In the rapidly evolving world of education, eLearning trends are reshaping the way we approach teaching and learning. As we are half-way through 2023, several key trends stand out, promising to transform the educational landscape. From the immersive experiences offered by Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) to the convenience and flexibility of mobile learning, the future of education is digital and dynamic. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is set to personalise learning experiences, making them more tailored to individual needs, while microlearning addresses the modern learner’s desire for bite-sized, easily digestible content.
These trends, combined with data-driven insights, diverse assessment methods, cohort-based learning, and gamification, are not just about integrating technology into education; they represent a shift towards creating more engaging, effective, and personalised learning experiences.
In this article, we’ll delve deeper into these trends, exploring their implications for the education industry and how platforms like Moodle are at the forefront of this transformation.
Integrating AR, VR, and mobile learning
Interactive technologies like Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) can provide an immersive learning experience for students and help them understand complex concepts better.
VR fully immerses the learner in a simulated environment in a headset, whereas AR seamlessly overlays digital information into the real world. Both technologies can be creatively implemented online and in physical classrooms for various learning needs. For example, augmented reality can be used to pre-visualise a design, or VR can help you take a trip to the surface of the moon.
Educators can tap into the potential of Moodle’s certified integrations, such as Near-Life, to create immersive virtual reality learning scenarios. Near-Life not only facilitates content gamification, with features like quizzes and unlockable achievements, but also maintains learner engagement through diverse scoring mechanisms.
This level of interactivity is further augmented with Moodle plugins like the Wavefront Renderer, which offers students the capability to visualise 3D models in real-world environments via their smartphones, without the need for extra devices. By leveraging these advanced features, both students and institutions can explore new dimensions of LMS capabilities and make the eLearning process more exciting.
Another aspect that demands significant attention is mobile-optimised learning. According to Global Industry Analysts, the mobile learning market is expected to soar to an impressive $388 billion by 2030! Mobile learning grants learners the flexibility to access educational content from any location. With the option to download materials, they can engage without a continuous internet connection. This mode of learning supports learners’ individual needs, allowing them to progress without feeling pressured.
It’s crucial for educators to make sure that educational resources in their Learning Management Systems (LMS) are both accessible and compatible with mobile, which is essential in providing seamless and effective hybrid learning experiences.
This is where Moodle App comes into play, offering a plethora of benefits. We know that learning never stops – but for learners without a reliable internet connection or access to a desktop computer, keeping up to date with learning can be challenging. With Moodle App, learners have the flexibility to access their courses when offline or when their internet connection is unstable. Optimised for touchscreens to create a smoother, more intuitive, and dynamic user experience, Moodle App also fosters social and collaborative learning by allowing learners to connect with their peers swiftly. It simplifies assignment submissions by enabling uploads directly from mobile devices, including images, videos, or other files. Learners can also stay up to date with course requirements through push notifications and monitor their progress, view grades, and track course completion. Engaging in activities, whether it’s attempting quizzes, participating in forums, or editing wiki pages, becomes possible anytime, ensuring continuous learning. Moodle App truly encapsulates the essence of mobile learning, making education more flexible and accessible.
Artificial Intelligence on the rise
Artificial Intelligence is a remarkable technology, possessing the capability to establish intricate relationships amidst vast amounts of data. We are currently observing an influx of AI tools designed to handle tasks traditionally undertaken manually by humans, and online education is no exception.
We all like to learn in a variety of ways. Through facilitating personalised learning, AI has the potential to help a greater number of students excel in their studies while simultaneously enhancing the efficacy of educators. For instance, AI-powered Learning Management Systems (LMS) can monitor learner engagement with course content and provide tailored real-time communication and recommendations. Personalised learning can help learners feel empowered and in control of their education.
AI systems lend efficient support to educators by automating mundane tasks and delivering adaptive assessments for learners. Moreover, AI has the capacity to sift through colossal amounts of educational data, providing practical insights for educational institutions and teachers. It’s capable of discerning patterns, tendencies, and relationships in students’ performance, involvement, and actions. These data-driven insights assist educators and administrators in making well-informed decisions to refine their teaching strategies and boost learning results.
Recent research has shown that bringing AI into learning platforms increased student engagement, improved collaborative learning performances, and made students happier with eLearning.
To learn more about leveraging the power of AI with Moodle, stay tuned for our dedicated article coming out in late July 2023.
Microlearning
Microlearning is a new approach to online education that aims to manage learner fatigue, cognitive overload, and shortening attention spans. This trend involves delivering concise and easily digestible information through short videos, games, images, quizzes, tests, and infographics, which learners can access at their convenience.
Education Corner claims that among surveyed students, 94% preferred microlearning to traditional learning. Furthermore, students who microlearn are 17% more efficient in implementing what they have learned in other contexts.
Microlearning brings several key benefits for both learners and institutions, including:
- Accelerated course development and delivery: In his book ‘3-Minute e-Learning‘, learning expert Ray Jimenez emphasises that microlearning can reduce institutional development costs by up to 50%, while potentially boosting delivery speed by an impressive 300%!
- Enhanced learner engagement: As of 2023, the average person’s attention span is around 47 seconds. As such, shorter content may be more effective than traditional, long-form eLearning materials in sustaining interest and engagement.
- Ease of updating and modifying content: When content is segmented into bite-sized course files, revising an individual section becomes a simpler process.
- Convenience and accessibility: Microlearning content is quick and easy to consume since each part doesn’t require a substantial time commitment. This makes it easier for learners to engage with the material during a commute, at home, or on their phone, thus adding a layer of convenience to eLearning.
Microlearning doesn’t require much time for effective information delivery, freeing up the learner’s mental bandwidth for a more engaging learning experience.
As explained in the article by our Moodle Premium Certified Partner, Titus Learning, Moodle LMS, serves as an ideal host for all microlearning content that a user might need, accessible round-the-clock from any internet-connected device. For educators, it’s a platform that supports the creation, publishing, and sharing of content in various forms. When constructing text-based microlearning content, they can focus on crafting succinct, clear, and easily comprehensible material. Quality images and video content, created and edited offline can be smoothly integrated to clarify and enhance the learning materials, always keeping accessibility in mind.
Additionally, Moodle is the tool educators turn to for facilitating learner interaction and instant feedback, useful elements of successful microlearning. With quizzes and H5P activities, teachers can gauge learners’ grasp of a topic instantly.
Moodle also supports gamified learning activities, promoting interactive learning and better retention of information. Through forums, educators can foster discussion and peer-to-peer learning. Collaborative resources such as wikis or glossaries provide opportunities for reflection.
With Moodle’s access restriction and activity completion features, teachers can create conditional learning paths where learners can either direct their own progress or be given guidance while maintaining a sense of independence.
Notifications of new content, along with reminders of tasks due ensure learners are kept up to date and engaged.
Finally, Moodle’s varied and robust reports allow educators to evaluate the effectiveness of their microlearning items, bringing continuous improvement to the learning provisions.
Other eLearning trends
In addition to the trends discussed above, there are a few emerging trends worth considering:
- Data analysis for improving learning effectiveness: Moodle offers tools that allow institutions to sift through vast amounts of educational data, providing crucial insights to enhance teaching methodologies and learner outcomes.
- Diverse assessment types: With Moodle, educators are not confined to traditional assessment methods. They can deploy quizzes, interactive content, and peer-reviewed assignments, catering to various learning needs and ensuring a comprehensive evaluation.
- Cohort-based learning: This model emphasises learning as a collective journey. Moodle facilitates this by enabling educators to create specific learning cohorts, fostering community learning and collaboration.
- Gamification: Turning learning into a game is not just about fun; it’s about motivation and engagement. Moodle’s gamified learning activities, such as badges and leaderboards, make learning interactive and rewarding.
Conclusion
In 2023, educators and institutions need to embrace emerging technologies, prioritise mobile-first learning experiences, explore the potential of AI-driven personalisation, and introduce microlearning to keep up with the latest trends. Choosing a versatile and adaptable learning management system like Moodle can help you stay ahead of the curve, allowing them to be at the forefront of adopting innovative features that meet your learners’ needs more effectively.
