The eLearning Trends For Instructional Designers In 2017
The scope of Instructional Design has traveled a long way, as the ever-increasing awareness about the field is evident enough for its popularity. The significant accreditation bodies across the globe are only getting strict on different training institutes and educational bodies to prepare highly rigorous and demanding training programs for professional Instructional Designers.
The majority of the demand for Instructional Designers comes due to learning tools and technology associated with their work. Learners and students worldwide have showcased that the need for a sophisticated digital media for learning purposes is more than ever. The point is to acquire a better-than-before learner interaction and engagement with the study material. The diversity is called to allow students experience the learning phase in new formats and mediums.
Experienced educators and Instructional Designers are no longer content with the features of PowerPoint presentations, rather are in the constant hunt for creative ways to expel their message to learners around globe. The effort is to bridge the gap between the learners and the knowledge providers. While the trends below are those that Instructional Designers need to practice throughout 2017 in order to deliver content and knowledge in the most compelling manner.
1. Augmented Reality (AR)
Yes! We are experiencing and enjoying the concept and gaming apps of virtual reality, but for augmented reality the best is yet to come. Even though virtual reality is being used in a plethora of devices and mobile app development businesses, but the taking over of augmented reality in the educational and eLearning arena is inevitable.
Simply speaking, AR is much more advanced and exciting than its predecessor. Further, the scripting and designing of instructional tools and programs in AR is much cheaper and engaging than VR-oriented programs.
It is obvious professional Instructional Designers can expect a rise in demand for AR-embedded mobile apps and tools from the education providers, and the trend is not likely to stop any time soon.
Augmented reality technology is closely associated with reliable, creative, and transformative learning experiences that has an evident record of registered academic and professional trainings. The statistics and learner acceptance is enough to state the importance of the augmented reality inclusion in the job description of Instructional Designers.
2. Digital Textbooks
Today educational providers around the world are placing heavy emphasis on 100% online and asynchronous learning stuff. Further, the preference for offline presence of such study materials, and the option of accessing from your smartphone is rising dramatically.
The application of the option of digital textbooks has evidently improved the level of academic accomplishments and drop-out rates. In 2017, Instructional Designers are actively employing the use of digital textbooks to provide convenience and a highly engaging learning experience.
3. Learning Analytics
Somewhat an unclear area, learning analytics have been studied for quite a long time. It has always been blamed for breaching the privacy of learners. But now the case is otherwise!
Learning analytics has proved to be highly successful in the eBusiness world, which has contributed greatly to the concept of ‘business intelligence’. Consumers are very well-aware regarding the behavior of browser cookies and how they invade your privacy. This has led to the shift to learning analytics.
Learning Management Systems (LMSs) are now used to acquire analytics reports. The point is to customize the existing learning materials and transforming them into modernized methodologies to cater the learner in a multitude of ways. In short, learning analytics are being directed to provide more of a personalized or learner-centric educational experience.
4. Microlearning
Microlearning or the methodology of delivering content in small, bite-sized chunks may sound somewhat self-explanatory and familiar, but still we are yet to see the highest potential of the trend. The shift from traditional learning in which learners were forced to digest large and highly rigorous volumes of educational content to microlearning has been appreciated by learners and professionals across the globe.
Microlearning allows Instructional Designers to create and manage content in terms of short modules running between the ranges of 90 to 120 seconds. Short visuals, animated videos, presentations, and drill exercises will end in an abrupt manner and are followed by quick quizzes, an instant feedback and guiding the leaner on how to go through the complete learning program.
5. Game-Based Learning
Exactly not a new concept, but game-based learning is definitely on the rise for quite some time now. A game-based learning methodology calls for tactful Instructional Design techniques which are mastered by a constant practice rather than being a one-time effort. Today Instructional Designers are able to create highly interactive and engaging games for learners worldwide.
Game-based learning incorporate realistic story-telling strategies and other interesting features such as relatable main characters displaying as avatars, purposeful feedback, and stronger elements linking learning objectives with the gaming environment. The ultimate purpose is to create motivation and engagement within the user by acquiring the game-based learning. Given the increasing shift from a plain and congested text-only learning techniques, the more dynamic and interactive game-based learning is surely on the cards for further development by top Instructional Designers across the globe.
6. Natural User Interfaces
The demand for displaying the learning materials in the easiest manner possible is definitely quite high. Several instructional systems and Learning Management Systems are now remodeling their products to create better and more engaging learning interfaces.
It is a common practice for Instructional Designers to test the learning program outputs and editing the content and promote the interface dynamics. Here the point of focus is the user experience which has excited Instructional Designers to work on this trend more aggressively than before.
Final Words
All the above trends might seem already familiar to some, but the ever increasing practice for Instructional Designers is something that is contributing heavily to their global acceptance. So it’s time professional Instructional Designers start mastering these trends and go on to deliver content in the most creative and tempting ways to learners across the globe.
