Future of Education in 2022: Top 5 Reasons to Choose Online Learning Platforms

By 2026, the global e-learning market is projected to grow to over $400 billion. In 2019, it was pegged at $200 billion. While the pandemic no doubt accelerated the adoption of online learning platforms, this shift is here to stay because of the multiple use cases it serves. 

For instance, 2021 saw the rise of virtual schools, the first educational institutes to offer a 100% online schooling experience for children up to secondary and higher secondary schools.

Virtual schools offer children the opportunity to study with classmates from around the world, pursue an international curriculum at a reduced cost, and enjoy the joys of interactive learning. 

Similarly, online learning platforms offer learners value at various levels and contexts - from professional courses and short-term programs to skills-based programs and refresher courses.

This blog explores in detail the multiple advantages offered by eLearning platforms. 

1. Interactive Approach to Learning 

Traditional lecture-style learning is a one-way street. Teachers and professors teach, and students listen and absorb. 

Online learning platforms have disrupted this learning model to make learning an interactive journey. Fundamentals across subjects are explained through a variety of formats - video, animations, quizzes, contests, assessments, in-built dictionaries, and more.

Gamification is a growing trend in the learning process for learners of all ages because the promise of treasures, rewards, and stories enables the retention of knowledge and cognitive development.

Another growing trend is the introduction of digital textbooks, which come with interactive features such as online custom assessments, hyperlinks to content so students can look up supplementary learning materials, page scrolls, highlights, annotations, and bookmarks.

The potential is limitless and opens up a whole new world of possibilities. 

2. Enhances Flexibility and Accessibility 

Another advantage offered by eLearning platforms is the ability to learn at a flexible pace and mode. This is extremely valuable because learners have unique needs and also learn at different paces.

Access to on-demand content enables learners to structure learning around their schedules. For instance, a working professional may prefer to learn on the weekend. Or a school student may want to revise the fundamentals of Newton's laws of relativity by watching an animated video after school hours. 

Learners may also have limitations that may not be addressed by traditional classroom education. For instance, learners with visual challenges or learning difficulties can learn more effectively and compete with their peers because eLearning platforms offer assistive learning technology, thus closing a wide gap in the current education system. 

3. Opt for a Customized Learning Experience

Traditional college and university courses offer a structured curriculum that requires one to physically attend the campus for several years. However, learning needs are extremely diverse.

For instance, an aspiring manager may not want to commit to a two-year full-time MBA and instead choose to register for an online course of three to six months to pick up specific skills. The online learning world offers learners the option of selecting permutations and combinations as per their needs, interests, and budgets.

They need not be restricted by traditional models of learning and can instead focus on specific skills they want to invest in.

A sales manager could take a course on data science to understand how to leverage data to bring a data-driven approach to sales. They also have the option of choosing a learning program with a community of peers from different parts of the world and walks of life.

Learners can also access more one-on-one tutor time. The potential for choosing a customized learning experience is limitless, and one can find a program tailored to their unique learning wishlist. 

4. More Cost-Effective than Onsite Education 

Traditional university and school education are more expensive due to the physical resources required - classrooms, labs, computers, and utilities all come at a cost to institutions.

However, the cost of building and launching online programs is much more cost-effective due to the ease with which online learning platforms enable the learning process. The cost savings are passed down to learners who get a high-quality education at a reduced cost. 

However, cost savings go beyond merely paying for tuition. Residential education, as well as attending a university or school out of town, requires investments in living facilities, transportation, and food.

Hence, more and more learners are leveraging online learning platforms to build skills, expand knowledge, learn as a community, and get certified. 

5. Offers Data-Driven Insights 

Another unique benefit of online learning is that it allows all stakeholders - teachers, parents of learners, and learners to understand the effectiveness of learning through data.

Online learning platforms come equipped with data-driven insights that offer a window into the learning habits, trends, and behaviors of learners in real time. This is a valuable benefit for creators of online learning content who can evolve the formats based on learning outcomes.

For instance, when human resources deploy a new learning program, they can track how employees are using the resource - how often they use the library of learning resources, whether they are responding more to videos, if they are using online dictionaries to understand tough terminologies, etc.

Data can be customized based on what admins need to understand, downloaded in the form of Excel sheets, and shared with other stakeholders in the company.  Admins can also easily add new learners and enable customized content to be delivered based on learning insights. 

Conclusion 

Today, there are several tools that online educators can leverage to build high-quality interactive content for future generations of learners. For instance, digital solutions platforms such as Kitaboo empower educators to create and distribute digital textbooks seamlessly. 

Digital textbooks are considered to be the future of education and are being adopted by schools and institutions around the world due to their potential to enhance the learning process. They are also a cost-effective option as compared to physical textbooks and work on a subscription basis.

As more schools, universities, businesses, and edtech platforms innovate through the use of online learning platforms, education will continue to become a more accessible, flexible, and engaging experience that encourages life-long learning as a way of life.