Online learning trends. Global. About ICDE, International Council for Open and Distance Education. The Big Picture. Online and distance education is steadily increasing all over the world.The growth in higher education is massive. The change is dramatic. MOOCs are peaking. Numbers of MOOCs. Innovation in Education. Example from US online 2014. Example from ECAR 2013. Analysis of driving forces. Analysis of Opportunities. The small text, which you should read.