8 eLearning trends teachers should know about

8 eLearning trends for teachers

If you spend time hanging around education blogs and social networks, you will have noticed the rising number of eLearning trends out there, most of which claiming that they are the ‘ultimate’ one.In this context, it might be difficult to separate the wheat from the chaff and select the trends that will add value to your lessons. Identifying key eLearning trends is especially tough considering the fact that different names are used to refer to the same concept, causing even further confusion.To help out, this slide set features the most outstanding eLearning trends at the moment.

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1. Flipped Classroom

This trend is arguably the most popular in the modern classroom. It consists of turning the traditional flow of a classroom ‘upside down’. This way, students do their homework before going to class so the limited time they have with the teacher is used to focus on deepening a student's understanding of a particular topic through discussion, quizzes and collaboration with classmates.

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2. Project-based learning

Project-based learning is often confused with problem-based learning. However, the latter is a subset of the former.The principles of project-based learning are quite clear. The idea is to extend learning beyond the theoretical concepts so students can apply their learning in attempting to solve real-world situations. Students interact with information by discussing it with others in their class, and reflecting on it. They may then present or display their learning publicly, again discussing what they have learned and how they feel afterwards.

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3. Deeper learning

Deeper learning empowers students to apply core-academic knowledge to real-life situations. Since this trend focuses on learning by doing, it has some similarities with the project-based learning approach; however, there are some important differences.During the deeper learning process, students acquire and practice key life-competencies such as communication, problem-solving and collaboration. This is done in a real-life setting, encouraging students to take ownership of their learning.By combining deeper learning with the traditional curriculum-central approach, students will not only obtain theoretical knowledge but will also gain deeper understanding. Better still, they will learn to apply it, increasing their motivation.

• Benefits of Using Online MindMaps for E-Learning
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4. Gamification

One of the key elements in the learning process that all experts agree on is student motivation and that’s precisely the core of gamification.Gamification means turning learning into a game so that students take a more active role and progress academically while still feeling that they are enjoying themselves. This method has been applied for years in pre-school education and in specific subjects with good results.

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5. Mobile learning

 The Internet has been a revolution in connecting people to one another, and to an infinite supply of educational material, but mobile devices have amplified this by making Internet access available to almost anyone.Applications are being continuously created and updated while mobile devices themselves are being built with additional features and functions. Once used responsibly and strategically, such devices are capable of encouraging student interaction rather than student distraction.

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6. Bring your own device (BYOD)

While the concept of mobile learning appeals mainly to students, BYOD focuses on the teaching perspective and encourages every student to bring their own device to class in order to follow the lesson.In this sense, there are a vast number of education apps that teachers can use to design an engaging lesson. By exploring the potential of mobile learning, teachers can ensure that education can become a far more intuitive, creative and collaborative experience for students.

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7. Massive open online courses (MOOC)

Massive open online courses have been popularized by top universities in the last few years.This learning trend affords the opportunity for students of any demographic, age or economic background to acquire a quality education by accessing learning material online.While online courses may once have been somewhat derided by some, they have now improved immeasurably in quality and in popularity.

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8. Blended learning

8. Blended learning

Blended learning is a formal education program in which a student learns, at least in part, through the online delivery of content and instruction with some element of student control over time, place, path, and/or pace. Teachers who have successfully implemented blended learning into their classroom point to interaction as the main factor of their success.

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