If you are thinking of using an eLearning platform, there are many questions you will need to ask before making your decision. Some of these include: what is the learning management system’s (LMS) track record in terms of performance; how well does the LMS integrate with your other systems; and do I even need an LMS? This post discusses what to look for in selecting the right eLearning solution. The author guides how different types of learners can utilize eLearning solutions and best fit into an organization’s overall strategy. Additionally, the author discusses various platforms that may be available for deploying online learning solutions.
Developing Effective online courses – Choosing the right elearning strategy
What is an eLearning platform?
A learning management system (LMS) is a system that allows educators to create, deliver and manage online courses. Students can use an LMS to take notes and participate in online discussions and quizzes. It also facilitates the distribution of course materials and tracking student progress. These systems, which are typically cloud-based solutions, are cost-effective alternatives to hardware-based learning solutions. They offer rich media such as audio, video, documents (PDFs), images, and interactives embedded into learning experiences. These platforms are also commonly used to create, host and store course content.
While LMSs are excellent tools for creating and delivering online courses, they do not fit every scenario. For instance, a complete LMS could cause paralysis of creativity when creating innovative multimedia learning experiences. As much as possible, it is best to use an LMS as a complement to other learning systems, including those in the Office of the CTO (e.g., Netbooks).
Why use an eLearning platform?
The benefits of online courses for eLearning platform can provide several benefits over all-in-one systems. These include:
- 1. Cost savings. E-learning platforms are far less expensive than all-in-one systems and can be integrated with other systems to create a solution that meets the needs of specific customer groups. This can lead to cost savings for customers. For example, an elearning platform may be paired with a support call centre platform to create an effective self-service portal for customers.
- 2. Customization is easy. Elearning providers typically offer tools that allow you to modify existing courses or create new courses with content from their library or other sources. When you select an eLearning provider, you need to ensure that they offer the content you need for your courses. If not, there is a good chance that you will have to create course content from scratch. This can be time-consuming and expensive if done from scratch.
- 3. Flexibility and scalability. ELearning platforms are often easily scalable as your courses grow in number and complexity. For example, a multi-user elearning platform with hundreds of users may not be appropriate for large corporations. However, this same platform could be scaled down for use by just one instructor or a small team of students in the classroom or lab environment.
Teachers should select an eLearning platform based on the needs of their learners and consider the following characteristics:
Multi-user. This feature is essential if you need to deliver content to multiple learners simultaneously. If you are teaching a management class to a group of executives, it will not make sense for you to create a one-on-one course for each student.
Multi-device. Ensure the LMS can be accessed from any device (notebook, tablet or mobile phone) so students can access learning content from anywhere at any time. This may not be a significant feature if your students typically use notebook computers or other offline devices during business hours. However, if you reach a younger audience or learners who are not always connected to the Internet, multi-device functionality is likely a must-have.
Learning analytics. Learning analytics is another important feature that can provide valuable data about how learners interact with the content. This information can be used to acceptable tune future learning initiatives and online courses website programs. The author of this article recommends examining how well an elearning platform integrates with your existing systems and how well it relates to the business knowledge you have about your customers and their needs.
conclusion
Selecting the right eLearning provider is essential to your success. These tools and platforms enable you to save time and money by allowing you to deliver courses and training programs that are engaging, on time and in the classroom or other location of the learner. These tools also allow you to enhance learning experiences for all employees by providing knowledge management solutions that can be customized based on specific business needs.
