Every day, another hot “latest and greatest, can’t miss” eLearning development emerges and is hailed, “THE future of eLearning,” as if it, alone, will revolutionize eLearning. Educational, cultural, technological and economic trends all leave clues about the future. Follow along as we look into our crystal ball and explore three trends in eLearning likely to grow deeper roots during 2014 based on these clues.
The Mobilization of eLearning
Platform popularity and accessibility to mobile broadband drive development. In January 2014, CNN Money reported that mobile devices garnered 55 percent of Internet access. Only 8 percent of Internet traffic came from mobile browsers with 47 percent of Internet traffic coming from mobile apps. With Android today’s most popular mobile OS, look for Android apps to dominate the future of eLearning development in the short term. Long term, keep your eyes peeled on Microsoft. Their purchase of Nokia’s handset division indicates they’re only ‘playing dead’ in the mobile and digital learning spaces.
The Gamification of eLearning
“Gamification” is the application of games to non-game challenges. War, commercial flying, outer space exploration, and foreign-language learning are just a few heavily gamified areas. Schools at all levels help to drive trends in eLearning, and teachers and homeschooling parents have shifted to fun digital learning. From FunBrain for kids to AARP’s Brain Games, games capture attention, improve cognitive function, and enrich the cradle-to-grave learning experience.
The Trackification of eLearning
From birth through death, we’re tracked, and the secret is out thanks to Edward Snowden. Common Core tracks a child’s school years, and Google knows what you’ll have for dinner before you do. Tin Can (aka Experience API) provides a menu of custom options to collect and analyze metrics and gauge effectiveness of eLearning programs—likely to become a standard tool in the future of eLearning.
