As we say goodbye to 2018, we also welcome a new set of emerging instructional design trends. By being aware of what is on the horizon, you can prepare your company to take advantage of what the coming year has to offer. Here are some 2019 instructional design trends that should be on your radar.
AR and VR
Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) have been making waves in the learning and development (L&D) arena for some time. The technologies make learning interactive, creating digital spaces and representations of items or situations that can allow employees to gain knowledge by doing instead of merely reading or listening. AR and VR can increase engagement dramatically. Plus, as the technologies become more commonplace, the cost of the devices ends up more reasonable.Bite-Sized Learning
L&D is taking cues from social media, creating learning modules that are smaller and more focused. Since people are used to gathering information in small chunks, this allows your training programs to mimic other real-world experiences, making them feel more familiar. Plus, when you use bite-sized learning, training can easily fit into the busiest of schedules. If an employee can go through a section in less time than it takes to finish a cup of coffee, they will be more likely to complete the program in a reasonable amount of time.Video
Another impact of social media on L&D is the increased use of video. Videos achieve higher engagement rates than written or pictures, making it more likely that your employees will stay focused. Let YouTube inspire how your videos are designed. Keep them short and highly targeted on one point (similar to the bite-sized learning approach) and try to make the content delivery fun and energetic.Apps
The vast majority of professionals have access to a smartphone, whether it is their own device or one provided by the company. When you make your L&D program app-accessible, you empower your staff by allowing them to learn no matter where the day may take them. While this doesn’t mean you need to fully abandon computer or web-based training, making sure that much of your program is compatible with mobile devices is wise. By creating an app for your workers, you centralize all of the information and make tracking their progress easier. Plus, most apps can support a variety of media. You can make your videos, written content, and even podcasts accessible directly through the app. This increases the overall efficiency of your program, ensuring that your employees can get what they need in just a few taps or swipes.Are You Ready to Embrace Emerging Instructional Design Trends?
If you are ready to make the latest instructional design trends work for you, the skilled consultants at Clarity Consultants can work closely with your company to create a custom training solution. Contact us to discuss your L&D needs with one of our highly experienced consultants today and see how our unique service offerings can make building your ideal learning and development program as simple as possible. 