Trends in Online Education by 2030

Here is a closer look at the key factors influencing the online education market in the upcoming decade.

The online education market is set for rapid growth: its volume has already reached $6.5 trillion, and by 2030 it will reach the $10 trillion mark. We have highlighted five main trends affecting the market evolution.

Gamification is getting more and more popular among universities and companies. According to Metaari forecasts, by 2024, its usage in universities will grow by an average of 15.4% per year. Science Direct reports that gamification in education can boost academic performance by 34%, and 67% of students find this format more motivating and engaging than traditional courses. Gamification also speeds up the learning process: for example, the well-known consulting company Deloitte has launched gamified training, which is completed twice as fast as usual.

Gamification has proven to be effective in corporate learning as well. Uber, for example, created role-playing games along with training videos, and one of them was based on Game of Thrones.

Gamification

Artificial Intelligence

According to eSchool News, by the end of 2021, AI usage in the online education sector is expected to grow by 47.5% compared to 2019. The reason for such growth is the ability of AI technologies to carry out different functions at once.

The Duolingo service is known for using AI to personalize the entire educational process, from background knowledge evaluation to adapting lessons individually according to student performance. An AI tool called MATHiaU from Carnegie Learning is being used to assist students who underperform in math by helping teachers adjust the learning process to the needs of students.

AI-based chatbots are also becoming very popular. The University of Georgia, for instance, has implemented a digital assistant from AdmitHub that answers questions about enrollment, educational programs, and payments, thereby reducing the admin workload.

AR/VR

The market for virtual and augmented reality (AR and VR) is also growing rapidly: according to analysts at IDC, it will reach $94 billion by 2023. Currently, VR and AR learning tools are the most popular in the corporate sector. They can help in areas where skill practicing is quite risky and potentially dangerous, such as in science, medicine, and manufacturing.

For example, a medical startup EchoPixel has developed an immersive tomography technology: using an ultrasound machine and 3D glasses, doctors create a three-dimensional hologram of a patient's body or a specific organ. This system can be used to practice surgical skills safely.

Microlearning

Microlearning is a new trend in online education. By 2024, the market is expected to reach $2.7 billion with an average annual growth rate of 13-15%. Microlearning refers to an educational approach that offers short-term sessions focused on a specific skill. Compared to traditional MOOCs, it has crucial advantages: higher involvement in the learning process, significant time savings, and guaranteed results.

Microlearning is already being adopted by Google, IBM, CISCO, Unilever, and other corporations. At the same time, Walmart and the startup Axonify have developed a joint project to educate their employees on workplace safety. Each of the course interactive blocks lasts no longer than 3-5 minutes. More than 75,000 Walmart employees have taken the training, resulting in a 54% reduction in emergencies.

Proctoring

According to the Online Exam Proctoring Market Forecast to 2027, the proctoring market will reach $1.1875 billion by 2027, with an average annual growth rate of 15-16%. The online proctoring introduction in educational institutions and companies has accelerated due to several factors. First is the coronavirus pandemic, which forced the whole world to go online and switch to distance learning, making the issue of monitoring test takers' honesty especially relevant. Second is the overall growth of the online education market. The third reason is the growing trend of integrating AI into the learning process, as the most updated proctoring systems are equipped with an AI module.

The artificial intelligence developed by Examus can detect cheat sheets and other people's voices or their presence in the room. It can also track the usage of files and programs on the desktop and switches between browser tabs. Also, the AI analyzes test takers' level of engagement. Examus software was shortlisted by the AI Awards Reimagine Education, an association that regularly reviews the best innovative education developments. Examus entered the top 10 best technologies on the planet in the AI category.