7 Learning trends for 2025

Learning never stands still! At Précon, we look ahead to the key learning trends of 2025. What can you expect from developments in learning? Discover the latest innovations, technologies and methods shaping the future of learning.

1. Learning-on-the-job & performance support

Een van de belangrijkste learning trends. Uit onderzoek blijkt dat ‘learning-on-the-job’ veruit de effectiefste leermethode is voor een praktijkgerichte doelgroep. Bij learning-on-the-job voeren medewerkers hun werkzaamheden uit onder begeleiding van een ervaren collega of manager als mentor. In 2025 willen we daarom meer gaan kijken naar de mogelijkheden van learning-on-the-job, zoals met performance support: hierbij bied je de medewerkers de leerondersteuning die zij op dat moment nodig hebben tijdens hun werkzaamheden. Bijvoorbeeld het bekijken van een korte instructievideo over het schoonmaken van een machine aan de productlijn. Of een infographic over het wassen van je handen voor je de productieruimte in gaat.

2. Mobile-friendly

Training courses are increasingly taken on smartphones or tablets in addition to on computers. This is not only because of the flexibility, employees do not have to be especially at home or in the office behind their PC to make a training, but also because of the learning style of especially younger students: they spend a large part of their time on the smartphone and tablet, and also study a lot via smartphone and tablet. So in 2025, our intentions are to make training courses even more mobile-friendly, so that trainees who prefer to learn on a mobile device will have as fine a learning experience as they do on a computer.

3. Closer to practice with photos and videos

Visual aids such as photographs and videos play a crucial role in conveying practical situations in training. Sometimes you want to show situations that are difficult to capture on photo or video, for example, an environmental incident at a company or an unwanted object entering a machine. In that case, you can use existing or stock photos and edit them with photo editing programs or AI tools. And even videos can be edited with AI to simulate an incident or dangerous situation. Current developments in AI mean that photos and videos can be edited faster and faster.

Our course evaluations show that photos and videos with recognizable practical situations are experienced as much more pleasant than illustrations. They tie in better with work practice and make what is learned immediately applicable. In 2025 our focus will therefore be on enhancing training with practice-oriented photos and videos so that we can support course participants even better.

4. 360° photos

By using 360° photos, you can recreate very specific situations in an e-learning. Consider, for example, walking through a corporate environment for an onboarding or fully visualizing equipment and machinery so that trainees know all the ins and outs of it. A 360° environment also increases near transfer: trainees can more easily apply what they have learned in one situation to a new situation.

360° photos allow trainees to digitally navigate a real working environment, clicking on machines or materials for information or dragging items within a room. This allows them to digitally practice certain actions in very specific situations, such as cleaning and disinfecting a production area. This still allows students to practice certain situations that are difficult or impossible to mimic in practice.

5. Storytelling een interessante learning trend

Storytelling plays a key role in our e-learning: by taking learners through a story, you ensure that you hold their attention and that they remember the material better. Storytelling works thanks to four core components: hormones and neurons, emotions, structure and underpinning.

A story can activate different hormones and neurons in the learner. Using tension building in the story releases cortisol, which creates extra alertness in the learner. And a pleasurable experience in or reward for completing a storyline triggers the production of dopamine, which makes the learner more focused and also more interested in the lesson material.

Emotions make us remember a particular event better. Our brain links information to an emotional event that we have experienced ourselves and this ensures that the information stays in our memory. So it is important to appeal to emotions in a story. For example, consider a situation about working safely. If you show the consequences of the undesirable behavior (for example, a broken bone after unsafe driving), a trainee is shocked by the accident. This emotion stays with you and makes you remember the information longer and better.

A story provides structure in an e-learning and helps to give context to the lesson material. The course material is thus better remembered by the learner and it is also easier for him to relate the material to his practice.
A story also helps to underpin learning objectives: it gives image to a learning objective and helps the learner to put themselves in the situation. For example, if you want trainees to be able to explain what food safety means, then a storyline helps underpin learning objectives. For example, a story in which you follow a colleague who gets very sick after a drink from eating a cheese plate that has been outside the refrigerator too long. You think, "This could have happened to me too!" and thus understand why food safety is important.

6. Personalized learning paths

An organization often has different training needs. Personalized learning paths offer a solution here: specific training that is personalized to the needs, abilities and interests of employees. This can be e-learning, where employees learn online and at their own pace, as well as other training methods, such as interactive on-the-job training, classroom training, webinars and videos.
Employees will gain knowledge faster through personalized learning paths and find it easier to put it into practice. And this has a positive impact on the organization's food safety culture, because knowledge of food safety prevents mistakes.

7. Training plan and customization

A training plan provides an overview of the knowledge and competencies needed to do a particular job well. This way, you know exactly what you need to train your employees in. A training plan also makes development opportunities for employees more transparent and accessible, and this can increase their motivation to stay in an organization. In addition, a training plan offers the following benefits:

• Engage employees for longer periods of time by offering growth prospects.
• Shaping change in the organization.
• Link training or training needs to organizational goals.
• Create overview of available and needed training offerings.
• Demonstrate the sustainable employability of your employees.
• Structural investment in learning and development is cost-effective.

If desired, we can fully customize a training plan to the needs of your organization, such as adding your organization's specific procedures or practice illustrations to the training.

Need help developing your learning solution?

Bekijk welke leeroplossing wij aanbieden of neem contact met ons op via info@precongroup.com, NL +31 (0)30 65 66 010 of BE +32 (0)3 616 08 69 voor een vrijblijvend advies gesprek.