As we can see at the moment, online learning is here to stay. The trend is obvious: everyone seems to be studying something on the Internet right now, be it coding, foreign languages, yoga, you name it. In this piece, we invite you to take a look at the background of this enormous growth, the reasons behind it – both tech-related and social, and practical implications for future developers and entrepreneurs.
Background
You might be surprised, but the phenomenon of online learning can be traced back to 1982. However, it took web-based education decades to become a truly viable and accessible option. Greater connection speed, lower prices, portable gadgets, and the revolution of apps gradually changed the landscape during the 90-10s. Besides, the concept of life-long learning coupled with ever greater job inse curity contributed to the new industry.
Even before the Covid-pandemic, the global market of online education was expected to reach $350 billion by 2025. It was an impressive figure, all of a sudden, Covid-19 came. The world started to change drastically.
The Ascendance of Covid-19: Implications
The new era arrived in 2020. Total lockdowns, social distancing, and the self-evident need to stay employed, competitive, and successful under this external duress made online learning ‘the next big thing’. As the World Economic Forum puts it, “whether it is language apps, virtual tutoring, video conferencing tools, or online learning software”, one can see optimistic figures in each and every area.
Trends
The new ‘normalcy’ has greatly facilitated the progress of online learning worldwide. This progress is not only quantitative but also qualitative. Online learning tools are constantly becoming more sophisticated and complex.
As it seems to us, the following trends need to be taken into consideration by both development teams and market players if you want to remain up-to-date with evolving technologies.
Mobile learning
Right now, it is expected that, by 2025, the share of Internet users accessing the web via their portable smartphones will reach almost 75%. It means that those entrepreneurs willing to capitalize on this trend need to focus on efficient apps rather than on mobile versions of their websites. Apps are not a supplement to your regular web-presence. They are your focal point.
Gamification
Gamification can be understood as applying the principles and core components of gaming to attaining learning goals. As such, it must be seen as a continuation of the mobile perspective. A reliable online learning product should be as expedient, easily accessible, and bright as a ‘regular’ game on your cell phone. You have to keep an eye on this trend if you want to succeed.
Modern users want to be both entertained and engaged while learning something online. The figures are unequivocal: ‘The gamification market size is projected to grow from USD 9.1 billion in 2020 to USD 30.7 billion by 2025, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 27.4%.’
Microlearning
The concept of microlearning can be defined as a fashion of dividing a particular course into tiny, easily digestible, and simultaneously attractive pieces. Such a solution should be customizable, intuitive, and multi-faceted. This means that the architecture, in this particular case, must be flexible and user-oriented. A good example of this approach is what we at EVERCODE LAB did with EverCourse:
– It can be applied to different fields in an expedient fashion (ranging from fitness and beauty to Instagram blogging and languages)
– It can be tailored to the needs of customers in terms of functionalities and look-and-feel
– It is autonomous while offering intuitiveness, with helpful hints included
AI
Finally, the most challenging and lucrative field of online education is artificial intelligence. Right now, it might sound a little bit overoptimistic and ‘futuristic’. However, it is already being used.
– It has already replaced living tutors in some instances: teaching, reviewing, motivating, etc.
– Alerts, warnings, and recommendations are generated by neural networks
– Analysis of user-related big data for greater efficiency and productivity
Conclusion
Beyond any doubt, online learning is a popular and promising industry that makes it possible to make money while helping people. Feel free to contact us if you consider launching an online learning project. We definitely have something to discuss and show in terms of all the aforementioned requirements for modern learning solutions. Our successful experience with EverCourse is a clear proof of this fact.
