Crystal ball gazing
The e-learning market has managed to zap onlookers over the years by springing up new technological advances, and as a consequence, enhanced features of e-learning, every now and then. As there have been rapid leapfrogs in the information technology sector off late, e-learning has evolved tremendously in meaning, with new features rapidly emerging on the e-learning horizon. Though it is difficult to pin this e-learning butterfly to admire its colors, here is some crystal ball gazing.

E-learning will stimulate skill enhancement
With job profiles being modified with alacrity, skill advancement cannot be escaped. For organizations, waiting for educational institutions to churn out deserving candidates is obviously a time consuming proposition. Here, e-learning comes to aid by providing constant updation for employees so that they remain competitive with on-the-job training. As an add-on, this is not accompanied by the time lag associated with classroom based training, to the relief of time starved employees and managers.

Organizations other than corporates will embrace e-learning
Corporations trying to increase the value of their employee-training comprised of the early patrons of e-learning. But, fortunately, this has given way to an encouraging trend of government agencies, educational institutions, and NGOs waking up to the benefits of e-learning. Developing countries can heavily rely upon e-learning to infuse learning among workers, thus increasing their productivity. It can also compensate for the dearth of qualified and skilled teachers in demography. Schools and colleges wanting to retain talent can introduce specialized programs from other institutions.

Application service providers will rule
For first time e-learning users, or companies that are interested in concentrating on their core competencies, application service providers are the best bet. These can either be vendors or any third party that manage the whole e-learning process for your organization. Implementing e-learning platforms on third party servers no only saves on the precious time of time-starved organizations, but also benefit on the price front because of the additional research and development by the application service provider. Moreover, the organizations can either lease the e-learning platforms or purchase them according to convenience. This is particularly helpful for organizations that want to test the waters before taking the plunge.

E-learning will rule mergers and acquisitions
With a plethora of collaborations, mergers and acquisitions taking place day in and day out, it is necessary that the workforce of the collaborating companies be oriented towards the working patterns of the new partner. Team members of collaborating companies can use the e-learning platform to understand shared objectives. Learning of new technologies and techniques becomes less tedious in the wake of e-learning.

Wireless technology will bring a breakthrough in e-learning
Unlike a few days ago, professionals need not travel to urban hubs to attend conferences and seminars or to gain insight into new research. Wireless technology will allow content to reach to distant areas of the world. Two way information transfers with technologies such as radio, satellite and Wi-Fi signals are now the reality of the day, and this is groundbreaking, to say the least.

E-learning will be integrated with infrastructure
With either departmental or company wide intranets becoming the order of the day, e-learning deployment through them has become easier. Easy integration of learning modules into staff communications is possible, thus encouraging employees to learn. The content, being in chunks, is also easily digestible.

It will even out the disparity between small and large businesses
The exchange of information between rural experts and urban communities and vice versa is possible because of e-learning. Niche industries will tremendously gain because of this development. High level information is now not the prerogative only of blue chip companies with e-learning making it available to smaller businesses for free.

Including games in the courseware will be common
Quizzes, treasure hunts or other fun programs can ingrain new ideas into learners and comply with the ‘learn and have fun’ model of learning. Simulations through games are gaining popularity be the day, with experts conceding to learning through experience being the most effective way to learn. For example, Training industrial employees for risk prone tasks, yet eliminating hazards from the training is possible with interactive gaming.

LMS will suffer a blow
LMS was hailed as the panacea of all learning needs, but it took time for experts to discover the reality. One product cannot satisfy all your learning needs, without becoming increasingly complex, and demanding time, resources and money from its users. Knowledge delivery will now be the focus of all e-learning initiatives that will also merge HR management, learning management, and content management with its structure. This new structure will bring about a change in the way learning needs are redressed.

Conclusion
All in all, the ever evolving e-learning has not yet abandoned the process, and will well continue to develop into a sophisticated and futuristic learning platform in congruence with the rapid advances in technology and learning standards.