Three Key E-learning Trends to Look Out for in 2018
This is an era of technological advancements. Well, we have been here for quite some time now with Siri managing our lives, various applications keeping tabs on our activities, Intelligent Machines helping us with everything ranging from simple to complex. In recent years, technology has drastically changed the way we learn and is predicted to bring further changes in our learning spaces. Listed below are three such technology trends which might completely overhaul our teaching and learning methods:
Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality
Traditionally used for entertainment purposes (gaming, movies, etc.), a mix of Virtual and Augmented Reality is predicted to completely overhaul the immersive learning space in the coming decades. With blended reality, as the mix of VR and AR is popularly called, it will be possible to put the learners in realistic environments where they will be able to experience the learning. Imagine your students exploring the outer space, marine ecosystems, exploits of the Roman civilization all the while sitting in the classroom!
An article by Times Higher Education reveals that in a survey conducted by education technology charity Jisc, nearly a third (32 percent) of the students admitted that tech facilities played a part in their choice of university. So, along with bringing learning to life for the students, blended reality will bring in more revenue for the educational institutions in myriad ways.
Video-based learning
The popularity of interactive video-based learning continues to grow by the hour. It is no brainer that content in video form appeals to learners more than the traditional teaching methods. Organizations are capitalizing on this popularity of video-based courseware to make students more engaged and invested in the learning process.
According to a report by Cisco, by 2019, 85% of the internet traffic will be video content. This dramatic increase in video content consumption speaks a lot about the impact it is expected to have in the higher education sector.
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence has come a long way since IBM’s supercomputer Deep Blue defeated the then reigning chess grandmaster, Gary Kasparov in 1996. We have a robot citizen in Saudi Arabia. Intelligent machines have automated and made the most complex tasks, simple. Bots are performing our tasks for us.
AI has generated great waves in the educational industry also and has significantly changed the way today’s student learns. A study by the research firm Research and Markets states that the artificial intelligence market in the US education sector is projected to grow at a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 47.50% over the next four years which makes artificial intelligence the third key e-learning trend to look out for in 2018.
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