online learning platforms

How to Choose the Best Online Learning Platform?

Learning is the single most important thing you can do to give yourself a mental boost. By learning something new, you can upskill yourself and improve your confidence. Learning is perhaps one of the few things that come with zero disadvantages. Over the years, learning has become easier and more accessible for those who want to upskill themselves. Thanks to online learning platforms, the education sector has undergone a paradigm change. Countless books and online courses on various topics are available to learn.

Moreover, teachers (online and offline) are readily accessible to help you with all sorts of doubts. So, if you’re someone who wants to learn from the comfort of your home, now you have that option too. Studies show that a significant number of learners across the world prefer e-learning, especially after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

By joining online learning platforms, you can learn any topic of your choice from renowned experts in the field. However, your experience in e-learning solely depends on the platform you choose. So, it’s crucial that you make well-informed decisions here. Let’s dive deep into how you can choose the best online learning platforms that will be worth your time and money. Given below are all the factors you should consider before selecting an e-learning platform.

Self-Hosted or Marketplace?

Some online course creators self-host, while others rely on marketplaces. Both are equally good as the overall experience of your learning will fully depend on the creator of the course.

However, when you join a marketplace to learn a new skill, you are recommended other similar courses to improve yourself even more. Additionally, in a marketplace, you can find various coaches who teach the same course, enabling you to choose the best one for yourself. 

Besides, some learning platforms offer users free trials so they can have enough time to make up their minds about taking up the right course for themselves.

Another reason most learners choose the marketplace system over the self-hosted ones is that in renowned organizations, the instructors are interviewed and reviewed before being offered the positions, lending them more credibility.

Easy-to-Use Interface and Customization

Check whether the online platform you’re opting for has a customization option for learners or not.

Some of the best online learning platforms provide live chat options so that learners can clear their doubts regarding the topic they are learning. Some platforms even offer online tests after the end of the course. So, be clear about your needs from the course and select accordingly. 

In addition, the interface of the learning platform plays a big part in the overall learning experience. While this isn’t an issue in marketplace-based courses as they generally have a well-made website, self-hosted systems do tend to have weaker interfaces.

Ensure that the online learning platform of your choice has an easy-to-use interface so that you don’t have a hard time doing what you want to do.

Lastly, it’s very important to choose a platform that has a prompt support team to help you with issues regarding payments and other technical problems. This way, you will be able to devote all your time to learning and bettering yourself.

Does the Course Provide a Stimulating Learning Experience?

This is far more important than the system used to provide the course and the interface. Every learner has a different style of learning things, and on online platforms, it’s a bit hard to ensure that all the students are learning effectively.

Courses that provide a stimulating learning experience are the ones learners should opt for because they ensure that all kinds of learners are prioritized. Some online learning platforms also encourage student-instructor interaction so that no doubts are left uncleared.

Courses that encourage critical thinking, promote class discussion, and frequently come up with new projects help students take the course more seriously. As a result, their interest in the topic grows, and they strive to perform better in class.

Check the Affordability Factor

On e-learning platforms, prices vary a lot as they charge learners by the hour, whereas some charge based on the number of classes they take. Some courses don’t charge anything at all.

In marketplaces, the organization generally decides the price of courses created by instructors. Some marketplaces also let the creator determine the pricing for their course.

So, once you are done considering the three aforementioned factors, compare prices on all your shortlisted websites to see which one works best for you.

Analyze the Tutors' Experience Level

The tutor must be experienced and an expert in the field they are teaching about. We all want to learn from the best, and on online learning platforms, it’s also easy to get in touch with amazing teachers from around the world.

So, do some research about the tutors for your online courses before you start learning.

Remember that e-learning does necessitate a good amount of investment. The return on your investment (ROI) is directly linked to how skilled the instructors are. By learning from the best, you will have more confidence in the topic once your course ends. 

Conclusion

In today’s age, the options available for online course systems are too many to count, which makes deciding on one system a bit difficult.

To select the best platform for your requirements, consider all your options. Take time to think whether the course you’re opting for will fit your budget, schedule, and learning style.

See if you prefer self-hosted systems or marketplace-based ones. The choice should be made very carefully; once it’s done, give your best to make the most of your investment.

KITABOO is a leading online learning platform that gives you all the possible solutions to traditional learning problems. KITABOO turns all your learning content into interactive e-books to help you learn effectively and remember every little thing you learn.

The best part? You can learn from any Android and iOS device of your choice. Not to mention, KITABOO also supports mobile browsers and has a very easy-to-use interface. To know more, please write to us at KITABOO@hurix.com

Discover how a mobile-first training platform can help your organization.

Kitaboo is a cloud-based platform to create, deliver & track mobile-first interactive training content.

Mike Harman

Mike Harman

Mike is the SVP Business Development at KITABOO. He has over 30 years experience in achieving consistent top-line revenue growth and building mutually beneficial relationships. More posts by Mike Harman