One industry that is constantly changing is online learning, also referred to as eLearning. This multi-million dollar industry is adaptable and relied upon by a variety of types of organizations including multinationals, nonprofits, businesses, healthcare systems, etc. New online learning trends consistently rear their heads. In fact, eLearning trends develop so quickly that it’s tough to keep up with them.
Each year brings a colorful array of online learning trends, especially in the corporate realm. 2017 has been no exception. Various eLearning trends have marked 2017 as one of the most influential and evolutionary years in the history of online learning.
Online learning enthusiasts as well as corporate leaders are interested in what 2017’s eLearning trends are. They want to know which trends are noteworthy, and which can facilitate a productive workplace. Read on to discover a few online learning trends that can bolster company culture and increase employee productivity in 2017.
1) Learning paths
Learning paths are an integral part of online learning. They are also a major trend currently in corporate online learning. The best thing about online learning paths is that they are personalized. A learning path allows a learner to choose which activities he or she will participate in and gives learners greater control over their eLearning experiences. 7 Tips to Create Personal Learning Paths in eLearning states,
“Each eLearning activity gives (learners) a better understanding of the topic, and gives eLearning professionals the opportunity to pinpoint the individual’s learning style and needs. Personal learning paths give learners control over their own eLearning experience, so that they can more effectively acquire and retain knowledge and skills that will help them in the real world.”
This is a corporate online learning trend sure to boost employee skill level and overall productivity this year and beyond.
2) Mentoring and coaching
eLearning has a strong connection with mentoring in the corporate world. At least, as of 2017 it does. eLearning expert Christoper Pappas explained that coaching/mentoring is a top trend of 2017 in corporate online learning:
“Mentorship and coaching programs have been used in the corporate eLearning sector for years. But now they are making the move to online platforms. Mentoring benefits all parties involved. Mentees can learn from the insights of more experienced employees, while online training mentors improve knowledge retention and reinforce key skills as they put their knowledge base into practice. However, you must create communication guidelines to clarify expectations and define roles. Everyone should know the overall learning objectives and what online training resources are available to get the most from the online training program.”
If your company emphasizes any corporate online learning trend in 2017, let it be this one.
3) Gamification of training
We know, we know, you’re probably thinking, “Gamification isn’t a current trend. It’s been popular for years!” This is true. However, gamification of online learning in the corporate world is evolving, and its new, improved features are so impressive that they have become trends. Karl Kapp, gamification analyst, said that gamification is indeed a top learning trend of 2017. In the article Top Learning Trends for 2017 (according to the experts), Kapp wrote,
“Once again this year, I’ve seen increased interest in gamification and games for learning and I am not alone. Virtual reality will be used for larger-scale learning projects. A number of companies are exploring how to use virtual reality to increase immersive learning experiences. These are ranging from checking out a large piece of equipment to helping someone be empathetic towards others in the customer service realm. Companies will expand from isolated instances of using VR for learning to larger scale implementations.”
Gamifying corporate online learning is a prime way to engage learners with training. However, someone who knows the ins and outs of gamification must implement it. This can be a barrier to corporations gamifying training, but it can be overcome with the right professionals.
A learning management system (LMS) is a facilitator of online learning. That’s why a huge number of corporations utilize an LMS. Interestingly, an LMS like TOPYX is both trendy and timeless. TOPYX LMS is a full-featured learning management system that supports up-to-the-minute corporate learning trends that promote employee productivity, increase revenue, and lower a company’s bottom line. At the same time, TOPYX LMS comes with built-in features that are timeless. In other words, regardless of what trends are ‘in’, these features ensure that a company can effortlessly train employees. Features like language localization, eCommerce, social and collaborative learning tools, learning paths, reporting, an eLearning content library, and more support trends as well as everyday training.
In every industry, we see trends constantly coming and going. This is especially true of the eLearning industry. Thankfully, most eLearning trends are designed to benefit organizations by increasing productivity and giving company culture a boost. Which of the online learning trends mentioned here do you feel could most benefit your employees and company: mentoring and coaching, online learning paths, or gamification?