Designing Digitally
06/07/2017
Companies are realizing the benefits of custom eLearning. Nearly 77% of American companies have embraced it and are reaping rich benefits. The industry focus, in the coming years, will be to improve the existing methodology in order to increase its tech-savvy to both employers and employees.
Here are 4 hot trends in custom eLearning development to keep an eye on.
According to a mobile consumer report by Google and Ipsos MediaCT, 80% of users refused to leave home without their smartphone. Experts believe the mobile learning industry will grow to over $37 billion by 2020. Learning & Development professionals cannot ignore these statistics. Many organizations are already creating mobile resources for learners to access on the go. Those who have not should incorporate it into their training strategies immediately! Employees want the freedom to obtain training when and where they want it.
Wearable technology is predicted to gain 78.4% of the market, as per a report by IDC. This includes smartwatches, fitness trackers, and perhaps the most intriguing to the training industry – virtual reality headsets. Virtual reality systems such as Oculus Rift and Gear VR could take learning scenarios to an entirely new level. Organizations can create truly immersive experiences where learners explore 3D environments in real space.
Video-based learning is not new, although it is growing in popularity and its approach is shifting. Forrester Research conducted a study which confirmed today’s tech-savvy employees are 75% more likely to watch a video than take a text-intensive training. The study also stated that one minute of video content has an effect equal to 1.8 million written words!
Accordingly, eLearning designers are developing short videos, 2-3 minutes in length, targeted at a single learning objective or topic. This micro-learning approach increases engagement and knowledge retention. Today’s video-based learning is far more applicable than its original style, where trainers distributed an hour-long lecture on a DVD.
Tin Can Application Programming Interface, also called xAPI, is taking the eLearning market by storm. This method of data tracking helps designers document specific learner activities in a training course. SCORM, a commonly-used tracking method, records basic information such as how long the learner spent in the course and how much they completed. Tin Can API can send detailed reports such as what the learner clicked, what order they clicked things in, and how long they spent on a particular slide.
We will likely see a steady shift away from SCORM as Learning Management Systems, LMSs, adapt their data-harvesting capabilities to accommodate Tin Can API’s potential.
At Designing Digitally, Inc., we blend exceptional instructional design and visual strategies to create custom eLearning solutions and serious games. Contact us to create training that aligns with your business goals and upholds industry-leading trends!
We bring a personal and effective approach to every project we work on.
