Revolutionize Your School with the Best E-Learning Platforms

With the technological evolution, we’re experiencing there comes the need for new ways of teaching. Therefore, today we will discuss the E-Learning Platforms for Schools.

With the outbreak of Covid-19 came the need for new ways of teaching. Gathering and meetings were not allowed, and schools had to turn to online learning and find platforms that are efficient and easy to use. That’s when they started to use platforms and apps like Zoom, Google Classroom, and so.

Now let’s find out what is the best E-learning platforms, but first, we will understand the meaning of e-learning.

Definition of e-learning.

The letter e in e-learning stands for electronic. The term electronic learning refers to the use of electronic devices that are connected to the internet such as smartphones, tablets, and computers to deliver learning classes or training online. To make the learning process easier. hence the learner or student can adjust the learning process at his own pace.

For instance, school teachers record the class, and then upload it to a platform like Google classroom. The student can watch it at any time and anywhere, and if there are any questions he can easily communicate with the teacher, or leave the question in a comment and the teacher will answer it. And what is great about Google classroom is that it can be used on phones, tablets, and computers, and it’s easy to use by anyone.

Best E-Learning Platforms for Schools.

E-learning platforms and apps got their popularity during Covid-19. When schools were forced to turn to e-learning to continue the learning process, delaying classes were of no use. That’s when they started to discover platforms that could help them teach students at home. At first, the process wasn’t easy as it was a whole new experience, but later on, both teachers and students loved online learning.

Online learning is flexible, efficient, and saves time and effort. It’s a better way of learning that combines the traditional classroom experience with the flexibility of virtual learning.

Here’re some of the best online learning platforms:

1.     Moodle.

One of the best E-learning platforms that have its own application and can easily be used by students is Moodle. It’s an open-source eLearning platform with various tools that offers an interactive learning experience between the teacher and students. The word Moodle stands for Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment. Some of its benefits for schools and teachers are:

1.     Easy to share learning materials: teachers can easily upload files, videos, images, textbooks, and links to share with students.
2.     Grouping and managing access to learning materials: teachers who teach different classes can easily group students and provide them access to their learning materials. And if you want a specific course to become available later on to students you can also do that.

3.     Updating the content: you can easily update the course content anytime using a browser.

4.     Assessment: instead of wasting time on marking assignments Moodle can do that for you.

5.     Assignments and work submission: student can submit their work before a deadline easily and it will be marked and graded by the teacher. Also, teachers can give feedback on the assignment.

6.     Communicate with the students: Moodle offers a messaging system to allow easy communication between teachers and students. Also, teachers can communicate with a group of learners to inform them of any new information.

2.     Google Classroom.

One of the most used platforms for E-learning is Google classroom. It’s an online tool that is easy to use and access at any time and anywhere. Teachers can upload videos, files, images, and any learning material easily and share them with learners. Students can access the learning materials without any effort, submit their assignments or work, see their grades, be informed about the new assignments and deadlines, and communicate with the teacher.

Google Classroom has an app that makes it even better for students and easier to learn at any time with no limits.

3.     Zoom.

A cloud-based video conferencing tool that is widely used by organizations, companies, and schools to conduct online meetings. Zoom is one of the best E-learning platforms that facilitates the learning process through live videos and chats. With the help of this tool, teachers can meet with students to explain the lesson and interact with them just like in the traditional classroom. Also, the meeting could be recorded to share later.

Here are some of its benefits:

1.     One-on-one meetings: a teacher could host a One-on-one meeting if needed to interact with students.
2.     Group video conferences: the free plan allows you to host a meeting for 40 minutes with a maximum number of participants of 100. While in the paid plan the meeting can last for as long as you want and the number of participants is up to 500.
3.     Screen sharing: the teacher can easily share the screen with the students to explain the lesson easier. whatever the learning material you want to share you can share it easily and they will see it.
4.     Recording: the teacher can record the meeting and share it with the learners after the meeting.  
5.     Breakout Rooms: after you finish the lesson you could assign a project and divide the students into groups, each group enters a breakout room to discuss the project and work together then present it to the rest of the class.

6.     Chat: students could use the chat option to communicate with the teacher or with each other.

4.     Microsoft teams.

Another great E-learning platform that is used widely is Microsoft Teams. It’s a platform that enables the teacher to conduct online meetings, share files, videos, and documents, screen share, chat, and more. Here are some of its features and benefits:

1.     Channels: Microsoft teams work using channels to allow teams to communicate and work together. Also, participants can invite their friends using the @ function.

2.     Chat: Chat is a great way for students to express their opinions and ask questions. It helps them to communicate with the teacher easily.

3.     screen sharing: the teacher can share his screen with the students to explain the lesson, he can share videos, PowerPoint, pdf, images, or anything to help students understand the lesson.

5.     iSpring Learn

iSpring Learn is a cloud-based learning management system that offers many tools to make the online learning experience better. The teacher can easily create the course, manage it, and share it with students.

6.     Docebo.

Another great e-learning platform for schools is Docebo, which offers many tools and solutions to enhance the online learning process. It features tools like video conferencing, social learning, blended learning, and gamification.

What is the best e learning platform?

Online learning is a great way of learning that saves time and money. Whatever course you’re searching for you will find it. More importantly, online learnings help us overcome geographical problems. Now you can learn anything you want even if it isn’t offered in your country.

Here’s the best e-learning platform where you can learn anything:

Khan Academy.

Khan academy was founded by Sal Khan in 2008 with the goal of helping as many students as possible without paying anything. It’s a completely free e-learning app that is easy and fun to use with many courses in all fields. Also, the app provides the ability to learn any language.

edX.

Another famous website and application are edX. It’s founded by MIT and Havard in 2012. It offers many courses in almost all kinds of fields. And you will earn a certificate at the end of the course.

Coursera.

It’s one of the apps that offers many courses that are made by elite universities such as Stanford. And also big businesses like IBM and Google. It was founded in 2012 by Andrew Ng and Daphne Koller. However, not all the courses are free.

Duolingo.

One of the most famous language-learning apps in the world. it teaches many languages in a fun way and it’s completely free to use. It was founded by Luis von Ahn and Severin Hacker in 2011.

ALISON.

Another great e learning app is Alison which offers many courses in all kinds of fields for free. It was founded by Mike Feerick in 2007.

What platforms can be used in e learning?

There are many platforms that can be used in E learning, some of the best are:

•       Zoom.
•       Google classroom.
•       Microsoft teams.
•       Moodle.
•       Khan Academy.
•       edX.
•       Coursera.
•       Duolingo.
•       ALISON.
•       LinkedIn.
•       Skillshare.

What platforms are teachers using to teach online?

There are many platforms that teachers can use to teach students online, here are the best of them:

1.     Google Classroom.

One of the most used platforms for E-learning is Google classroom. It’s an online tool that is easy to use and access at any time and anywhere. Teachers can upload videos, files, images, and any learning material easily and share them with learners. Students can access the learning materials without any effort, submit their assignments or work, see their grades, be informed about the new assignments and deadlines, and communicate with the teacher.

Google Classroom has an app that makes it even better for students and easier to learn at any time with no limits.

2.     Zoom.

A cloud-based video conferencing tool that is widely used by organizations, companies, and schools to conduct online meetings. Zoom is one of the best E-learning platforms that facilitates the learning process through live videos and chats. With the help of this tool, teachers can meet with students to explain the lesson and interact with them just like in the traditional classroom. Also, the meeting could be recorded to share later.

3.     Microsoft teams.

Another great E-learning platform that is used widely is Microsoft Teams. It’s a platform that enables the teacher to conduct online meetings, and share files, videos, documents, screen sharing, chat, and more.

4.     Moodle.

One of the best E-learning platforms that have its own application and can easily be used by students is Moodle. It’s an open-source eLearning platform with various tools that offers an interactive learning experience between the teacher and students. The word Moodle stands for Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment. Some of its benefits for schools and teachers are:

Importance of e-learning in today’s education system.

E learning platforms for schools are more important nowadays than ever. E-learning allows students and teachers to effectively interact with each other through online meetings, projects, tests, submitting homework, and sharing learning materials. Just similar to being in the classroom, students can ask the teacher about what they don’t understand and the teacher will answer them.

One example is the famous video conferencing software called Zoom, zoom allows people to host online meetings, and share learning materials easily. It also provides what is called breakout rooms that teachers use for projects, by dividing the students into teams and letting each team work in one of the breakout rooms to finish the task given to them.    

Advantages of E-Learning Platforms for Schools.

The biggest advantage of e-learning platforms for schools is flexibility and time-saving. It’s a great way that gives a better learning experience and makes education better and easier. All students can learn anytime and at their own pace of learning. Online learning provides students with the learning materials they need at any time. Also, students can communicate with their teachers easily through private chats or group discussions. They can watch the lecture at any time and as much as they want to process the information and knowledge.  

Here are some of the Advantages of E-Learning Platforms for Schools:

1.     Cost Effective.

Online learning removes all the additional costs and makes learning more fun. Instead of going to school, students learn from their homes, which means there’s no need for printed learning materials. Also, it saves the extra costs of electricity, water, and so on

2.     Saves Time

Time is one of the most important things in life. And instead of wasting time on transportation teachers can stay at their homes and give the lecture through one of the E-learning platforms. E-learning platforms are now interactive, which means that students can interact with their teacher freely and express their idea. Teachers can update their learning materials and share it with their students and even conduct quizzes, and assign assignments and projects, all without leaving their homes.

3.     Flexibility.

The flexibility offered by the e-learning platforms is very useful for both teachers and students. For teachers, they can upload, update, and share learning materials with their students easily. Assign projects and assignments to students and grade them easily, the platform will make a report of each student, his grade, and performance to help teachers track their students’ performance.

Students, can watch the recorded lecture at any time, submit their assignments, see their grades, and get informed of any upcoming deadlines.

Types of E-Learning Platforms.

When choosing an e-learning platform for your school is important to understand the different types of e-learning platforms to choose the best one that suits your needs. Some platforms offer video meetings, screen sharing, and chatting, while other only offers to chat or share links and files. Also, some platforms have limitations on the number of participants, which is something to be aware of.

Here are the different types of online learning platforms:

1.     Learning Destination Sites

This type offers different courses from any provider. Any person or instructor can make his own course and sell it on the website or offer it for free for a specific time. Think of it as a store where different products are sold.

Learning Destination Sites offers tools to help the course provider to author his course. those tools are called learning management systems or authoring tools. The creator then can share the link to his course or upload it directly on the site. All the students do is register on the site and choose the course they want to enroll in.

Learning Destination Sites are Udacity, Udemy, Coursera, and edX.

2.     Traditional Learning Management System.

The Traditional Learning Management System platforms allow the course creator to develop and host an online course. The creator can easily manage and author his course. this kind of platform has some features like grading and performance reports.

There are more than 700 Learning Management System providers and they are mostly made for corporate Learning & Development. Just like companies’ training or online training that are made for specific audiences.

3.     Open-Source Learning Management System.

Another type of e-learning platform is an open-source Learning Management System. It provides the course creator with the tools he needs to create, author, develop, and manage his course and it’s for free. Some of the famous platforms are Moodle, Sakai, and Open edX.

4.     Modern Learning Management Solutions.

Examples of this type include Docebo, Totara, Litmos, Motivis, and NovoEd.

5.     Learning Management Ecosystems.

This is another type of e-learning platform, it has a variety of tools and features like assessment tools, Course authoring tools, adaptive learning engines, and learning content management solutions. One example of the learning management ecosystem is the University of Notre Dame’s NeXus platform which uses open edx and has a custom front end.

6.     Custom Built Learning Platform.

In this type, you start building the course from scratch which takes time and is expensive, nearly the most expensive of all the types of online learning platforms. An example of this type is HBX, that is built for Harvard Business School to provide high-end business certificate courses.

Choosing the Right E-Learning Platform for Your School.

To choose the best e-learning platform for your school you should decide which features you need. And what is the platform that is user-friendly and easy to use by both teachers and students? The interface of the platform should be easy to navigate through, the platform should include reminders to remind students of deadlines, and allow the teacher to share the learning materials with the students, what the format is (videos, audio, textbooks, files, etc). Also, ensure that it allows the teacher to make assignments and quizzes.

Here are more features to search for in the e-learning platform:

1.     Easily Communicate with each other through chat and videos: a platform that provides learners with high-quality chat and video calls is essential for eLearning applications. Instead of face-to-face meetings, people will meet through the platform and that should be done easily with no problems.

2.     The e learning platform should allow Evaluation: In order for teachers to evaluate and measure the student’s performance, they should be provided with what is called an evaluation system. 

3.     Reminder and Notification System: People may forget the time of the meeting therefore; it will be a good idea to find a platform that has this feature. It should send notifications to people and remind them of the meeting time. Also, deadline reminders are essential for the students to remind them of their upcoming deadlines. 

4.     Assignments: the e-learning platform should allow students to hand in their homework and assignments easily. While allowing the teachers to mark the homework and grade it, assign new homework, set deadlines, and so on.

There’re many other features but those are the most important ones to search for.

Conclusion.

e-learning refers to the use of electronic devices that are connected to the internet such as smartphones, tablets, and computers to deliver learning classes or training online. And it stands for electronic learning.

It has many advantages for both schools and students some of them are flexibility, time-saving, and cost-efficient.

When choosing an E-learning platform for your school there are certain features to search for, for example, the platform should include an evaluation system (grading system), a notification system, allows easy communication and interaction between students and teachers, and assignments.

e-learning is the future of learning and it’s and there are different platforms that are popular nowadays like:

•       Khan Academy.
•       edX.
•       Coursera.
•       Duolingo.
•       ALISON.
•       LinkedIn.
•       Skillshare.

That’s it for today’s article, I hope you found it useful. For more information or if you have any questions visit our website Manaarah.