With new opportunities come new challenges…
As with any new idea, things need to be established, checked, and tested; only then can conclusions be made. In the case of electronic learning in 2021, everything has become quite obvious. As the demand increases, the electronic learning sphere has begun developing at a rapid pace leading to plenty of new and exciting opportunities for e-learning. COVID-19 highlighted the importance of the e-learning industry — without it, we’d have no way to continue education throughout extended periods of public lockdowns. Far from simply a doomsday educational model, the e-learning model has proved its effectiveness and is expected to be around long after COVID-19 has been forgotten.
Due to high levels of competition sparked by investors and market demand, the quality of e-learning solutions has surpassed our wildest dreams. Now, millions of people can use various e-learning solutions to stay in touch, support their businesses, study, work, and much more.
So, what should we expect from the e-learning sphere this year? What challenges is the industry expected to face?
The year is 2021. Most people have now realized that e-learning is not simply a temporary measure. As more and more people are forced to use this model as a means of studying remotely, its convenient, fast, and productive qualities have begun to stand out. In addition, educational facilities and businesses alike have noticed how cost-effective it can be to migrate to an online approach. Think about it: with e-learning, a physical learning space is no longer necessary, and neither are desks, chairs, print materials, books, etc. An online world is far more affordable and easy to maintain than a traditional classroom. All you need to do is select a service that meets your needs. Keep in mind, if money is a concern, there are plenty of free options that an institution or company can use. Virtual classrooms, remote teaching materials, real-time lessons or pre-recorded seminars, access to shared materials across institutions, the opportunity to choose where and when to study, collaboration with teams, online presentations and lessons, and more — this is just a small sample of what the right e-learning software can do for an institution or business.
Depending on the use case, together, both users and providers can select the studying approach that’s right for them. Of course, the main challenge that awaits all types of users is choosing the platform or software that will cover all of the initial needs relating to a course — will it be productive, convenient, and effective?
Thus, before making a decision and settling on a solution for your needs, you need to ensure that the needs of the majority will be met. Be sure to approach your students or employees and enquire about their wants and needs. Check the safety and credibility of a source and request a free trial option if possible. Read feedback and provide your users with a few solutions to test out.
What can we expect from the corporate sector?
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More than 50% of companies are expected to redesign their training programs for employees
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62% of the corporate sector affected by the pandemic is expected to spend more in regard to employee training in 2021
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a 16% increase in e-learning training is expected and, as a result, a drop in traditional methods of off-line training is expected
Based on these predictions, we can conclude that the following challenges await us in the present year:
A Monumental Adoption Of E-Learning
The numbers are staggering. In 2017 alone, roughly 77% of organizations incorporated e-learning into their approaches. By the time the pandemic hit in 2020, due to a need for a remote learning model, that figure skyrocketed to 98%.
For any companies that relied on legacy training materials prior to 2020, you’re probably already aware of just how complicated it was to establish an online training platform. However, with more and more employees preferring to work and learn online, if the system works effectively, the monumental adoption of e-learning in the corporate sector will only continue to further develop.
Training for the providers themselves
If a company has been oriented around a traditional offline training model, chances are the educators are not highly-qualified and skilled in e-learning tools and methods which differ considerably from traditional approaches. Providing education through a screen differs considerably from previous practices and requires specific preparation and training. Thankfully, companies can always hire new training providers or simply train existing educators in the art of online learning.
Content Curation And Creation Tools Will Take Center Stage
The challenges and changes faced in 2020 led to major corporate challenges and trends surrounding the preparation of pre-made training materials. In order to meet the demand, PinPoint offers a library of pre-built microlearning and performance support content that can be implemented company-wide. Furthermore, the e-learning solution, Lessonly, is equipped with built-in lessons designed to meet the requirements of providers (depending on the field of study). Solutions like these allow companies to establish their own e-learning processes or simply utilize tested crowd-sourced programs to enhance their educational prowess.
With so many changes being forced upon us, it’s great to see that the spirit of adapt and overcome is so alive and well. Despite these considerable conditions, e-learning has proved to be much more than just a necessary reaction, it’s an entirely new educational system with endless boundaries and opportunities. Although there are still many challenges that lay ahead, as we have already witnessed, they will only lead to more progress. It’s time we stop fearing the unexpected and begin embracing the unknown.
