With most business budgets renewed in the first quarter of the year, there’s likely to be a lot of activity in the learning and development (L&D) procurement space at the moment.
This means that e-learning and L&D professionals need to make haste and start building their strategic business cases if they want to secure funding to progress their 2015 e-learning initiatives. This is why we thought it would be timely to present four of the hottest e-learning trends that should be shaping your e-learning strategy to ensure it is ready, able and relevant for 2015:
1. Mobile learning. If your e-learning strategy does not include mobile or increased mobile integration, you may be missing a trick as this Ambient Insight report into e-learning predicts that the mlearning market will have an annual growth rate (CAGR)Â of 18.2 per cent with global revenues hitting around $12 Billion between 2012 and 2017. It’s what users want.
2. The Rise of Tin Can API. For years, SCORM has been the e-learning standard for packaging e-learning content for LMS. But, a new format has risen called Tin Can API which adds exciting new functionality such as being able to track: learning plans, goals, real world performance, games and simulations and being more mobile friendly. It could soon be the new standard for LRS. Have you thought of the benefits that Tin Can API can bring to your e-learning strategy in 2015?
3. Edugaming. Studies show that around 80 per cent of learners claim they’d be more productive if their university/institution was more game-like. Gamification or using game mechanics to drive learning, is exploding in all sectors. Ambient Insight’s 2013-2018 North America Mobile Edugame Market Report predicts a CAGR of 12.5 per cent for the edugaming market between 2013 and 2018. By 2018 the market size will be around $400 million for the US alone. There is going to be a lot of activity in the health, wellness and fitness markets, but demand is growing for games relating to: language learning, location-based learning, and skill based learning. Is it time to bring edu-gaming into your e-learning mix as it’s the way that consumers and employees really want to learn in 2015.
4. Augmented reality. Virtual reality simulators for learning have always been great ways of teaching, but the drawback was they weren’t set in the real world. Will virtual reality learning soon need to step aside and make way for augmented reality learning? Developers are beginning to design educational game play around physical locations. Users can receive real time, information, tips, hints and advice about their environment/locations, like having a virtual miniature e-coach on your shoulder. These augmented learning systems are proving useful in clinical healthcare environments, first responder situations, etc…Â
There are many other trends that may also impact e-learning such as: personalization, big data and automation, and this article has enabled a snap shot of just a few of the more important trends. We’d love to hear what you feel will be the big trends in e-learning in 2015. Just leave a comment below.
