Keeping up to date with the tech, or embracing a blended learning future? We take a look at what e-Learning trends are going to hit the big time in 2021.
The past twelve months have been more than a little challenging for students of all ages. Between the stress of a global pandemic and the huge paradigm shift that saw a lot of learners leave the classroom and switch to an online model, there’s been a lot to get used to very quickly. If it’s not learning to deal with the 8 or 9 hours of screen time a day, it’s finding new ways to stay in touch, seek feedback, and separate work and home life. It’s certainly not been easy, but many people in the education industry agree that even after Covid-19 restrictions abate, e-Learning is here to stay.
And this unexpected switch to remote study has highlighted what e-Learning can offer at all levels of the education system.
Whilst for a lot of people, nothing can replace the school and the classroom as their preferred learning environment, there is growing call for online learning to become at least a part of mainstream education long after Covid-19 restrictions abate.
That’s why we’re looking at the e-Learning trends set to make an impact on 2021: the world has changed, and even though we're apart, in a way we're also more connected than ever before.
Conferences are a great place to meet people in your field, share fresh ideas, and stay at the forefront of industry knowledge. In the past, however, they’ve mostly been physical events that delegates would have to travel to in person.
The switch to virtual opens up the conferencing sphere and eliminates the need for costly attendance packages meaning that many more people can attend and share their ideas. It’s especially beneficial for student conferences, as the online aspect allows the next generation of minds to connect in a much easier way than ever before. It also opens up the world of international conferencing and could foster a lot of international co-operation in smaller fields, as well as big business - the possibilities are vast.
Microlearning courses are short-form study programmes that are often completed online.
They avoid lengthy taught modules with lots of information to take in and instead distil a subject down to small chunks that are much easier to retain and digest.
There’s also an element of gamification in a lot of microlearning programmes, as it’s easy to transform the learning experience of smaller subjects into quizzes and games. This kind of programme can be beneficial to learners with ADHD or students that struggle to stay on-task.
A huge part of e-Learning in 2021 is going to be m-Learning: mobile learning or studying using mobile tech such as tablets and phones.
Just over 50% of internet access comes from people using their phones, and it looks set to rise as PC and laptop sales decline in favour of more portable devices. This is great for access to education, as it means that students can learn from anywhere, even if they haven’t got a desk or a dedicated place to work.
Already we’re seeing e-Learning tech be better adapted for mobile and tablet access, with vast improvements made to mobile interfaces and submission platforms.
User-generated content simply means information that’s generated by the user base of a platform instead of a programme lead or an administrator. We’re seeing a lot of this right now in a large shift towards collaborative working online.
e-Learning has been at the forefront of establishing just how good user-generated content platforms are at sharing information.
Whether it’s using a Google document to share ideas with the rest of your class or specialised platforms where students can upload their own completed assessments to help others, it’s a big step towards a more collaborative future. It also helps some students stay engaged as there’s an element of curating their learning materials and creating a portfolio as opposed to traditional student/teacher binaries.
Whilst there are very legitimate concerns being raised about the viability of long-term remote learning, some people actually prefer learning online: adult learners, for example, might find it much easier to fit lectures and seminars around their jobs and family commitments. Many people with disabilities or mental health problems can feel more comfortable learning in their own home, and it does largely eliminate the need for catchment area worries and overly long school runs.
It’s simply a case of making sure that it works for everyone, and with a tech drive on new, innovative ways to keep our education systems connected, it’s likely to be one to watch.