eLearning Trends To Watch In 2017

What are the predictions of Elucidat for the new year? Here are the top 10 eLearning trends to
watch in 2017.
1. Contextualized Learning
Expect to see a wider acceptance of microlearning and digital learning design that
addresses needs of the modern learner. Learning and Development teams will use modern design
thinking to modernize typically boring eLearning courses like Onboarding.
The Learning and Development world is waking up to this idea that we need to move beyond
just resource-based approaches for eLearning. We need to think about multi-pronged approaches
that fit in different consumption windows and patterns, as well as delivering against needs.
2. Two-Way Conversations In eLearning

Changing how you think about learning can help you evolve your content instead of falling into
the trap of being out of sync with modern learners needs. Its now easier than ever to capture
feedback from learners within content. You can now open up for users input and ideas on what
theyd like to see or what they need help with.
For example, use your eLearning authoring tool to gauge needs and wants upfront: send out
some polls, questionnaires, or content to seed thinking and then capture opinions. Then shape
your strategy around it.
3. Better Use Of Data

Using data in an intelligent way can help shape your learners experience. For example, using
Elucidat you can view analytics to learn how to quickly see where you need to improve your
eLearning content.
Data offers a smart way to personalize learning content. For example, show learners how their
thinking compares with their peers by presenting live social-polling results. Personalize content
and serve up certain pages of content specifically for someones needs because they answered
questions A, C, and F in a certain way.
4. Video, Video, Video

Video content use is increasing. By 2019, video will be responsible for 80 percent of internet
traffic around the world. Expect users to share almost one million minutes of video content every
second by 2019. Thus, its no surprise Facebooks Mark Zuckerberg projects that video will be
the most shared content on Facebook within in the next five years.
This opens the door to integrate video platforms, social learning, and video learning in your
courses. You can use authoring tools like Elucidat as a video platform and drop in clips from
YouTube, Vimeo, Wirewax, and more. And yes, you can build scenarios around them or go for
interactive video.
Expect to see more video sharing activity among employees, and live video streaming via video
platforms, such as Periscope.
Related: For more insight and inspiration visit Elucidat's blog
5. Microlearning

Microlearning is more than a fad. It provides a structure to deliver learning content in a way that
that fits with what we know about how people learn - short, focused, regular challenges that
stretch and, perhaps, reward us. Its huge in the United States and gradually gaining worldwide
popularity. Youve seen it in learning apps, such as Duolingo, and its a model that grows with
the learner.
In 2017 youll see less discussion on resources not courses, and more focus on approaches that
use microlearning to personalize and structure content in digestible sizes.
Related: 5 Tips To Make Microlearning Really Deliver
6. Social eLearning
In most organizations, social learning and informal learning happens around eLearning
experiences.
There is great power in social polling, where learners can give their opinion or rate something,
like a video, and then see what everyone else thinks. This enables learners to explore the gray
spaces rather than the strict black and white or right and wrong spaces eLearning has often
limited itself to in the past.
7. Content Curation

Curation of content will be on the rise in 2017. Expect to see more carefully selected, user-
focused eLearning content, including blogs, forum threads, guides, videos, and articles.
This will help learning teams create a modern and holistic set of learning content delivered via
designed content or multiple resources that dont need to be made from scratch.
Christopher Pappas has a good guide on curation for learning, as does Anders Pink with
their checklist for Learning and Development professionals.
8. Mobile Learning

Learning content is accessed via mobile devices by about 70% of learners. Thats why we predict
that mobile learning will continue to rise in popularity in 2017. Oftentimes, learners are
switching from one device to another depending on their location or needs.
Lets hope everyone gets their content genuinely responsive, as this has been slow in parts!
9. Performance Support Vs. Learning Experiences
Expect to see Learning and Development teams considering on-the-job support needs for each
project in 2017. You will see more learners opt for Googles and YouTubes quick look-up
materials as a first point of call, and especially when they have an urgent need.
This leaves room for true learning content, and by that we mean learning experiences, not just
content. The lengthy everything goes in approach will make way for performance-enhancing
content that builds competence, reflection, exploration, and personal growth through challenging
and provocative content.
10. Go Beyond eLearning
The debate about what to call eLearning is expected to continue in 2017. Whether you call it
online learning or digital performance enablement, its important to realize that whats
needed is a mindset shift to modernize learning design.
We need to think of terms like eLearning as being much, much broader than they were five or
more years ago. Dont get obsessed with a new way or new name that will inevitably change in
a few years anyway.
Final Thoughts
There we have it, 10 eLearning trends to watch in 2017. Lets all embrace cloud-based authoring
of modern, collaborative, tech-enabled learning and not fight over what we call it.
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