The concept of education has always been a very interesting topic of discussion among various circles. While stalwarts like Henry Ford and Jack Welsh, to Albert Einstein and Nelson Mandela among others have insisted on the need for lifelong education, there are many who even till date associate the concept of education to the limited boundaries of school/college education. Fortunately the tides have turned and there is greater acceptance and recognition of learning as a lifelong experience. Especially with the advent and popularity of online and distance education and remote learning among adult learners the shift in patterns and trends in alternative learning is evident. There is also greater reliance on technology, especially Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, immersive tech like AR/VR and EdTech learning platforms to facilitate advanced learning concepts and methods.

And while in the last few years, the need for Learning and Development for skill upgradation has been recognized in many industries, the pandemic of 2020 has made it all the more necessary. Individuals are looking at new skills to acquire and learn, while companies are focusing on identifying the skills of tomorrow. This has made several companies rethink their business models and the ways their employees can add value to the organization. For businesses and industries in slack, the need for keeping their employees engaged and up-to-date is of primary importance. Companies like Schindler for instance, are keeping their employees engaged by sharing related quizzes till the time construction activities are not resumed; others are looking at alternative learning options on platforms like Coursera and LinkedIn Learning for short-duration programs; while AI Chatbot based eLearning platforms is the solution for several others. 

According to the Association for Talent Development (ATD) in a survey titled ‘An American Society for Training and Development’, out of 2,500 companies surveyed, those with “comprehensive training programs” had 218%  higher revenue and 24% higher profit margins. AI backed Remote and Online Learning in EdTech is the future for adults and professionals, and the world is just getting started with it.

What is Remote Learning? 

Remote learning is the process of learning in an environment where the learner and the teacher are not physically present in a traditional classroom setting. Information is conveyed through technology, such as video lectures, presentations, and online assignments. In some instances, even games are used.

Remote Learning vs Online Learning

Remote learning involves moving content that was previously designed for face-to-face interaction to an online platform for a limited time, just the way schools have shifted course work online as a result of the pandemic worldwide. On the other hand, online learning involves designing a course exclusively for online learning and teaching.

Remote Learning for Professional Development in the new world

Remote learning for adult learners matters more today than ever as entire industries are gearing up for change. We can already notice trends in remote and online learning for professionals as most businesses realize the need for change.

For instance, as the challenges of COVID-19 continue to grow, school education has moved completely to online platforms worldwide. This calls for professional development and training of teachers as well on the technology and tools being used for delivery. In Alabama for instance, teachers have to now earn 50 CEUs (continuing education units) to hold on to their teaching certificates (Source: Tech & Learning, April 2020).

While the transition to online education and professional skills upgrade to match the platform requirements have been challenging, it’s the need of the hour. Companies like Google and Microsoft are already making tech solutions for remote learning easily available. Google has added new features and functionalities to Google Classroom while Microsoft has a suite of products (eg. MS Teams, Minecraft, Flipgrid etc.) to simplify education across learners and educators (K12 and Higher Education), faculty, IT and parents (Source: Microsoft website).

We are venturing into the new world. And while AI and Adaptive Learning in EdTech has revolutionized personalized learning, it a new window of opportunities that have been opened here.  

Role of AI in eLearning

While institutions are also realizing the role of AI and adaptive learning in a post-pandemic world, organizations are realizing the role of AI in remote learning. There are three ways AI is influencing the world of remote learning:

1. Intelligent Tutoring Systems: 

As the name suggests, the systems are meant to function as a tutor. The systems present the educational material according to its assessment of the learners strengths and weaknesses, helping the student improve their knowledge and understanding of the concepts. By assessing the user’s learning capabilities, the AI system suggests users activities that would help the learner achieve the learning goals of the lesson. When talking about how AI is transforming online learning, we also have to take into account the use of AI for automated grading systems and remote monitoring of learners. The use of automated grading systems helps learners understand their weaknesses without the trouble of waiting for a guide to respond to them individually.

2. Smart Content:

“Smart content” is the application of technology to summarize textbook content into digital interfaces. This type of learning is being introduced in levels right from educational settings to corporate environments. Netex Learning, an edtech organization provides smart content based curriculum which can be designed by employers via gamification, simulations, virtual courses etc. over a personalized cloud platform designed for the modern workforce. AI-based personalization in online platforms is the order of the day and corporates are rushing to take advantage of it. According to SH!FT, eLearning increases retention rates between 25% – 60%.

3. Virtual Facilitators:     

Another area where the application of AI is slowly becoming more prominent is in the role of virtual facilitators.  Virtual facilitators are virtual characters designed via AI, 3D gaming and computer animation that can act and interact with users as facilitators.

Remote Learning for Employees: Enhancing experiences with AI

There has never been a more important time for remote learning than now, especially for adult learners. Protecting workers in the midst of this crisis is crucial, and preparing them for a  post-pandemic world is even more crucial. As an AI service provider building Edutech platforms for remote learning for employees, we understand the nuances of remote learning platforms and how these times are crucial for the learning and growth of employees. Remote learning platforms are not just required for the upskilling of your employees, but can also make a huge difference in the productivity and output of your organization. Adult learners are usually tied up with their family responsibilities, work, and other responsibilities, due to which learning takes a backseat. However, with the lockdown and the world moving towards a new world order, there will be an abundance of time present for employees. If you are looking to build an eLearning platform to train your employees to function well in a post-pandemic world, let us discuss.