The festive season is the most wonderful time of the year! And for good reason.

Everyone's winding down for Christmas, tucking into turkey and snuggling up in their cosy jumpers. It's the perfect time to reflect on the past 12 months, and start planning for the year ahead.

Last year was a big year for edtech – and 2018 will be no different. From video content to mobile learning – students are grabbing their smartphones and heading online for their training. And that's the theme of the year really – check out our top 10 training trends to look out for in 2018:

Mobile learning

Mobile learning is a must for 2018. Most of us rely on our smartphones for quick-fix answers – and it's the same for learners. They want to be able to train at any moment, so they can use time sat on the bus or waiting for lectures to learn. Choose a learning platform with a mobile app so your team can learn anytime, anywhere, on any device.

Social learning 

Social learning is one of the fastest-growing learning tools – and it's sure to be big news in 2018. Social learning is all about working closely together and sharing skills in a natural way. Learners are more likely to remember information that's shared on social channels or learning platforms, so make sure you use edtech with social messaging features.

Learner-led learning

Now more than ever before, learners want to take control of their own learning. This is great news as it gives people the opportunity to learn in a way that suits them – you just need to have the right tools in place to support them. Using an online platform is key. As long as mentors can monitor learner progress and send feedback frequently, learners will stay on track.

Flexible learning

Young people are in constant contact with the world on social media, so they thrive off continual feedback and approval. This doesn't mean you have to give learners a pat on the back the whole time - just keep them in the loop. Use a range of tech to send support and flexible feedback to your learners.

Micro learning

Think smaller, shorter, easy-to-digest pieces of content. Break your framework into a series of mini modules learners can complete in a few minutes. Short content can be consumed really quickly, so it keeps learners engaged in their training.

Mentoring

This fits in with learner-led learning. Instead of strict teaching and assessments, learners want to be guided in the right direction by a trusted mentor. This coincides with the shift towards tutoring in the new world of apprenticeships too.

Learning in real life

Most of the trends for 2018 focus on edtech – but not this one. To complement online learning we'll see a clear focus on real-life experiences. Think university placements, practical training, apprenticeships etc.

Open source learning 

This may sound like jargon, but it’s a pretty straightforward trend. Open source learning is about using lots of different tech to deliver learning in lots of different ways. If you can find a system with lots of integrated features, you're on to a winner!

Content-centric learning

Content has always been at the centre of learning – and in 2018 it'll be no different. We'll see a shift from generic content to customised courses, dynamic content, videos and interactive quizzes. If you don't use a VLE already, now's the time to invest!

At OneFile, we're always ahead of the curve. Our learning software is already 2018-ready, with loads of built-in features to help you keep learners engaged in the coming year. We're talking custom content, integrated features, flexible feedback and mobile apps.