Online Learning Goes Corporate

The corporate learning industry is experiencing a fundamental paradigm shift: as the digitization of society and business life continues to pick up speed, the way that employees study and learn is changing fundamentally. The online share of the corporate learning continues to grow. 

Against this background, what are the five key trends we expect to materialize in 2017?

(1) Content: “video is king”

According to an estimate by Cisco, video content will account for about 80% of all internet traffic worldwide by 2019. This trend will also be visible in the eLearning space, especially because video content is platform agnostic. Whilst we believe standardized (and offline) study techniques become more and more outdated, real value in any learning experience comes from direct interaction with tutors and fellow students. Therefore, video sessions and live streaming sessions will gain more importance and relevance than ever.

(2) More two-way conversations

eLearning has the reputation of being formal and “productized” because feedback loops with user comments are still quite rare. However, incorporating feedback platforms will improve the eLearning environment and be beneficial for all stakeholders. In 2017, eLearning environments will open up more for users’ inputs and ideas. Feedback from learners will be easier to capture within the eLearning environment and aggregated as well as analyzed better and more efficiently. Needs and desires can be clarified upfront, e.g. by sending polls or questionnaires about the learning materials.

(3) Smarter Use of Data

Big data does not imply the smart use of data. In the coming year, we expect eLearning platforms to make smart use of available data in order to enhance the user experience and improve learning results. The idea is to use data in such a way that the learning experience feels personalized, tailored to respective position and learning focus.

(4) Micro Learning

We all know that we can achieve the best learning results when we get smaller packages of learning content. Our brain is able to gather and process relevant information in a more efficient way. Studies found out that intense focus only lasts for around 20 minutes so that new information should be delivered to us in smaller and more manageable “learning bites”. In 2017, we expect to see more and more “mini packages” of learning content (e.g. 5 minute videos) that do not overburden the student with too much time and cognitive effort.

(5) Mobile Learning

Mobile matters! This may sound simplistic but matters a lot for the development of the eLearning market. Today already, significantly more than 50% of people already use their smartphone for accessing learning content. It is clear that this trend is going to continue in 2017, just as our obsession with mobile devices and user-driven learning content will.

Header Pic © Mimi Potter via Fotolia