Two years after my last visit, I returned to LEARNTEC 2025 in Karlsruhe. While I didn’t visit all of booths, I had some conversations and picked up on the key trends shaping digital learning today. The buzzwords? AI, VR, and Robotics — now more real and integrated than ever.
Smarter E-Learning Platforms
Most of the products I saw were B2B learning systems for companies and schools. Their focus: creating personalized, goal-driven learning paths using internal knowledge and external content.
A typical learning system follows this cycle:
- Set personal learning goals based on skills and company needs
- Recommend content from both internal and external sources
- Deliver learning in different formats (videos, VR, quizzes, text, etc.)
- Track progress, issue certificates, and suggest next steps
Though each platform looked different, most shared this smart, adaptive learning structure.
AI: The Digital Learning Assistant
AI is now central to these platforms. I noticed three main uses:
- Smart Search — Learners can ask questions or use prompts to find relevant content.
- Personal Coaching — Based on user feedback and background, the system recommends next steps.
- Reporting — AI automatically generates learning reports and progress summaries.
VR and AR: Learning by Doing
VR training was everywhere — from virtual labs for public speaking and course learning, to navigation practice and hands-on equipment training. But not everything required a headset. Some setups used smartphones: scan a QR code and see digital guides or dialog pop up around real objects. It’s a simpler, more accessible form of augmented learning.
Robotics: Learning Through Play
One fun area was robotics. In one booth, a robotic arm played the “Connect Four” game. In another, you could lay down command cards, and the robot would follow the instructions — move, turn, or spin. Great for teaching logic and programming, especially to kids.
Final Thoughts
I didn’t have time to see every booth, but one message was clear: learning tech is getting more personalized, more interactive, and more fun. Many tools may look similar, but the real magic lies in how well they adapt to each learner’s needs.
It would be more engaging if the learning path were as short as possible, with micro tasks that are easy to complete. The learning process should be focused, with visible and practical results, allowing learners to immediately apply their knowledge to tasks or problems, especially since people often don’t have time for long learning sessions.
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