Technology is playing an ever-increasing role in the development of eLearning. After all, technology is revamping the way humans live, communicate, conduct business, and the way we learn and teach. Since the emergence of technology, the process of developing and delivering learning programs has changed dramatically.

More than ever, learners have increased access to information to address immediate needs. Of course, learning has always occurred in traditional classrooms, but today, people have access to laptops and Wi-Fi, which have become very convenient tools for learners.

Here are some statistics that show the ways technology is changing the game for eLearning:

• The global market value of eLearning is set to hit $336.98 billion by the end of 2026.
• The compounded growth from 2018 to 2026 is estimated to reach up to 1%
• In 2020, 72% of educational institutions were seen offering new online programs due to employers’ demand. Approximately 71% of the schools today have been rolling out new online courses due to the demand of the students.

How Technology Is Changing eLearning

1. Collaborative Learning

Before the pandemic, employees were focused on learning through individual activities and courses. No doubt, there were fellow students, but their interactions were minimal, as there was less scope for collaborative studies. However, with the emergence of newer technologies such as eLearning apps, there have been efforts to shift individual-based learning to collaborative activities. eLearning is helpful in creating blended learning experiences. It can help groups of learners separated by distance to work together toward a common goal, enhancing each individual’s understanding by promoting collaboration. Collaborative learning involves problem-based solutions, reflections, discussions and various other ways through which learners become an active part of the learning process.

2. Brain-based Learning

There’s been a robust shift from passive to active learning — a shift from teacher-centered learning to that of learner-centered learning. One of the biggest positive consequences has been the higher role of mobile apps in education. This has helped learners figure out solutions to problems without relying on others. Learners are not considered content receptors, whose responsibilities get stuck at merely taking notes or just listening to the instructor teaching them. There is now a whole new set of expectations from the learners with regards to the learning. Learners want active participation and control over their learning experience.

3. Differentiated Instruction

There has been a rise of differentiated instruction, and that is all thanks to the development of mobile learning app development. The web’s ability to bring a high degree of personalization to the whole learning experience is unprecedented.

Individual learners each have their own needs. Every person is different, so their approach to learning will be different as well. A learner brings his or her own set of abilities, concerns, priorities and values to the table. This is why it’s important to provide multiple types of instruction to a varied group of learners. There is no single method that can accommodate everyone’s needs at the same time.

4. Multitasking

Using mobile apps for training purposes helps learners multitask and improve productivity. Learners are already used to multitasking on mobile devices, so it’s a natural fit. Learners can focus on a wider variety of topics and build multiple skills at the same time. Mobile learning apps can also facilitate enhanced communication and more in-depth research capabilities than other forms of learning. Mobile learning allows learners to take the media literacy and navigation skills they pick up naturally in their day-to-day lives and apply them to the process of learning on the job.

5. Virtual Modelling

In the earlier, more traditional process of learning, learners might have come up with complex questions or ideas but didn’t have the resources or support to investigate them further. Now, with technology like augmented or virtual reality, mobile learning can help students visualize complex ideas or objects.

These technological breakthroughs are valuable not just to learners, but also instructors, as they can more readily illustrate ideas for their learners in ways that are more intuitive and interactive.

The Future of Learning

The demand for eLearning has been rising at a rapid speed, and the industry today is on a continuous growth trail with new players entering the market all the time. eLearning is shaping the way that many top organizations train their workforces: Successful L&D leaders are likely to be early adopters of eLearning and mobile learning technologies.