The elearning landscape is constantly evolving. Sometimes it is driven by the devices we use, other times we just figure out better ways to create and present courses. As the end of 2014 quickly approaches, there are some current trends in elearning that you should be aware of.

Before jumping into some of these trends though, it’s important to remember that just because something is a trend at the moment, it doesn’t mean that it will continue into the foreseeable future.

For example, there was once a time when Prezi was seen as the new way forward for presentations. While it is still popular, most industries prefer Microsoft PowerPoint (or perhaps Google Slides). Prezi is a perfect example of a trend. It was hailed as revolutionary, but soon the “new car smell” wore off.

The truth is that there are many trends in elearning today. The elearning world is enormous and can encompass anything from rapid elearning development tools, learning management systems, instructional design theory, graphic design, and so on. The trends below certainly do not cover all areas of elearning, but instead represent just a small sample of what is popular today.

Popular ELearning Trends

Big Data – the amount of data in elearning is tremendous. This data can be leveraged to help us better understand the online learning process, and  in turn maximize our effectiveness.

Gamification – This one is huge and really starting to come into its own. Gamification can be implemented in a variety of ways, and studies have shown that it is helpful for learning retention.

Personalization- In the past elearning was delivered in a broad manner, but now the course material is personalized as much as possible. For example, many courses now let users choose their own learning path.

Mobile Learning – Since the majority of people use tablets or smartphones on a regular basis, mobile learning has really taken off and doesn’t look to be slowing down anytime soon.

Reference:
TalentLMS