Important must-have features of an online learning platform

With the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the eLearning sector is bustling with innovations and development. It’s also a great chance for the eLearning sector to create game-changing solutions for learners. Having the right collection of online learning features is beneficial not just to students, but also to businesses in achieving their objectives. For a fantastic user experience and successful conversions, here are a few eLearning website features you should have. 

• User-friendly and intuitive learner interface 

Your LMS application should run smoothly and must be tailored to maximize the learner’s experience. The ease to log in one step, effortless browsing, accessibility to relevant resources and engaging interface are a few of the basic requirements that your users expect from you. Many online learning portals have Getting Started sections and How-To tutorials which helps your users with easy navigation through their features and services. If your learners can’t locate relevant online courses and information, it doesn’t matter what else it has to offer. 

• Responsive design 

Not all learning takes place during work hours and through a desktop. This is why it is prudent that your LMS has a responsive design to allow learners to log in at any time, from any device. The same applies to learning resources. Before making a selection, make sure to evaluate the responsiveness of the solution you choose as well as any preloaded content within it. 

• Variety in learning resources 

Using a learning management system that only gives access to one or two types of online training and learning materials will reduce student engagement. As a basic standard, your e-learning platform should allow you to upload and view word documents, PDFs, photos, audio files, video files, online courses, and in-person courses. People learn in a variety of ways, so make sure to support them. 

• SCORM and or xAPI compliant 

The majority of learning content is SCORM or xAPI compatible, ensuring that it fulfills industry technological requirements for online learning content. There are other protocols with the same purpose. There are now five versions of SCORM, therefore your learning platform must be compatible with at least one of these to guarantee that you have access to a wide range of learning materials both now and in the future. 

• Automated learning journeys 

Your learning platform should assist you in building customized and organized learning experiences that can be planned and disseminated automatically, whether you are a learner, a line manager, or an L&D function. Without the capacity to generate, schedule, and automate access to learning resources and training content, it’s the same as giving learners access to an online content library and hoping they consume the content. It’s a little like browsing Netflix or Amazon Prime. 

• Easy and effective administration and reporting 

The ability to quickly, easily, and effectively upload users and content to the system, manage roles and access levels, and report back on how people are using the system and what they are doing with the learning is a significant benefit of purchasing an online learning platform – so ensure that several members of your L&D function test the admin profile and settings before making a decision. 

• Authoring tools 

While many users use a variety of third-party tools to assist them in creating various sorts of online courses and digital learning resources, many organizations have in-house content developers that create fresh learning materials. In that case, technologies like Articulate Storyline, Rise, and Adobe Captivate will help them construct simple and effective online learning sessions, assessments, and quizzes. 

• Collaboration and social learning tools 

To maximize the effectiveness of any solution, you must provide more than simply L&D-defined material and courses. While there will almost certainly be mandated learning that you want people to engage in, many organizations are already discovering the benefits of collaborative and social learning driven by their employees. Social learning supports the sharing of best practices and peers debates through content produced and shared by your workers – without the requirement for L&D to spearhead or drive it. Access to collaboration tools such as live video diaries, group debates and forums, and personal blogs will guarantee that your organization is ready to move into the future of learning and better support your employees and their preferences. 

• Integrated and fully documented API 

External APIs are used by many eLearning systems for a variety of purposes, including supplementary payrolls, student lists, assignment due dates, student payments, and more. It might take a long time to manually add hundreds of people each year. Furthermore, all of these must be updated regularly. The data may be sent automatically if your eLearning platform is synchronized with reputable external APIs. You can save time, money, and effort in the end. The mainline is that you should try to automate as many of your operations as possible. 

• Scalability 

The most crucial thing to ensure is that your services can be scaled up in terms of user number and functionality, so inquire about their development plan to learn more about how the platform could be able to help you in the future. You want to work with a service that will develop with you, so ask the question before making your final choice. It’s critical that as your organization develops and your learners mature, you can meet their present and future demands – thus cutting through the “noise” and concentrating on these top ten must-haves will assist lead you in selecting the optimal option for your online learning platform. 

E-learning is here to stay and is predicted to develop exponentially over the world. With such a competitive market, providing a hassle-free user experience combined with high-quality content will be the winning recipe. Your website is the foundation of your business, and ensuring you have the correct e-learning website features is the first step. You will be the market victors if you focus on providing effective and individualized learning experiences.