E-Learning Statistics and Trends You've Gotta Know!

There’s no question that eLearning has grown both in popularity and acceptance in recent years. It has also become one of the most effective and efficient ways for people anywhere to gain knowledge and learn new skills. Learners from all walks of life and from every corner of the globe are discovering the benefits that eLearning has to offer. Whether it’s improving fundamental knowledge, gaining new job skills, learning a foreign language, or countless other needs; e-Learning offers opportunities that would otherwise not exist for most people.

In order to understand the rapid growth and increasing importance of eLearning around the world, we thought we’d answer a few questions about trends and statistics in our industry. The questions below are based on inquiries that we often receive about the current state of eLearning development. Since this information is valuable in understanding where eLearning is and where it’s headed, we’re excited to share it with all those interested in the future of training development.

• What exactly is eLearning and what techniques does it use? The best description of eLearning is a training or other learning experience that is delivered electronically. It typically requires an Internet connection, but can sometimes be delivered in physical form as on a DVD or storage device, or delivered off-line. The styles of eLearning delivery can vary from established technologies like video presentations to the latest in high-definition 3D graphics, serious games and virtual reality.
• Where is eLearning participation growing the fastest? The 10 fastest-growing regions of the world for eLearning growth are actually outside of the U.S. According to Ambient Insight in their study The Worldwide Market for eLearning Products and Services, India is the country with the fastest growth in eLearning adoption at 55%. The top 10 countries on the list include:
  • India – 55%
  • China – 52%
  • Malaysia – 41%
  • Romania – 38%
  • Poland – 28%
  • Czech Rep. – 27%
  • Brazil – 26%
  • Indonesia – 25%
  • Columbia – 20%
  • Ukraine – 20%
• In what areas is eLearning having the biggest impact? With the skyrocketing cost of higher education, eLearning offers an affordable alternative for millions of people around the world. It has been estimated that by 2019, 50% of all classes at the college level will be taught online[¹].

  Another area of impact is in the transition of corporate training from traditional classroom-based to eLearning methods. Currently 77% of US companies offer online or other eLearning tools to their workforce[²].

• What types of job training use eLearning the most? According to research conducted by Training Magazine and published in December of 2014, some types of training are more suited to eLearning than other types[³]. Here is a partial list of job categories, and the percentage of training that occurs via eLearning.
  • Compliance or other mandatory training – 72%
  • Desktop application training – 56%
  • IT/Systems training – 54%
  • Industry-specific/professional training – 51%
  • Sales training – 45%
  • Customer service – 38%

  Interestingly, the categories of management and executive development training incorporated the lowest percentage or online or eLearning training at just 30% and 36% respectively.

• Is eLearning replacing classroom training in companies? While eLearning is growing in acceptance and availability, no one will argue that it’s a replacement for all training. In fact, it has been reported that blended learning programs, those incorporating a blend of classroom and eLearning instruction, are the most effective ways to train for certain job skills[⁴].

Why eLearning is Having Such an Impact

The effectiveness of eLearning and its ultimate impact on learning and development programs across the board is due to a variety of factors. The combination of accessibility, ease of use, advances in design, technology and computing developments among other dynamics, have made eLearning a more readily available way to learn. It’s this availability that has had such an impact on businesses, industries and learners around the world.

Future Growth Projections for eLearning

If recent growth rates are an indication, the future of eLearning technologies is robust. Respected industry leaders and agencies have weighed in with their projections for the growth prospects of eLearning initiatives in coming years. Their predictions include the following:

• By 2019 more than 50% of all classes will be taught online[⁵].
• By 2017 50% of organizations are expected to be using serious games and simulations as part of their eLearning initiatives[⁶].
• In 2015, 44% of companies plan to purchase online or eLearning tools and systems. This compares with 33% who plan to purchase classroom tools and systems[⁷].
• The online corporate training market is expected to grow by 13% annually through 2017[^8].
• By 2017 China is expected to be the largest consumer of online and eLearning programs[⁹].

Here at Designing Digitally, Inc., we have the expertise and experience to make eLearning a valuable part of your corporate training program. We design and deliver the next-generation of online and eLearning systems that enable more effective and efficient training delivery. Let us know how we can help your learning and development team integrate eLearning into your training program by requesting a quote here.

¹Velsoft – The eLearning Revolution (2014)

²Roland Berger – Corporate Learning Goes Digital (2015)

³Trainingmag.com 2014 Training Industry Report (December, 2014)

⁴SRI International – Blended Learning Report (2014)

⁵Velsoft – The eLearning Revolution (2014)