Keeping Pace with The New Trends in Online Learning

In 2020, with the emerging trends in digital learning and the rapid evolution of education technology, teachers and students are adapting to online learning at an increased pace. It is important to keep up with the new trends in e-learning to not only get the most out of your online classes but also to enhance your virtual learning experience.

5 New Trends in Online Learning

To ensure the success of online learning, educational institutions, teachers, and students have to familiarize themselves with the following trends in the e-learning industry:

1. Social Learning: Students are more comfortable sharing their academic doubts and queries with their peers than they are with their teachers. Therefore, social learning has become an integral part of education. With the use of messaging apps, screen sharing apps, online forums, chatbots, etc., students gather in an online social setting where they can easily collaborate with their peers on academic projects. Social learning has proven effective in improving communication skills between students, peers, and teachers in both traditional and virtual learning environments. Online classes are more engaging when social learning apps make it easier for students to participate and interact with one another.
2. Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Online Learning: AI enables tutors to not only collect cumbersome educational information and learning data but also perform quick data analysis which in turn can be used to evaluate and develop customized learning materials and personalized instructions to best suit each learner's needs. AI in online learning can facilitate teachers in assessing a student's learning ability and streamlining the learning process to bring about the best possible outcome. With the help of AI-enabled data analysis of each student's performance, teachers can gain valuable insights, make informed decisions, and give unbiased feedback to their students.
3. Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) in Online Learning: Younger and older students have two things in common; short attention spans and low knowledge retention when it comes to textbook learning. Fortunately, students seem to do better in online classes when presented with learning materials created using AR and VR programs. From visually appealing infographics and video-based learning materials to interactive gamification and virtual reality-based education programs, the average knowledge retention rate of students increases with the emerging trends in digital learning. Implementation of AR and VR in e-learning creates an immersive learning experience for students as they can easily grasp the concepts compared to traditional lectures and textbooks.
4. Gamified learning: Education becomes engaging when entertainment is brought into the mix. Students are motivated to learn and perform well when they are rewarded for their efforts. This is why interactive gamification in online classes is vital. Game-based learning appeals to students as they spend their free time playing mobile games, collecting points, badges, and prizes. Thus, their willingness to study from gamified learning courses shouldn't be surprising.
5. Self-paced Learning: In lieu of traditional classes, students seeking higher education have begun opting for online classes, e-learning courses, and certification programs so that they can learn at their own pace. They are given learning materials that are designed for self-teaching like recorded lectures and interactive videos which are accessible at any time from anywhere via cloud computing technology. They can also carry out live chat sessions with instructors to clarify doubts using chatbots. This is why, investing in online learning systems is more cost-effective than traditional brick-and-mortar classrooms.

In addition to the above-mentioned trends in e-learning, there are several others that you may already be aware of or may come across in your virtual learning journey; such as podcasting, speech-to-text apps, online assessment techniques, mobile apps for learning, 3D printing, Blockchain, Internet of Things (IoT) in digital learning, etc.

As the traditional education system is being replaced by modern ones, many such trends will keep emerging. It is in the tutor's and the learner's best interests to keep pace with the new trends to succeed in online learning. Adapting to new trends in a virtual learning environment will ensure that the learning process remains relevant while also improving the quality of education.