The Future of E-Learning
E-learning is maturing rapidly into the most efficient and engaging way to learn. Understanding how employees learn best and how employees will learn in the future is critical to any organization.
Organizations can stay ahead in training by offering elearning that reaches today’s learner and communicates information to them effectively. Companies that offer comprehensive training have a 24% higher profit margin than those who spend less on training1 and well-trained employees are 12 times less likely to leave their job.2
Let’s look at why elearning is changing, how elearning is changing, and why you should care!
Why Is E-Learning Changing?
Ubiquity of Mobile
Since nearly half of people accessing the Internet are doing so on a mobile phone, it is important for organizations to offer learning that is not merely accessible via a mobile device but delivered in a way that allows the learner to have the same (or better) experience as training on a desktop or notebook computer. If your training solution neglects an effective mobile delivery method, you could be neglecting 48% of your potential audience.
Rise of Remote Work
Today, an increasing number of companies are going virtual or offering employees the option to work from home. This is changing how employees interact and communicate with their employers and coworkers. Since physical office time is being reduced, organizations should offer employees a training solution that can be accessed remotely and that is engaging enough to overcome possible distractions occurred when working remotely.
Shortening Attention Spans
The average human attention span has dropped from 12 seconds in 2000 to 8 seconds in 20135—possibly because a huge amount of information is now instantly and constantly at our fingertips. So, it’s vital to format content in a way that is easily digestible. For example, news outlets offer handy, seven-second infographics, social media content gets information across in the time it takes to scroll down a webpage, and video is used to capture and retain interest. Fortunately, the array of inexpensive media tools now available makes it easier than ever to create training that is visually appealing and interactive.
How Is E-learning Changing?
Microlearning
E-learning is increasingly delivered in microdoses. Since the average employee can only devote 1% of their work week to professional development,6 smartly organize it into short, digestible chunks people can take bit-by-bit as they have time. This allows the information to be easily digested by the learner and reviewed later, as needed. This approach to training delivery reduces wasted time and disengagement from the learner.
Next-Level Interactivity
E-learning is increasingly multisensory and dynamic. Interactive scenarios, interactive video, augmented reality, and virtual reality allow learners to apply concepts immediately in realistic environments. Augmented and virtual reality also bring in the sense of touch, adding another layer of engagement to training.
Gamification
E-learning increasingly uses a light tone, stories, and game elements (also known as gamification). Gamification uses motivational factors from games, such as competition and rewards, to engage users and reinforce training principles.
Gamification Example: Comcast
Gamification is attracting the attention of some of the world’s biggest companies. For example, when Fortune 100 company Comcast wanted a better way to keep cybersecurity best practices top of mind for their 180,000 employees, they turned to gamification.
Comcast worked with Mind & Media to develop CyberSplash, a cybersecurity education game. The game provides fun, bite-sized daily training to help employees better understand and remember cybersecurity concepts and practices. Each day, players face a new one-minute challenge. Correct answers earn badges, higher rankings on the leaderboard, and the opportunity to play for SplashCash (in-game currency that can be redeemed for game enhancements).
CyberSplash uses game elements to reward people for educating themselves and is revolutionizing Comcast’s information security posture. In 2019, this training solution was recognized as the ISE® North America Project of the Year.
Why Should You Care?
Understanding how employees learn best and keeping up with changes is critical to any organization. Organizations with effective training programs can see reduced employee turnover and increased employee performance. According to Forbes, elearning boosts an organization’s retention by 25% – 60%.7 Effective training is a valuable, long-term investment. Employees who work with elearning materials have increased business efficiency of 50%8 and 42% of companies said that elearning has led to increased revenue.9
If you would like to discuss how an elearning solution can help your organization, give us a call!
References
- American Society for Training and Development, Executive Summary, September 2000.
- IBM, The Value of Training, 2014.
- ElearningIndustry.com, 4 Elearning Trends you Can’t Miss in 2019, January 14, 2019.
- Gallup, State of the American Workplace Report, 2017.
- The National Centre for Biotechnology Information, The Telegraph, Humans Have Shorter Attention Span than Goldfish, Thanks to Smartphones, 2015.
- Bersin by Deloitte, Meet the Modern Learner, 2014.
- Forbes, 2017, Reporting on a Research Institute of America Report.
- Marc Wins, The Steep Rise of E-Learning, April 2017.
- Ambient Insight 2012-2017 Worldwide Mobile Learning Market.