The online education market is set for rapid growth: its volume has already reached $6.5 trillion, and by 2030 it should reach the $10 trillion mark. We take here a closer look at five key factors that are influencing this market in the upcoming decade.

Contents

• Artificial Intelligence
• Proctoring
• Gamification
• AR/VR
• Microlearning

Artificial Intelligence

According to eSchool News, by the end of 2021, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the online education sector is expected to increase by 47.5% from 2019. The reason for such growth is the ability of AI technologies to carry out different functions at once.

Dybuster’s products, Calcularis and Orthograh, have demonstrated success using AI in their educational software. Users can achieve their learning goals in less time and with fewer tasks, as the learning pathway is tailored to their specific needs and adapts as they progress. 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, reducing the administrative workload.

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 to 16%. Several factors contributed to the acceleration of the online proctoring solution in educational institutions and companies. The first is the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced the world to move online and switch to distance learning, highlighting the need for a solution to ensure the security and validity of remote examinations. Second is the overall growth of the online education market and third is the increasing tendency to integrate AI into the learning process, as the most updated proctoring systems are equipped with an AI module.

The artificial intelligence developed by Alemira can observe behavior and detect cheat sheets and other people’s voices or presence in the room. It can also track the usage of files and programs on the desktop and toggle between browser tabs. In addition, the AI analyzes the test-takers’ level of engagement. The Alemira Proctor software was shortlisted by the AI Awards Reimagine Education, an association that regularly reviews the best innovative education developments. Alemira Proctor entered the top 10 best technologies in the world in the AI category.

Gamification

Gamification is getting more and more popular among universities and companies. According to Metaarits, by 2024, its use 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 accelerates the learning process; for example, the well-known consulting firm Deloitte has launched gamified training, which has a completion rate twice as fast as usual.

Gamification has also proven to be effective in corporate learning. Uber, for example, created role-playing games along with training videos, one of them being based on the popular series Game of Thrones.

AR/VR

The market for virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) 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 the practice of skills is quite risky and potentially dangerous, such as in science, medicine, and manufacturing sectors.

For example, EchoPizel, a medical startup, has developed an immersive tomography technology that allows physicians to create a three-dimensional hologram of a patient’s body or specific organ using an ultrasound machine and 3D glasses. This system can be used to perform safe surgical techniques.

Microlearning

Microlearning is a newer 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, including greater participation 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 start-up company Axonify have developed a joint project to educate their employees about workplace safety. Each interactive block of the course lasts no longer than 3-5 minutes. Over 75,000 Walmart employees completed the training, resulting in a 54% reduction in emergencies.