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If 5 years ago, making predictions for the year 2020 seemed very far away and a distant reality, now, with a few days to go until the new year, analysing the main trends for ODL in 2020 is essential!
The emergence of new technologies and the accelerated obsolescence of things that until recently were innovations, causes almost an unpredictability of what the future holds.
When analysing predictions for distance learning made three years ago, it is surprising, and perhaps frightening, the evolution of the teaching modality and the amount of barriers broken down.
E-learning courses, which until recently caused mistrust because of their innovative way of learning, are nowadays an essential factor for successful learning.
In the last year alone, the number of distance learning courses exceeded the number of face-to-face courses in higher education.
Moreover, with an increasingly connected society and with time constraints, distance learning helps in the spreading of education and an important training opportunity for professionals from the most diverse areas.
Some predictions for distance learning in 2020 are already part of our reality, but they tend to expand and gain even more visibility and application. But what are, in fact, the trends for ODL in 2020?
The possibility of consuming quality content in small chunks is what promises to gain the attention of users.
Microlearning allows an easy and in-depth assimilation of contents without losing its teaching quality.
Here, it is remarkable how distance learning tends to prioritise the consumer, developing various forms of learning and seeking the best way for the user to absorb each content.
Literally a daily "knowledge pill", with lessons of short duration, microlearning holds the user's attention in each of its contents.
In addition, it is responsive, being accessible through the most diverse devices, which greatly facilitates the daily dynamics of users.
It is important to emphasise that this teaching model does not lose anything with regard to the quality of teaching, on the contrary, the easy absorption of the rapid content makes learning more effective for the student.
Furthermore, distance learning higher education courses are regulated by the Ministry of Education (MEC).
Video lessons are already a widely known and disseminated learning tool in distance education, however, there are still many advances to be made, which are part of the trends for ODL in 2020.
It is not news to anyone the superior engagement that audiovisual content has in relation to other formats, so the use of this type of material tends to be increasingly growing and in a much more professional way.
By learning more about technology and its applicability, the hope for the coming year is that the materials will present more and more new and better ways of teaching.
The possibilities presented are endless, interactivity, augmented reality and much more!
Interactive videos are already an existing reality and can be applied. It is a content where the student starts to participate in the learning process in an active way, being able to interact with the screen, clicking, making comments and the like.
In other words, more quality teaching and interaction with users. This is the main objective of video content that has a strong opportunity for expansion.
Content that allows interaction with the user tends to stand out in the coming years, gamification is one of them.
Thinking of users who actively seek education to develop technical skills or even absorb new content, the gamification model tends to gain attention.
This is because, its teaching model is disruptive and stimulating. It encourages the user to search for knowledge. Just like in traditional video games, in the gamification teaching method the user needs to complete stages in order to advance.
At each advanced stage stamps or medals are distributed to the student as a kind of reward. One more innovative way of teaching using EAD platforms.
The aim is to keep the user engaged with the content. The construction of knowledge trails can even be very useful in this regard.
For 2020 the trend is: focus on the user! And by making use of storytelling you really keep this goal aligned.
Coming from marketing, it is basically an engaging narrative that holds the reader's attention, in this case, the students. Having this type of content ensures quality content and student satisfaction, which can result in recurring purchases and the good reputation of any institution.
The term can also be translated as social learning and refers to any learning that takes place in the social environment.
With increasing technological advances and the arrival of a new generation that is 100% digital, adapting to the "language" of these, literally, new consumers is essential.
This is what social learning is all about, bringing teaching together with the numerous social networks and turning them into something useful for the student.
Social media can also be used as a way to keep your students engaged with your courses and your institution.
Social learning can be one of the activities of a gamification where, for example, by sharing or interacting on certain content students are rewarded with virtual "prizes".
All the trends presented so far have one thing in common: the focus on the student's experience, that is, we notice an increasingly personalized and directed to the quality of teaching.
Where quality does not mean quantity, the trend is towards teaching models that are even more adaptable to the real needs of the user. The user, who loses his passive role in face-to-face learning and starts to have autonomy in his teaching process.
Based on this, we can see that the trends in ead for 2020 go far beyond tools and technologies, it is a cultural transformation in the way of teaching and learning.
What about you, do you think there are any other trends that will transform the ead market in the coming year? Tell us in the comments and subscribe to our list to stay up to date.