The impact of the eLearning industry on our lives
eLearning has transformed the way we learn and train. Let's find out how this has influenced companies, learners and teachers
The impact of the eLearning industry on our lives
eLearning has transformed the way we learn and train. Let's find out how this has influenced companies, learners and teachers
For a decade now, the eLearning market has been a steadily growing sector that is expected to reach a value of $648 billion by 2030 (Beyond Market Insights).
Schools, universities, government agencies and companies around the world have discovered the new opportunities offered by eLearning training and, increasingly, are using it as an integral part of their learning and development programs.
But what is the impact of the eLearning industry on our lives? Read this article and find out how eLearning has impacted businesses, students, and teachers.
The impact of eLearning on businesses.
Prior to the advent of eLearning, corporate training was conducted exclusively through the organization and scheduling of classroom courses, resulting in time-consuming and costly courses that required a specific physical space, printed course materials available to all users, the presence of a faculty member, and, in some cases, the consideration of transportation, food and lodging costs and timelines.
The advent of eLearning has thus offered companies a cost-effective alternative to traditional classroom training because:
- it does not require employees to stop work for days at a time;
- it does not require any expenses for transportation, parking, lunch, or a whole range of other incidental expenses.
Online courses also make it possible to automate and speed up employee learning, ensuring that all internal resources are continuously updated, regardless of where they are located.
In other words, eLearning has put companies in a position to offer their employees training that is always up-to-date, convenient and flexible.
The impact of eLearning on learners and employees
Asynchronous online training allows students and employees to independently manage their own learning path, choosing when and where to take courses.
This increased level of flexibility makes for a more positive learning experience because it adapts to the needs and pace of individual users. In a traditional course, it is necessary to take notes hastily during lectures. In an online course, on the other hand, you can reread content or review/listen to video and audio as many times as you want, so you can conveniently fix concepts.
Many eLearning apps use artificial intelligence to track users' performance, providing them with a personalized learning experience and helpful suggestions on courses to take (based on their interests or skills).
But that's not all: the introduction of new technologies within training processes (such as augmented reality and virtual reality) has made training more engaging and more effective, increasing the mnemotechnical potential: participants experience emotionally engaging experiences that stick with them and raise the attention curve.
Technology has also made training much more accessible to users with disabilities. The same course can contain learning materials in different formats to meet the specific needs of each user: subtitles and alternative text for the deaf, use of high-contrast images for the color-blind, etc.
The impact of eLearning on teachers and training providers
When talking about eLearning, it is important to emphasize that it is not intended to replace teachers or diminish their importance within training processes. On the contrary, eLearning can be an additional tool for those involved in training (teachers or training institutions) because it allows them to reach a wider audience and increase user retention.
The use of technology also simplifies the creation of educational content: think of the potential offered by artificial intelligence in the area of content creation. But not only that: since each course is divided into modules and lessons, it is possible to reuse the same module in multiple courses, creating different training paths much more easily and quickly.
Technology thus makes it possible to optimize the management, delivery and evaluation of training through the use of eLearning platforms. In this context, faculty and training providers have the opportunity to profoundly change their organizations and initiate a digital-first approach with which to achieve new economies of scale free from constraints such as physical limitations, classroom costs, faculty availability, paper-based learning materials, etc.
For more information on this topic, read also:
The benefits of an eLearning platform for teachers