Face-to-face education is coming back, but eLearning is still here to stay. In fact, recent trends have shown that eLearning continues to develop from being just an alternative to in-person classes to being a potential next step in progressing education as a whole.
Here are four eLearning trends in 2022 that you should look out for.
1. Mobile learning
eLearning initially meant taking the education from a physical classroom to students’ homes. Now, it also means that students can take it with them anywhere they go.
Platforms such as Moodle and Canvas have developed mobile versions of their learning management apps, allowing the learning experience to continue from the students’ phones or tablets.
The move to mobile has also made it more convenient for students and teachers by significantly reducing the burden of geographical constraints.
While face-to-face learning is slowly resurfacing, eLearning will continue growing to be more convenient and flexible. Hybrid learning, for example, recently emerged as a potential combination of face-to-face learning and eLearning.
2. Better accessibility
eLearning is significantly beneficial for students with disabilities. Unlike face-to-face classes, online education can provide learning opportunities where disabled students are unaffected by their conditions. This is because eLearning addresses many concerns that negatively affect students with disabilities.
Here are a few ways how:
- eLearning students go to class by entering virtual meeting rooms, which accommodate physically challenged students.
- The instructor and the presentation are both on one screen close to the student, which is especially beneficial for visually impaired students.
- Asynchronous learning is possible, allowing students who have difficulties learning or hearing to keep up.
eLearning eventually developed to have significantly better accessibility by offering educational opportunities for students in multiple countries. Students only need a compatible device and an internet connection to access international education.
The major challenge is accommodating non-native speakers who may struggle with the primary language used in the learning materials. Thus, one of the current eLearning trends is to address the language barrier and achieve the best possible accessibility of education. One of the most common ways is to provide multiple language options.
Alternatively, adding subtitles and captions on videos allows second language speakers to catch up and learn simultaneously. Adding subtitles to all video materials can be tedious and time-consuming. If you want to add subtitles to your educational content without the tedium, consider using a machine transcription service like FreeTranscriptions!
3. Asynchronous lessons
Being able to learn at one’s own pace is one of the prime features of eLearning. Initially, asynchronous learning was an alternative for students struggling to keep up with live online sessions due to a slow internet connection. It eventually developed into an effective teaching method in conjunction with synchronous lessons.
Besides being an alternative to synchronous lessons, asynchronous lessons have unique benefits. A 2018 study found that asynchronous online discussions may help students improve learner autonomy and creativity and achieve higher quiz scores. This is because students are given more time to think critically and creatively to solve problems.
New activities have been developed after the study to make the most of what asynchronous lessons can achieve, such as:
- Online discussion boards
- Recorded lectures
- Timed quizzes
- Video materials
- Reading assignments
4. More creative ways of teaching
Initially, eLearning primarily focused on taking the classroom experience online. Thanks to a global community of eLearning developers, there is a constant flow of new ideas for teaching students online in more creative ways.
Many of these ideas include using new tools and methods to make educational materials more engaging to students. Some examples include:
- Games. Students have a better understanding and appreciation of lessons if they apply them in engaging ways such as playing games.
- Visuals and graphics. Visual learning can significantly enhance higher-order thinking skills. Thus, students may benefit considerably from educational materials that are aesthetically pleasing and valuable.
- Virtual reality. The Metaverse and other similar platforms have a lot of potential for eLearning, enabling teachers and students to have more engaging interactions remotely.
While eLearning holds a lot of unrealized potential as a mode of education, it’s already proven to be an invaluable asset in any institution looking to develop its teaching methods. The best way of utilizing eLearning is to incorporate other software to enrich the learning experience. For instance, FreeTranscriptions! provides automated transcriptions that teachers can use to caption their videos to increase their accessibility.