Top learning trends for 2019
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As 2018 winds down, we’re looking ahead to learning trends for 2019. Behold, the promise of smarter analytics, faster systems, and better performance solutions. Learning trends continue to incorporate immersive reality and gamification of both the platform and the content. We see an elevated focus on goal alignment, performance improvement solutions, and deep learning.
Performance Improvement
While this is certainly not a new topic, true performance improvement still needs to be the focus of training programs. The challenge will be how to incorporate new technology while still keeping this foundation in mind. Place an emphasis on performance improvement solutions that impact job performance over time. Consider training on how to think critically about a role rather than just how to achieve a temporary understanding of a task. Provide continued support through mobile applications. Speaking of mobile,
Mobile Learning (Look for Online/Offline Synch)
Mobile learning is the fastest growing learning technology. By the end of 2019, revenues for mobile learning will more than double in 66 countries. 49 percent of employees prefer to learn at the point of need, and your employees check their phones in excess of 150 times each day. Mobile learning is known for higher engagement and can impact job performance for employees who work remotely or in the field. The key for 2019 is to ensure your LMS app offers online/offline synch capabilities so that none of your employee analytics or progress gets lost while on-the-go.
Critical Alignment
Forbes suggests that 2019 needs to be the year of better alignment between C-Suite goals and Human Resources. Leaders need to be deeply involved in learning strategy and planning. Leaders who are involved in goal setting for HR and L&D waste fewer resources. Alignment helps to build a learning culture.
Gamification and Playful Design
OK, don’t we already know about gamification? Wasn’t that a 2018 and 2017 learning trend? Yes. But it’s not going anywhere. Gamification, both structural and content-focused, will continue to permeate learning ecosystems. Expect to see badges, points, community participation incentives, and leaderboards. Consider HOW you’re building gamification into your learning ecosystem – is it a feature you want in your eLearning courses but don’t necessarily need in your LMS? Do you want your entire system to be game-oriented? As your learning partner, we’re able to bring gamification into both content and system.
Learning as an Incentive
Rather than needing to incentivize training, research on new learner groups suggests that training itself may become the incentive. 87 percent of Millennials stated that professional development and career growth are very important. Learners (especially millennials, who will soon make up 75 percent of the workforce) care deeply about personal development and performance. Companies with well-developed learning cultures can expect to see an increase in quality job applicants.
Deep Learning
Gartner projects that AI bots will power 85 percent of customer service interactions by 2020 and will drive up to $33 trillion of annual economic growth. But remember, AI is an algorithm, not a magic wand. To be effective, we still need humans to interpret and apply analytics. Learning analytics help to predict future behaviors, adjust for personalization and adaptation, and provide instructors with the right information to support their learners.
Full Immersion
Another one that’s not going away any time soon – 46 percent of companies say that AR/VR will become mainstream in their organizations within the next three years. AR and VR must track back to the LMS so that learning is captured and performance gaps can be improved. Roundtable Learning is one of the only learning companies that creates customized immersive reality experiences that are based on the principles of instructional design and can be tracked in our LMS. Note that even though the use of VR in applications can be highly impactful, 66 percent of organizations believe AR to be more applicable to them than VR.
