Are you looking to create an eLearning website but feeling overwhelmed by the sheer number of options available?
Fear not! In this article, we’ll guide you through the process of choosing the best eLearning platform for your website.
Whether you’re a small business owner or an educational institution, we’ll help you identify your specific needs and requirements, consider your budget and technical expertise, and explore the different types of eLearning platforms available.
So, sit back, relax, and let’s dive into the wonderful world of online learning!
Article Contents
What Is An eLearning Platform?
An eLearning platform is an umbrella term for all kinds of online educational systems.
It’s a software application that can do a lot of different things, like creating, delivering, and managing educational content over the internet.
Some eLearning platforms are focused on providing online courses, while others are more about virtual classrooms or training modules.
There are also eLearning platforms designed specifically for businesses or educational institutions, giving them the ability to offer flexible and accessible learning opportunities.
So, in short, an eLearning platform is a versatile tool that encompasses a wide range of educational systems.
Types Of eLearning Platforms: Course Marketplaces vs Learning Management Systems
At the most high-level eLearning platforms can be divided into course marketplaces and Learning Management Systems (LMS). Let’s take a look at the different types of top eLearning platforms.
Course Marketplaces
Course marketplaces are websites that allow course authors and instructors to sell their courses, and students to purchase and study them.
Some popular examples of course marketplaces include Coursera, Udemy, and Skillshare.
These platforms offer a wide variety of courses on various topics, from business and technology to arts and humanities.
Course marketplaces are a great option for individuals who want to learn a specific skill or topic, as they offer a variety of courses to choose from.
They also provide flexibility in terms of scheduling and pacing, as students can typically take the courses at their own pace and on their own schedule.
Top course marketplaces:
- Coursera: an eLearning platform with courses from the top universities in the world.
- Udemy: an online learning platform that offers courses on various topics, such as business, design, photography, and more.
- SkillShare: an online learning community with thousands of classes for creative and curious people. Users can learn skills such as illustration, design, photography, video, and more. Users can also join groups, share projects, and interact with instructors and peers.
- PluralSight: a technology skills platform that offers courses and assessments in software development, data science, machine learning, and more. Users can access expert-led content, measure their skill levels, and track their progress.
- LinkedIn Learning: an online learning solution that offers courses and videos on business, technology, and creative skills. Users can discover personalized content based on their goals and interests, connect with experts and peers, and earn certificates to showcase on their LinkedIn profiles.
- Domestika: an online platform for creative professionals. Users can learn from experts in fields such as design, illustration, photography, animation, and more. Users can also join a community of creatives, share their work, and get feedback.
Learning Management Systems
If you want to build your own eLearning website you will need a Learning Management System (LMS). It’s an ‘engine’ you can use at the heart of your website.
A Learning Management System (LMS) is a type of eLearning platform that is used for creating and managing educational content.
Unlike a course marketplace, which is focused on providing a platform for course creators to sell their courses, an LMS is designed to be used by organizations or individuals who want to create their own courses and deliver them to their learners.
LMSs typically include a range of features, such as course creation and management tools, grading and assessment tools, and communication and collaboration tools.
In contrast, an eLearning platform is a broad term that encompasses all kinds of online educational systems, including both course marketplaces and LMSs.
Top LMS systems
- Moodle: an open-source LMS that is free to use. It is used by educators and trainers to create online courses and manage virtual learning environments. Moodle offers features such as course management, grading, and assessment tools.
- Canvas: a cloud-based LMS that is used by K-12 schools, higher education institutions, and businesses. Canvas offers features such as course creation, grading, and assessment tools. It also has a mobile app for students and teachers.
- Blackboard Learn: an LMS that is used by K-12 schools, higher education institutions, and businesses. Blackboard Learn offers features such as course creation, grading, and assessment tools. It also has a mobile app for students and teachers.
- Docebo: an LMS that is used by businesses to train employees. Docebo offers features such as course creation, grading, and assessment tools. It also has a mobile app for employees.
- Sakai: an LMS designed for higher education institutions. Sakai offers features such as course creation, grading, and assessment tools, as well as tools for collaboration and communication.
- Open edX: an LMS that offers a range of features, including course creation, grading, and assessment tools. Open edX is highly customizable and can be used for a variety of educational purposes.
- ILIAS: an LMS that is designed for use in corporate and government settings. ILIAS offers features such as course creation, grading, and assessment tools, as well as tools for collaboration and communication.
How To Choose The Best Elearning Platform For Business?
When you are building an eLearning website of your own it can be daunting to find the most appropriate eLearning platform for your project.
These three questions will help in guiding your choice:
- What features will you require for your eLearning website?
- What’s your budget?
- What’s your tech expertise?
Let’s see what each of these questions entails.
1) What Features Will You Require For Your Elearning Website?
The use case scenarios and any special requirements for your website will dictate what features you will need.
For instance, what user types will use your website and how? The standard user types and their functionality for an eLearning website are:
- Students: access to courses, homework, progress tracking
- Course authors: course upload, course statistics
- Admin: user management, platform statistics, course management
However, in the case of child education, parents may also want to use your website. They will require special functionality such as tracking progress, viewing homework, teacher feedback and grades.
In addition to that, you can also think about whether your course authors will come with already created courses or if they will need to create those courses on your platform. If the latter is true, you will need a course-building functionality on your website.
Once you have your list of features and requirements it will be easier to narrow down the list of LMS platforms that will accommodate this list.
2) What’s Your Budget?
As you’ve probably noticed, some of the LMS platforms are open-source and free, while others can be quite costly. For example, Docebo pricing starts at $1600 per month.
Free eLearning platforms like Moodle, Open edX, and Sakai among others can also give more flexibility to customize and add functionality.
At the same time proprietary platforms like Docebo, Canvas, and others provide more pre-build functionality and great customer support.
3) What’s Your Tech Expertise?
Each LMS option requires a different level of technical expertise. Paid platforms, such as Docebo, allow you to manage almost everything without technical knowledge.
However, open-source systems like Moodle, eDX, and others require programming skills.
Therefore, you need to assess your technical expertise and decide whether you want to hire a web development team to build your eLearning website.
Wrapping Up
In conclusion, choosing the best eLearning platform for your website can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be.
By identifying your specific needs and requirements, considering your budget and technical expertise, and exploring the different types of eLearning platforms available, you can make an informed decision that will result in a successful and engaging online learning experience for your users.
Remember that the right eLearning platform can make all the difference in the success of your eLearning website.
So take the time to research and compare different options, and don’t be afraid to try out a few before making your final decision.
With the right eLearning platform in place, you can offer your users a valuable and rewarding online learning experience that will keep them coming back for more.
