed learner activities and adapt training and communications appropriately, curating content which fits the learner.

Organisations can eliminate ineffective training strategies and methods, and reap the inevitable rewards.

All these trends are worth monitoring. Take the time to consider the needs of your staff who work remotely. Think, how emerging technologies such as AR and VR can be incorporated into your training. How microlearning, a community platform and mobile learning can help deliver knowledge to your employees – and how proper data reporting and collection can help you understand the learning habits of your employees.

FUEL has the skills and experience to harness all these elements and bring them into your business in 2022. We look forward to another year of helping organisations get the most out of their people.