E-learning has shifted the education industry significantly over the past few years, with its revolutionary approach to how we learn and retain information.
With its cost effective and engaging nature, it’s no wonder that so many are opting for elearning courses over traditional education (for some topics).
That said, E-learning still has a lot of space to grow. Here are some of the top trends to make note of for the foreseeable future.
The eLearning market is growing exponentially
Studies show that the market size of the eLearning industry was an estimated $250 billion in 2020, projected to reach $1 trillion by 2032. That’s a 400% increase!
This growth could be due to a variety of factors. With 74% of employees reporting that they don’t feel they’re reaching their full potential due to few development opportunities, employers are now more obliged than ever to invest into their teams.
Other developments include how 45% of companies plan to eliminate bachelor’s degrees as requirements for hiring new employees. Considering E-learning courses are cost effective training alternatives for various mainstream career paths, this may lead to more individuals opting for training courses as opposed to relying on old school university education.
Over the past 3 years alone, the demand for “elearning” as a topic has grown exponentially, according to Google Trends, with no sign of slowing down any time soon.
Gamification of the eLearning industry
The use of gamification in eLearning courses is growing with time. A survey run by Talent LMS in 2019 showed 61% of respondents received training with gamification.
In the same study, 83% who received gamified training reported that they felt “motivated”, whilst 61% of those who didn’t undergo gamified training reported feeling “bored” and “unproductive”.
A 2023 study showed that gamification proved to be an effective tool to help students learn, namely when it comes to retention of information, such as statistics for instance. These data suggest that there will be a much bigger focus on creation of interactive learning environments moving forward.
Microlearning and eLearning
Microlearning and elearning go hand-in-hand, becoming increasingly commonplace among modern elearning courses.
Studies show that a 10-minute microlearning course has a completion rate of 83%, as opposed to a standard elearning course’s completion rate, ranging from 20% to 30%. In terms of efficiency, microlearning is 5-10 times more effective than conventional learning techniques.
Providing students with bite-sized information allows them to dive into complex topics in chunks, in a way that isn’t overwhelming for someone new to a topic. Microlearning also engages students by utilising multimedia elements, from videos to quizzes, to keep them motivated to effectively retain more information.
What’s the bottom line?
In conclusion, the demand for e-learning as an overall topic is growing with time.
The world is moving towards normalisation of elearning training in the workplace, namely for staff training purposes. Focus is shifting towards gamification of elearning courses and introducing more easily digestible, microlearning features for courses moving forward.
Hopefully these statistics will help you in your insights looking into the world of E-learning, so you can stay ahead of the curve.
