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In recent years, online learning has become an essential part of education, particularly for higher education institutions. At the same time, there is a growing trend toward using eLearning platforms to make online learning more efficient and engaging for students – an example of this is AmazingTalker.
This article will discuss how you can leverage an eLearning platform to make your distance learning programs more effective. But before that, let's understand what a learning management system is.
Learning Management System (LMS)
A learning management system (LMS) is software that manages student enrollment, course content, and grading. It's an integral part of blended learning because it allows you to track your student's progress as they work through different parts of the course.
Most LMSs also give you the ability to deliver content in various formats, such as videos with transcripts for audio learners, ebooks for visual learners who prefer text, and screencasts for kinesthetic learners who learn by doing. In other words, an LMS lets each student learn at his or her own pace and style.
The adoption of LMSs is increasing rapidly, especially with the rise of blended learning. This trend is expected to continue as more organizations adopt an adaptive learning strategy. That's probably why the learning management systems (LMS) market is expected to reach USD 76.18 billion by 2030.
Distance Learning Plan
Once you've launched your learning program, creating a plan for each student is essential. A tailored plan will ensure that students are on the right track and can complete their assigned tasks promptly.
In 2020, 72.8% of students enrolled in distance education courses in postsecondary institutions. More and more students are warming up to learning online, and it is essential to create better course content to keep up with the demand.
While creating a learning plan, remember that every student has different needs. Some may struggle with basic skills, while others want to advance their careers by getting additional certifications. To consider this, use your eLearning platform's course management system (CMS) to ensure students can access the specific resources they need.
When creating the plans, ensure they align with your school's curriculum so that the entire class will progress at the same pace and receive consistent feedback from instructors or mentors on how well they're doing in real time. You should also provide clear paths forward so students know what they're supposed to do next. This makes it easy for them not only now but also when they revisit content later down the road as part of continuing education requirements.
Engaging Content
One of the most effective ways to engage users is through interactive content. This includes everything from videos, to games and quizzes, to social media integration (such as Facebook profiles).
According to a research study, students' satisfaction and engagement are essential for a positive learning experience. Interactive content makes learning more engaging by presenting questions that require students to think critically or solve problems. For example, an online course may ask students how they would react in a certain situation if they were working at a restaurant and had just been verbally abused by a customer.
Finally, social media integration allows learners who might otherwise be reluctant about participating because of their shyness or lack of confidence in public speaking skills (e.g., during live webinars) to feel more comfortable about contributing their thoughts because it allows them to participate anonymously using pseudonyms instead.
Blended Learning and Learning Paths
Blended learning combines online and offline learning, intending to get the best features of both worlds, helping students achieve the same learning outcomes as traditional classroom learning.
Learning paths are like a series of courses that lead students from one point to another. For example, say you have an online course about using Microsoft Word for business documents and want your student to learn how to create tables in Word documents.
You could create three separate courses, one about tables, one about creating business documents with tables, and one about combining these two skills into custom templates. Or you could put all three subjects together in one more extensive course called “Using Tables in Microsoft Word Documents: A Step-by-Step Guide.”
You can also give your students access to additional resources through blended learning. You can also use online platforms that offer help with homework to students.
This means that even when you are not available to help the students with anything, they can simply check with online tutors for English homework or any other subject to get answers to their doubts. This will make your online learning course the best on the platform, allowing access to the right resources at the right time.
Mobile Access and Learning
The advantages of using a mobile learning platform are obvious. A study conducted on online students of Midwestern University showed that using mobile devices positively affected the students' motivation to learn.
A mobile app allows students to access their courses on the go at any time. With access to your course materials, videos, and other resources, you can enhance learning anywhere and anytime, whether in class or by commuting between meetings. With an intuitive interface and design that simplifies navigation on your smartphone screen, it's never been easier for students to learn from their phones.
The same goes for assessing yourself and taking tests from your phone. Whether submitting assignments or taking quizzes, everything is within reach wherever you feel most comfortable (or least). Mobile learning platforms also come with built-in collaboration tools that allow students to connect with one another both inside and outside the classroom, providing opportunities for social learning experiences and helping them stay connected outside school hours.
Gamification
There are many ways to make online learning more fun for students, including gamification. Instructors can use gamification as part of their interactive approach. Rather than simply watching videos or reading texts on how something works, learners can engage in activities that will test their knowledge and give feedback based on how they answer questions.
Gamification uses challenges and prizes to motivate students in a way that can be more effective than traditional teaching methods. You can use badges and points to encourage your students to complete their learning goals.
Gamification has increased motivation among adult learners and provides benefits similar to those seen through standard coursework, like higher grades, better test scores, and improved retention rates. Using gamified training has been proven to increase student performance by up to 89.45%.
Conclusion on How to Leverage an eLearning Platform
By leveraging an eLearning platform, you can create a more interactive and engaging experience for students. The key to success is to keep it simple and focus on what's important, learning. Don't overcomplicate things with unnecessary features or flashy graphics. Create a learner-centric experience that meets the needs of your audience by offering engaging content, access on mobile devices, and social media integration options.
Get valuable experience by exploring online teaching jobs to see what eLearning platforms are already in the market:
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