Latest e-learning trends

E-learning on tablet

As we were all forced to work from home due to COVID-19, e-learning has proven to be an excellent substitute for on-site employee training. So much so, that even after the easing of restrictions, e-learning is believed to be a keeper. And for good reason.

What is e-learning?

First things first: what exactly is e-learning? If we’re talking about e-learning, we mean learning or training through digital sources. So, for example, via computer, mobile phone or tablet. It is learning the digital way.

 

The benefits of e-learning

E-learning has a lot of benefits. Considerably the most beneficial characteristic is the fact that you can learn anywhere, anytime, and whenever you want. Online learning offers flexibility, allowing your employees to learn at their own pace. And it means they can revisit information whenever they want and scroll videos back and forth.

 

Especially in times of COVID-19, e-learning proved to be of great use. Due to restrictions, workers couldn’t come into the office and were forced to work from home. Bringing people together for training purposes wasn’t allowed, so training had to be organized online. Employers came to realize that having employees work and train on-site is not always as necessary as was previously assumed. They could even save on travel expenses, accommodations to have a training take place, and catering. Online learning is here to stay!

 

But not only the costs and flexibility of e-learning are great benefits. Initially, trainers were responsible for the learning of employees. With e-learning, the responsibility of learning lays with employees themselves, giving them control and responsibility about their own learning curve. Add up the fact that the environmental impact of employee training has gone down, and it should be clear that e-learning makes for a great substitute to offline learning.

 

(E-)learning the trends

While e-learning gets bigger and bigger, it’s also constantly evolving. As old trends go out of fashion, new ones present themselves. These are the three trends to keep an eye on this year:

 

1. Micro learning

Micro learning might sound a bit odd, but once you hear what we mean by this term, it will make sense. The definition is it the word itself: micro learning is learning in small bites. Employees are offered small snippets of content on their laptop, tablet or phone, about a specific topic. Most of the time, it takes about between three to five minutes to get through the information. This content can be anything: think of a short video, an infographic or even a short podcast.

 

2. Mobile learning

Another trend to keep an eye on: mobile learning (or m-learning). With more than 90% of the world population owning a mobile phone, it’s almost impossible not to introduce m-learning. Mobile learning means that you learn through your mobile device. Something that has been possible for a few years already, but has become increasingly popular now that designers are focusing on responsive or mobile-first content. A positive step because you can take your materials and learn whenever you’re up to it.

 

3. Immersive learning

Not as accessible as mobile learning and micro learning, but surely an interesting one is the trend of immersive learning. Immersive learning is learning through the usage of virtual technics, such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) or robots and artificial intelligence (AI). For example, with VR, you can simulate real-life situations and practice specific employee skills.

 

 

Speach takes knowledge sharing platforms to the next level. Digital visualization is at the heart of Speach. Speaches are interactive, how-to videos that any employee can use to capture, transfer, and store knowledge, and it can be used in every aspect of your business. Supporting both iOS and Android, you can use it on any device right on the factory floor. If you are interested in learning more about a knowledge sharing solution that can keep pace with your changing operational environment, contact us to learn more about Speach or request a demo. We look forward to helping you transform the way you share knowledge.