In the last two years, we have seen several world events that have prompted changes in educational practices like never before. Technology integration is on the rise, like never before, and everyone is trying to figure out how students truly learn best and ensure that they really are learning, whether at home or in school.
Many of the “temporary” technological advances that were introduced will become permanent and the students are bound to feel the effects from last year, both positive and negative. K-12 administrators are looking forward to using the lessons learned in 2020-2021 to ensure students and teachers succeed after months of uncertainty. A key catalyst for change will be the realization of how simple and robust technology is not optional but necessary to successfully provide equal opportunities for every student to receive a quality education. While ensuring privacy for students and educators, steps will be taken to improve education delivery and infrastructure.
Various eLearning trends have allowed institutions to overcome traditional barriers and explore new territories through eLearning. Teachers no longer teach education; the modern K-12 era is now, of the learner, by the learner, and for the learner. It is learner-led, learner-focused.
eLearning is a crucial component in the transformation of K-12 education. Teachers and institutions in K-12 have been trying to improve their curriculums to make learning more relevant and learner-friendly.
Since its inception, the global eLearning market has seen a 900% increase. It is predicted to reach US$325 Billion by 2025. & Why not? A survey found that 60% of internet users admit to using eLearning. Moreover, 50% of students at different educational institutions also admitted learning something through an eLearning platform.
However, despite the overwhelming support for eLearning, there are still some challenges.
Teachers and learners can become bored and tired from too much exposure to digital devices. To counter this, top educational institutions keep track of the most recent eLearning trends to make classes meaningful for learners and teachers. They go beyond flashy interfaces to incorporate effective and sustainable K-12 learning solutions.
What kind of changes will the top K-12 educational institutions make to improve their standards? What are the top eLearning trends for 2022? Let's find the answers to these questions and many more in the following sections:
IT decision-makers need to understand the goals of their districts and teachers to select the best tools. When considering the goals, they are trying to achieve, IT decision-makers may discover new tools, something they wouldn't have considered previously.
Lakisha Brinson, director of instructional technology and library services at Metro Nashville Public Schools in Tennessee, states, "Sometimes we get stuck on the tool first, but it's really not about the tool." According to Brinson, “It's all about the outcome, and once it has been well thought of, then you can find the tool that supports it."
Ed-tech specialists need to look at the goals of both educators and the district to determine the best outcome. It all starts with a conversation. These conversations can be initiated by teachers, librarians, and ed-tech leaders to discuss their tech needs so that they make their way up to the chain of administrators.
Many tools and technology will be beneficial to teachers as they return to the classroom after a year of hybrid and online learning. Many schools have accelerated their one-to-one device programs or taken the necessary steps to make such initiatives. In some initiatives, districts have allowed students to stay at home and continue to learn virtually even through the next school year.
The priority for 2022 is to integrate technology in learning to provide quality education for the learner. Leading Education Organizations are paving the way to set up the new educational infrastructure.
To help teachers get to the next-generation educational infrastructure, Microsoft has released more than 30 new tools and updates in 2021. These were designed to assist teachers in their return to school. The company stated that the technology is designed to support five key areas that help teachers create a comprehensive learning environment: student centricity, skills focus, safety, security, and scalability.
These tools were based on the results from a Microsoft Education survey to determine which tools would most benefit teachers. The survey took responses from students & teachers on a series of questions. For instance, students were asked what they liked and what could be improved about remote learning, and teachers were asked what information would help them better support students in remote/virtual learning. This survey results provided the foundation for these five new focus areas that move education forward.
It's a well-known fact that students retain more information if they can experience it in real-time, rather than listening to lectures or studying it. Think about testing a new car without actually driving it or checking how it would look in the set-up of your garage. This is the basic premise of Augmented Reality (AR). AR combines 25% of Digital Reality and 75% Existing Reality. AR doesn't offer an out-of-world experience for learners; it just places virtual objects in the world and allows learners to see how they look in the real world.
AR-enabled eLearning platforms can place an augmented object on a learner's digital device and then demonstrate key concepts using 3D visualization. The augmented object may be captured from the real environment, or it may be virtual.
Augmented Reality is a way for educators to take education beyond traditional books, lectures, and physical forms. It allows them to offer an immersive experience. It also promotes gamification, making learning exciting, fun, and accessible.
Research estimates that AR mobile users will reach 2.4 billion in 2023. This is a significant increase from the 200 million AR mobile users in 2015. Interactive audio-video materials, which stimulate learners' imaginations and stimulate their senses, are the future. AR is a critical component of your eLearning strategy if you look to capitalize on the growing eLearning trends for 2022.
Education does not have to be restricted to the physical classroom or guided by the teacher's fancy. Artificial Intelligence Augmented Reality(AR), Virtual Reality(VR), and Machine Learning enable learners to explore education in a completely new way. Presently, the responsibility of learning is on the learners. Therefore, personalized learning modules are an excellent eLearning mode to keep an eye on in the future.
Personalized learning allows teachers to identify each learner's strengths, weaknesses, and interests and create a learning program that is most suitable for them.
Teachers and students work together to create personalized learning plans while setting short and long-term goals. Students are active participants in the curriculum design process and become owners of the learning process rather than passive recipients.
However, teachers must ensure that students' curriculum and methodology do not violate academic standards. Through innovative educational strategies, such as simulations and project-based learning (or other forms of personalized learning), personalized learning can be added to the existing curriculum.
Educational content delivery platforms can be used to understand the unique needs of each student and provide special access for specific students. They can retain more information and increase their competence level because of the extra focus they get.
Hybrid learning isn't new. However, it was not as well-known as it is today. Hybrid learning, also known as blended learning, combines the principles and benefits of eLearning with traditional in-person learning. While hybrid classrooms can be accessed primarily online, the learners still feel like they are in a classroom with a teacher. To learn effectively, both the teacher and the learners must be present in a hybrid classroom.
Hybrid learning can also include asynchronous learning tools like online quizzes/tests and video instructions that complement in-person classes. It is a way for educators and learners to explore new avenues and also reduces costs for K-12 schools and makes students more interested in learning.
Gamified learning was a growing trend in 2021 and will continue to be a prominent eLearning trend for 2022. Gamified learning combines the principles of learning and the joy of gaming. It improves proficiency by helping learners to solve complex problems through engaging games. The most significant advantage is that the teacher does not need to be actively present during learning.
This inspires learners to learn more and take control of their learning. You can create games and quizzes on various educational platforms to improve learners' retention. Learning fun activities for learners will help them master complex concepts more quickly.
Videos have become more accessible and potent than ever. Videos can grab learners' attention quickly and increase their retention. According to a survey, 69% of students would rather watch videos than read text-based lecture notes to grasp educational content better.
In 2022, we expect to see more video-based content coming from K-12 schools and teachers associated with such institutions. Video creation is now effortless, thanks to the many video creation apps and websites available online.
Data consumption habits have changed dramatically since smartphones entered the market. The pandemic has made mobile phones more ubiquitous. eLearning is now available to learners anywhere, anytime, thanks to mobile phones. This will continue to rise as learners find mobile phones to be easily accessible & user-friendly.
These trends might have given an idea of what you should be looking out for in 2022; however, this is just the beginning of a vast and exciting era in eLearning. The ed-tech industry must find a way for educators to support innovation and identify long-term opportunities.
