A brand-new educational system that enabled students to finish their coursework by writing to their professors first appeared in the early 20th century. This marked the beginning of remote learning, which allowed people who couldn’t attend conventional schools to receive education from a distance. Although it was a small start, it helped to lay the groundwork for eLearning, which would go on to revolutionize education.
With the advent of the computer era, new possibilities for eLearning development emerged. The first attempts at computer-based instruction took place in the 1960s, when students were given access to instructional materials via mainframe computers. Personal computers became widely accessible in the 1970s, which sparked the creation of instructional software and computer-assisted instruction (CAI).
But the 1990s Internet boom was what really revolutionized eLearning. When the globe Wide Web was launched in 1991, students could access educational materials at any time, anywhere in the globe. As a result, learning management systems (LMS) were created and are now used to manage and distribute educational content through web-based training (WBT).
New technologies appeared in the early 2000s as eLearning continued to develop, helping to determine its direction. New eLearning tools and systems were developed in part due to the influence of social media, cloud computing, and mobile devices. As a result, mLearning—mobile learning—and the use of social media and other collaborative tools to support online learning both came to be.
The advent of authoring tools, such as our favorite – Articulate Storyline, helped speed up the process of making online learning to a nearly unprecedented levels. Check out our portfolio to see what Articulate Storyline can do in the hands of our capable developers.
But what does eLearning’s future hold? It will continue to be influenced by the rapidly changing technological environment. The development of AI and VR will be crucial in determining the direction of eLearning in the future. Through analysis of students’ learning preferences and customization of the content to suit each student’s requirements, AI-powered tools can be used to personalize learning experiences for students. Through the use of immersive learning environments created by VR technology, students can explore difficult ideas and concepts in a more interesting and interactive manner.
But there are other eLearning trends that are developing that are equally significant. Microlearning is one of them; it entails presenting educational material in brief, manageable segments. By enabling students to concentrate on particular topics and ideas without feeling overloaded by a lot of information at once, this can help to improve retention and engagement.
The shifting nature of the job market is another element influencing the future of eLearning. There is a critical need for eLearning tools and platforms that can support ongoing professional development and lifelong learning given the increasing focus on lifelong learning and the requirement for workers to constantly acquire new skills and knowledge.
To finish – the history of eLearning is a story of constant evolution, driven by new technologies and changing educational needs. From the humble beginnings of correspondence courses to the sophisticated platforms we see today, eLearning has transformed the way we think about education. As we look to the future, the ever-changing landscape of technology and the job market will continue to shape eLearning, driving innovation and growth in this exciting field. We as a company are in stride with the latest developments in the eLearning world. Our LMS and eCourses offer what the market needs today.