The eLearning industry grew substantially in 2014 and it will continue to grow and expand as we progress through 2015. There are a few topics that will be trending this year, including the type of content and technology. Let’s take a look at some of the top eLearning trends we will see in 2015.

Gamification
Gamification is the use of game theory and game mechanics in non-game contexts to engage users in solving problems. In a recent gamification survey, almost 80% of learners say that they would be more productive if their university/institution or work was more game-like. According to M2Research, the size of the gamification market will grow to more than $2.8b by 2016.

Mobile Learning
According to eLearning Mind, “tablet ownership has grown by 257% in the past two years and will only continue its upward trend”. That means that the number of learners accessing their online courses and training from a mobile device will continue to rise as well. Will it become the dominant medium for accessing learning materials?

Big Data
The number of learners within the eLearning industry is massive. In the coming years, we will likely see new ways to pull data in regards to completion time and rate, click patterns, ROI reports and more. This data will continue to help researchers learn more about how and when learning is most effective.

Personalized Learning
Personalized learning is the tailoring of pedagogy, curriculum and learning environments to meet the needs and aspirations of individual learners. Some examples of personalized learning are: adjusting the instruction pace (and path), the learning approach, the type of content, and more.

Tin Can API
API (Application Program Interface) is a set of routines, protocols, and tools for building software applications. The API specifies how software components should interact and communicate. APIs are becoming increasingly popular and can be useful in a variety of ways.

Cloud LMSs
The convenience flexible learning and choices for curriculum creation and delivery that LMSs provide is expected to bring more demand for the learning management solutions. Markets & Markets forecasts the LMS market to grow from $2.55 billion in 2013 to $7.83 billion in 2018.

Video in Learning
There is an obvious increase in the growth of mobile learning and according to Google, “smartphone users are avid video watchers…67% of smartphone users watch video and 14% use video at least once a day.” Not only is the use of video rising in day-to-day activities, more instructors/trainers are using in in their online learning. Video is a fun approach to teaching and has a higher chance of engaging users.

Augmented Learning
Augmented learning is an on-demand learning technique where the environment adapts to the learner. By providing remediation on-demand, learners can gain greater understanding of a topic white stimulating discovery and learning. According to Statista, “the augmented reality market is expected to grow significantly – from 60 million users in 2013 to 200 million in 2018”.

What trends are you expecting to see in 2015? Are there any big ones that we missed? Please, share in the comments below!