Now organizations are becoming more and more democratic, even with their learning and development. That’s why the need for a more personalized learning approach started to appear, and this is where LXPs come in. These platforms put the learner in control, making the learning process more engaging.

But what is a Learning Experience Platform exactly? And how does it differ from the famous LMS (Learning Management System)? We’re going to explore all these things and more in this article.

The current worldwide need to switch from in-person to online education has made interest in online courses grow. Because of that, there’s a particular acrostic that’s being bandied about everywhere, and that is LMS. But what does LMS mean? This is something we’re going to tackle here today.

A good deal of people might not realize it, but the first functional LMS dates back to the 90s. An example of that would be FirstClass, made by Soft Arc and EKKO and released by NKI Distance Education Network. It is thanks to these early examples that elearning, as we know it today, was born. As LMS plays an integral role in academic learning, it’s grown vital to most educational institutes.

What does LMS mean?

LMS stands for Learning Management System. Imagine a space where you can collect and organize learning/training material. A space with an integrated system to track the work and improvements of each member. The name comes from the key features offered by this system:

• Learning: Providing the platform with courses and educational/training material
• Management: Helping organize this content and the users who access it
• System: Keeping track of all changes, updates, accesses and achievements

In a nutshell, an LMS provides schools, businesses, and organizations with a platform to gather their courses and educational content. The internal system allows them to

• manage who can access the materials and when,
• track their progress,
• record their scores and evaluations, and
• collect data to improve the system and the usability of the offered content.

All of that in one place.

Who could be interested in an LMS?

While LMS is particularly ideal for academics, that’s not the only place for it. In fact, any business that wants to offer training and/or teaching courses can only benefit from the use of an LMS. From small to large businesses, schools and various organizations: the possibilities are endless.

LMS for Business

Companies that adopt an LMS are interested in a system that allows them to offer training material for their employees. All with the possibility of evaluating their progress over time. The key feature of this type of LMS is the ability to keep the material constantly updated. Also, you have the chance to create different groups of learners for different types of training. That’s in addition to a detailed analytics area where all the data will is stored and expanded to help improve the company.

LMS for Education

But what does LMS mean for education? Well, all elearning platforms rely on an LMS that gathers the learning material in one place. They also provide a space for students to attend instructor-led classes. Assignments, tests and an evaluation system are usually included in the same platform. While a constant update is not necessary here, a key element is an integrated calendar to plan lessons and tests.

Is there only one type of LMS?

The types of LMS available vary in order to satisfy the different needs and usability levels. The presence or absence of a competent IT department within the organization is a decisive factor in choosing the right type of LMS.

Free or commercial license

One of the first distinctions is the initial cost, choosing whether to opt for an open-source system or a commercial one. The advantage of the first type, aside from the “free of charge” aspect, is the ability to organize and customize it as you like. But, in this case, an excellent IT team, able to adapt it and keep it updated, is necessary.

A commercial software is the most suitable solution for users who prefer to pay for a license, but get a finished product with IT-support.

Cloud or no Cloud?

Security is one of the most important elements when it comes to online products. There are several companies that, for fear of leaking out corporate secrets, prefer self-hosted software, i.e. installed on their server. However, this involves some extra attention, such as manual backup and updating data on the server.

Cloud-based LMS, on the other hand, comes with constant support from the company’s creator, with automatic backup and updates. This type of LMS usually comes as a SaaS model (Software as a Service). That means the platform is hosted by a third-party provider. Confirming the presence of an encryption protocol can put businesses interested in such a solution at ease.

According to a recent elearning report, cloud-based learning is not a mere solution during economic turndown but is also cost-effective, efficient, and time-saving. In fact, with the workforce geographically distributed, cloud-based learning helps to bring workers up to speed quickly on relevant knowledge and skills.

LMS or LCMS?

The LMS is, as mentioned above, a tool that allows you to offer and organize ready-made educational material or training such as the interactive books offered by Kotobee. An LCMS (learning content management system) also offers the ability to create such content, although usually more basic than the software.

What are the benefits?

Is it worth investing in an LMS? What are the benefits for the provider but also for the users?

For a company/school:

• It’s cost-effective
• It’s easily customizable
• It helps in organizing the different training courses, attending groups and possible tests
• It’s available to all users at any time
• It’s easy to track the work, the improvements and the feedback of each user in real-time
• It’s time-efficient
• It gathers data that will help improve not only the LMS, but the company/school itself
• It is environmentally friendly!

For the users:

• The material is always available anywhere
• It facilitates self-paced learning
• The variety of courses stimulate the users to improve themselves

Disadvantages

There are some disadvantages, in particular for those users who might prefer an in-person learning style or more physical training.

• Lack of communication gives the impression of an impersonal style of teaching
• Cheating prevention is not impossible, but difficult to achieve
• The theory looks more important than practice
• Not suitable for every topic
• The user needs to have at least some basic computer skills

Some of these issues could be easily resolved with the addition of video chats with the teachers/trainers or group projects. Furthermore, a gamification system would help to increase the fun during the learning process.

What are the features to look for?

Depending on your needs and usage, there are distinct features offered by various learning management systems. Some offer only basic functions and some focus on the needs of businesses. Others are essentially set up for a more scholastic mode. Specific use requires specific features, as you can see in this article about the best LMS for HR training.

We have gathered some of the most important features to consider when choosing an LMS:

• Customization/branding of the interface
• File variety to keep the users’ attention alive—images, videos, virtual training and live lessons are ideal
• The ability to create multiple types of users, with different capabilities to control the platform
• A scheduling system
• The ability for users to leave feedback in order to improve the platform
• Other ideas such as use of multiple languages, localization support or an integrated payment method for the companies interested in selling their courses

Tracking

One of the most important features is the tracking system, in order to record the users’ various activities such as:

• Course enrollment
• Progress status
• Course completion
• Quantity and type of courses currently followed and completed
• Hours of activity on the platform
• Ratings
• Gamification score
• Acquired certifications

Gamification

There’s no better method than gamification to stimulate students and employees as they learn. How? By creating a system of competitions, tests and points to receive badges and rewards. Completing a course will no longer be just an assignment, but also fun. Plus the knowledge gained can be consolidated through fun activities.

Mobile-friendly version

Nowadays, every app, game or software that aims to be used by users on a daily basis, must be designed in a desktop version. Not only that, but in a mobile and tablet version as well. Learning anywhere and at any time means being on hand at all times. So, what tool can we no longer live without in everyday life? The smartphone!

To keep up with the times it is necessary to have an easy and intuitive design, differentiated according to the various devices and models.

Conclusion

The 2020 events have caused the world to rethink its procedures, emphasizing, even more, the importance of technology in daily life. Such as the possibility for students to take their lessons directly from home or for employees to deepen their knowledge thanks to company software. But also the possibility for small businesses to offer private courses for a fee.

Online learning is the future of education, but also of business. So, using an LMS is a win-win for the provider and the users involved. Take a look at the best LMS of 2022.

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If you have stumbled upon this article, there’s a big chance you’re reading it from your mobile phone. Whether it’s ordering food or watching cat videos, people use their mobile phones for absolutely anything these days. According to Statista, there are over 3.8 billion smart-phone users worldwide as of 2021. Consider this, the global population is over 7 billion people. This means that exactly half of the world’s population has a smartphone in their hands. So it’s not really much of a jump to expect m-learning to take off with them.

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Nowadays schools and businesses worldwide have started using elearning extensively. All to transfer knowledge and skills to their students and employees. This, coupled with technological advancements, has triggered further changes in this field. The latest one being the rise in the use of elearning applications.

Elearning apps are excellent forms of education. Especially since mobile devices now account for 51.65 percent of web page views globally. However, it’s necessary to understand there are “must-have” features for these applications. They’re the ones that ensure quality learning is delivered to the user.

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Because of the COVID pandemic, being in closed areas in groups has turned into a big problem. While children are less likely to catch the virus than adults, they can still be carriers and put others at risk. Due to that, a worldwide need for social distancing and self-quarantines or enforced quarantines arose. According to UNESCO, 87% of the world’s student population has been affected by this new development. Many people are at odds with what to do at home, or what to do with their children. For that reason, distance learning has become a rather popular concept these days. But what is distance learning?

That’s what we’re here today to discuss.

The thing is, distance learning has become very vital even before the COVID pandemic, which today practically made it a necessity. In fact, here are 6 Reasons Why Universities Need Elearning Programs with or without this virus spread. Now, let’s go back to explaining what distance learning is. Continue Reading

Traditional learning has been the predominant mean of education in universities for as long as anyone can remember. However, with the advent of elearning technology, it’s become necessary for universities to implement elearning programs to stay ahead.

Despite the growing demand for elearning, some universities haven’t incorporated it in their syllabus yet. Little do they realize that they are missing out on the opportunity of a lifetime by not being a part of this innovation in education. Today we’re going to explain to you why universities actually need such elearning programs.

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Gone are the days where employees needed to gather in conference rooms for their mandatory HR training sessions. Due to various technological advances, such as LMS, they can now train at their own pace, either at the office or from the comfort of their own home.

Thanks to various LMS (learning management system) software solutions, HR teams all over the world are helping their employees improve skills and expertise much faster and easier. If you want to follow in their footsteps, you’ve come to the right place. Continue Reading

Did you know that elearning apps line the future of education in many areas worldwide? In 2014 Forbes predicted that the delivery of learning and training through online resources was going to reach $107 billion in 2015. This prediction came true. Last year Forbes came up with another prediction that showed triple the revenue of 2015 by 2025. This means elearning is going to grow to $325 billion by 2025.

So how do you make use of this innovation? Build your own elearning app, of course! In order to jump on that bandwagon, we suggest you start by putting your app ideas onto paper and being as specific as possible. Once you define your requirements for a future app, you’re ready to proceed to development. It may seem overwhelming, but we’ll give you a brief overview of what each stage entails, and hopefully, that will help ease your fears a bit. Continue Reading

E-Learning is the future of learning, teaching, training, and professional development. The online mode of teaching and learning is a profitable business sphere with a plethora of opportunities to capitalize on as an EdTech entrepreneur. This particular industry has outperformed anticipations.

The market research firm Global Industry Analysts predicted that eLearning market will surpass the $107 Billion mark by 2015 and it did exactly that. Now there is a prediction that the Global eLearning market will proceed to cross the $325 billion mark by 2025. Looking at the recent developments in online teaching and learning industry, we cannot deny the fact that the market is poised enough to cross this mark too. In 2017, businesses made over $46 Billion by selling online courses.

Do these numbers encourage you to venture into this profitable market? Do you have an idea to start your own eLearning website? Are you confused between two popular options: SaaS and perpetual solutions to develop your eLearning platform?

Don’t worry. By the end of this post, you will have enough knowledge of the pros and cons of each of the options to make an informed learning management system (LMS) choice.

So let’s talk about everything that concerns these two popular ways to develop an eLearning website in 2019: SaaS or a perpetual eLearning solution.

What is a SaaS eLearning Solution?

SaaS is a rapidly growing solution in enterprise software development and deployment management. The development in cloud computing technologies made it possible to store and share different kinds of data through the internet via cloud delivery channels. The aim was to reduce the burden from the end-users’ hardware for storage and use a central host that would deliver whenever required.

Now, consider an eLearning website builder. Traditionally, you would need to download that software and install it on your hardware to use it.

However, with SaaS, you do not need to download or install the website builder at all. The vendor of the eLearning website builder would already have the software installed and set up on their or any third-party cloud server. You would just need to access their cloud interface and set up your website from there. Ultimately, your website will be ready and already hosted on the server.

In simple terms, SaaS delivers the finished software solutions through third-party cloud servers, which you can use from day one with no local or premise installation. They make deployment faster, maintenance easy, and hardware requirement zilch.

What is a Perpetual elearning Solution?

Learning Management Systems (LMS) have been around way before SaaS was introduced. They are the traditional methods to set up your own eLearning website. Where SaaS solutions are generally ready-made, a perpetual eLearning platform can be both ready-made and pre-finished.  It generally involves processes such as,

1. Downloading from the software vendor.
2. If the base code is enough, start setting up your website. If not, customize the codes.
3. Host your finished website on the web-server of your choice and get it live.

In all this process, you would need hardware (own or rented server) to host your website, and a team (or an expert or the skills) to do the development, deployment, and maintenance of the site. You will receive an access code to tweak the software if the base features are not enough. Most of the time, a perpetual eLearning platform has all (by default) that you would need to start an eLearning website. For example, a perpetual Udemy clone possesses most of the Udemy-like features by default. If you are aware of Udemy’s website, you would know what features to expect in Udemy clone script on the market.

Comparison of SaaS and Perpetual eLearning Solutions

Depending on your needs either can prove useful for your cause. Let’s compare these two options on various grounds to understand the pros and cons better.

Setup

As they are readymade, SaaS setup is simple and quick. Software development is done by vendors, so you get a ready solution that can be used from the first day.

Perpetual eLearning solutions are more complicated and take time to set up, time for development, setup, and deployment to the final website.

Ease of Use

SaaS is easy to use, and comparatively less complicated, as you don’t have to mess with the codes.

The perpetual software options have user interfaces that can be simple to use, and if well customized, then potentially easier to use than a ready-to-go platform. However, some website settings and initial setups are complicated for a non-technical person.

Security

Generally, SaaS vendors use highly secure cloud servers. They have their own team that looks out for your website’s security.

If you opt for hosting an LMS on your own server, you are solely responsible for the security of your website. The more you know, the more security measures you take, and the more your website will be. Ignoring the security measures can put your website in jeopardy.

Revenue Shares

SaaS vendors charge commissions or shares from the revenue. With a perpetual LMS, you purchase the software and run it at your own expense and profit. The vendors will not take a commission or share.

Services

The SaaS vendors provide the hosting, saving you the cost of a server. You may, however, be charged for the following items:

• subscription plan,
• revenue share,
• any value-added service.

Depending on the vendor, the cost of using a perpetual eLearning solution can differ.

• You might get the source code for free, for example, Moodle. You might have to pay for the source code ex. Agriya, PinLearn, etc.
• You will need to have a server or pay for server services.
• You may need to hire a developer.
• You will have to subscribe to payment services like Stripe, PayPal, etc.

Long-term use

SaaS is ideal for new projects and short-term usage. The initial cost is lower, but over time the monthly payments do add up.

The upfront cost associated with perpetual LMS software is high and at times an obstacle. With long term use though, the initial costs become negligible.

Updates & upgrades

With SaaS, updates and upgrades are generally free, though depending on the type of system, may not take place. Regular free updates for a limited time. It depends on the vendor.

Paid perpetual systems may provide updates and upgrades for free for a limited time and then require payment for major upgrades.

Source Code

With SaaS solutions, you don’t get the source code, so there is no development access. You will get a ready-made application. Only vendors can do development.

A perpetual LMs can be both ready-made and unfinished. You get and own the source code under a license agreement. Depending on the license, you can modify the code as you want.

Customization

Customizing a SaaS platform is very limited. Without access to the source code, only elements the vendors allow customization for can be customized. With perpetual platforms, you have the source code. You can customize your website the way you want.

Maintenance responsibility

SaaS vendors take care of the maintenance. You need not worry about it.

Free LMS software will not provide any maintenance services. With paid software, it depends on your agreement with the vendors. They might give you technical support for a limited time. For the rest, you need to maintain your website on your own. However, the hosting maintenance is taken care of by your service partner.

Multiple domains

SaaS vendors require you purchase different licenses for using the software on different domains.

Perpetual software options will depend on the vendor’s licensing policy. The majority of vendors do not limit the usage on multiple domains. For example, Moodle can be used on multiple domains for free. However, you might have to pay extra for using paid Moodle modules on multiple domains.

Migration ease

No SaaS vendor supports any rival vendor’s software, so migration is nearly impossible or very complicated.

Perpetual systems are developed on standard frameworks and database technologies, which are common in most of the perpetual vendors. Migration is not an issue here.

Verdict

SaaS solutions are the best options for starting a business quickly and with limited resources. With the technical aspects all handled by the SaaS vendors, you just have to worry about developing your business with your unique ideas. However, for a long-term commitment, SaaS vendors’ costs add up.

On the other hand, perpetual solutions are the best option for medium to large-sized ventures, whose businesses are already stable and may already have a tech team and sufficient capital for the initial setup. Perpetual solutions like Udemy clone script can be a good option for such websites.

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As an educator, getting your students to adjust to online classes might be a bit difficult. Unlike face-to-face learning environments, online learning requires deliberate effort on the part of both the educator and the learners to remain engaged throughout the length of the course.

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