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What Is A Digital Learning Platform

All-time online learning platforms of 2022

Man Studying Online at Home
(Image credit: Vanessa Garcia / Pexels)

The best online learning platforms make it simple and piece of cake for educators and trainers to manage online courses.

Learning Management Systems (LMS) and Virtual Learning Environments (VLE) have become increasingly common, especially due to the sweeping educational changes that became necessary due to the pandemic.

While contiguous learning has a place, increasingly learning and courses are being conducted through digital channels. This can exist both cheaper and easier to manage for businesses, and too for educators it translates to being able to reach people from a distance.

In a remote situation is where online learning platforms really come to the fore, as platforms for education brand the almost of modern technology. That's not to say traditional means of didactics are nearly to exist extinct, but academic institutions and businesses take identified that we can attain plenty more through tech, such as smartphones and other cyberspace-connected devices which can facilitate learning from any location.

Online learning platforms accept go more than diverse, so to larn a language, you tin can employ language learning apps and online flashcards, and for younger ones, there are e-learning online classroom services every bit well. Additionally, there are coding platforms for schools as well.

Through digital means, learning is on tap. It doesn't take long to find out a fact, or to develop a specific skill. The fashion training organizations and educators create courses is besides dramatically changing. In this article, we're looking at the all-time learning direction software tools bachelor right now.

If you're interested in what online courses have to offering, nosotros've likewise featured the best SQL courses, best HTML courses, best Python courses and all-time Linux courses. We've likewise featured online courses for learning Word, Excel, and Javascript online.

How nosotros chose the best online learning platforms

There are plenty of choices in the online learning management software area, so in that location is certain to be one well suited for each organisation.

A major differentiator is price. Some LMS' are bachelor for costless, or have a depression cost entry tier. Others offer more features, but at a higher toll betoken. Pricing models are too different with some providers charging only by each pupil, while others having the cost based on the programme, and so a lower boosted cost for each additional learner.

Another feature to wait for are the mobile apps. Especially younger learners value these apps so that a learner can engage in education from anywhere, at any time. Be sure that the apps are available for both of the mobile platforms- Android and iOS. Also, bank check the ratings of the apps in their corresponding stores, every bit only because an app is available it may not be a groovy 1 with some low rated, glitchy ones out there.


(Epitome credit: Google)

1. Google Classroom

Best for Google types

Reasons to buy

+

Clean interface that's piece of cake to learn

+

Powerful media sharing tools

+

Integration with Google Workspace

Reasons to avoid

-

No direct contact for support

-

Can't be licensed separately

Google Classroom offers a cloud based learning environment to enable remote educational activity for learners from pre-Grand through the university level. We capeesh that information technology pulls together a number of Google tools, such as Google Meet, Google Drive and Google Docs all in i place to enable learning.

Teachers can put in assignments as all types of documents, including .doc and .pdf'due south, students get the notification, complete the assignment and submit it. Teachers then grade the assignment, keep a virtual gradebook and can give classroom mode lectures via the Google Run into function.

Google offers this via several tiers of features, but we tin can appreciate that the free tier is plenty powerful for budget conscious school districts. The platform is also cross platform to permit learners to part with it with any their device of choice is, including laptops, Chromebooks, and both smartphone platforms- although the Android ane garners complaints from the users.

Read our full Google Classroom review .

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(Image credit: Docebo)

2. Docebo

Best for enterprise

Reasons to buy

+

Smartphone apps for iOS and Android platforms

+

Notable clients

+

Free trial & demo

+

User forum via Docebo Community

Reasons to avoid

-

Very opaque pricing

-

Limited support options

-

Low rated apps

-

Few specifics on the website

Targeting the enterprise marketplace, Docebo takes an AI approach to a learning platform with an impressive list of Fortune 500 companies that use its service. Incorporated under the Docebo Suite are multiple products to create content, evangelize it, and also to mensurate the metrics of its impact. This fashion of production is well suited to onboarding, and retaining new employees.

There are some bug with the lack of support options as we would have liked to have seen some more direct choices, such equally a direct phone number or a chat selection. Also of business is the completely opaque pricing as we could not even figure out the available tiers or options without direct company contact. Withal, users are certain to make practiced use of the robust interactions fostered by this service via the 'Docebo Customs,' although this gets negated by the clunky, and low rated smartphone apps on both the Android and iOS platforms.

Read our full Docebo review .

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(Image credit: Adobe)

iii. Adobe Captivate

Best for professional person project creation

Reasons to purchase

+

Free trial

+

Choice of acquisition options

+

In software epitome editing

+

Supports VR projects

Reasons to avoid

-

Cancellation fee on monthly plan

-

Limited support options

-

Higher cost

Adobe Captivate is a professional platform for creating learning content. This can be incorporated from a variety of sources, including images that this software tin edit, screen captures that can be done automatically, and by importing PowerPoint presentations.

We are impressed with the back up for VR projects, and users are sure to similar the choice of acquisition options along with its use of templates to streamline project production, and provide consistency. Users practice have bug with the stability of the app, the limited options for straight back up and the cancellation fee for the monthly programme will undoubtedly irk some out at that place.

Quibbles aside, Adobe Captivate is a mature piece of software that has endured with proficient reason, and is well worth a closer look via the thirty-day trial that is longer than most of its competitors.

Read our full Adobe Obsess review.

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(Paradigm credit: Blackboard)

iv. Blackboard Larn

All-time for multiple integrated tools

Reasons to buy

+

Complimentary month trial

+

Available smartphone apps

+

Trackable progress

+

Fosters educatee and teacher interaction

Reasons to avoid

-

Lacks gratis tier

-

Opaque pricing

Blackboard Acquire is a learning platform that is used for learners of all levels from pre-K to university and beyond such every bit in government and industry. Information technology has some shortcomings such as the opaque pricing, the limited direct support options and the multiple bugs that users written report in the apps, specially the Android version.

Residuum that against the integrated tools that some competing solutions charge for, such as an plagiarism checker to check student assignments against. Also factor in the accessibility tool to be ADA compliant, and the other items to foster communication between students and professors, and the tracker to continue students on rails with submitting their assignments. Additionally, the 30-mean solar day trial is longer than most others, and the iOS app is highly rated, then organizations that need a full fledged solution will meet quickly why this learning platform enjoys its popularity.

Read our full Blackboard Larn review.

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(Image credit: Articulate)

5. Acorn LMS

Best for upfront pricing

Reasons to buy

+

Generous 60-day trial

+

Transparent pricing

+

Direct contact support options

+

Imports video content

Reasons to avoid

-

Lacks advanced support options

-

Limited user reviews

-

No Android app

For those that are looking for some upfront pricing, Acorn LMS- unlike some of its competition- answers that demand. Rather than keeping potential users in the dark, Acorn LMS is upfront offering both a tier without content and another with content The company also offers a flat fee for the first 100 users and an additional student fee for each user thereafter.

Beyond that, this platform has a number of strengths that impress u.s., such as the ability to make individualized student pathways via LinkedIn Learning content, the white label approach to foster customization of the site for consistent branding at an organization, and support for multiple tendencies allowing an ambassador to easily manage multiple acorn LMS accounts via a unmarried set of sign on credentials.

While nothing is perfect, and we should point out the lack of an Android app in the Google Play Store, the dearth of user reviews, and that there are no advanced support options such as a forum or a FAQ, overall it is an attractive package worth the threescore-24-hour interval free trial.

Read our full Acorn LMS review .

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(Image credit: Moodle)

six. Moodle LMS

Best for open source

Reasons to buy

+

Open-source

+

Gratuitous to use

+

Available smartphone apps

+

Included text editor

Reasons to avoid

-

Express support options

-

User reports bugs in mobile apps

-

Certified Service Provider may exist needed at additional cost

While commercial software has its place, sometimes it is truly impressive what an open source project tin can achieve, such every bit in the example of Moodle LMS. This open source learning platform can exist downloaded and used for complimentary. While direct support is lacking (although an organization can engage 1 of 80 Certified Service Providers to remedy that deficit), there is yet enough here, including documentation such every bit guides on how to employ this platform.

Learners and teachers are sure to like the expansive characteristic set, such every bit interaction with multiple choice questions in the content, an integrated text editor, and support for 3rd party deject storage providers, such as DropBox to submit assignments. It is also multi-language capable, and supports open up standards such as SCORM.

We besides like that teachers tin can brand comments on assignments, and the integrated all-in-one calendar. With and so many features, it may exist open source, simply it hardly volition experience like it, which explains why it has over 200 million users.

Read our full Moodle LMS review.

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(Prototype credit: Thinkific)

7. Thinkific LMS

Best for expert online entrepreneurs

Reasons to buy

+

30-day guarantee

+

Choice of tiers, including free tier

+

No transaction fees

+

Integrates website builder

Reasons to avert

-

No smartphone apps

-

Few reviews

-

Certificates issued are too basic

-

Missing straight support options

Thinkific is an online platform that has enjoyed meteoritic success as a relative newcomer to this infinite. Information technology has useful functions, such equally the ability for educators to build a website, and templates are provided to facilitate this for newcomers.

We likewise like that this platform can be used to issue certificates of completion. It is used worldwide, and can accept payments from learners signing up for courses from over 100 countries.

Some omissions, such as the lack of a direct telephone number or email for support, and no smartphone apps for either Android or iOS show the immaturity of the platform. We also wanted to come across more than user reviews than what we found online. Nevertheless, with a choice of tiers starting with a free ane, and a track record that has already earned its experts over $650 million dollars, it is seriously hard to dispute.

Read our total Thinkific LMS review .

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(Prototype credit: Absorb)

8. Absorb LMS

Best for social media

Reasons to buy

+

Business concern focused

+

Variety of content supported

+

Integrate in polls and surveys

+

Smartphone apps for iOS and Android

Reasons to avoid

-

Opaque pricing

-

High cost

-

Poorly rated apps

-

Additional cost for higher tier support

The Blot LMS is a learning platform that focuses on business concern. Information technology is also especially skillful at social aspects, as information technology can easily integrate with corporate social media accounts.

Nosotros besides like the social focus that continues on to permit learners to create social accounts on the platform. This then allows them to about interact with the other learners, and also brandish the awards and certificates that they accumulate for completed content. We also appreciate that certificates can exist custom created, to be either downloaded or printed. However, some aspects frustrated us, such as the learning community that is not running nevertheless, the opaque and ultimately loftier pricing, and the buggy smartphone apps on both the iOS and Android platforms that have users commenting they would exist improve off accessing content on a figurer.

Read our full Absorb LMS review .

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(Image credit: 360Learning)

nine. 360Learning

Best for streamlining project creation

Reasons to buy

+

Option of tier plans

+

Bachelor smartphone apps

+

Extensive noesis base

+

Free trial

+

Streamlines class creation

Reasons to avoid

-

Semi-opaque pricing

-

Multiple features reserved for tiptop plan

-

Few options for direct support

360Learning meets the challenge head on of streamlining the chore of projection creation. Users are sure to benefit from the integrated tools such every bit the video editor, the included templates that are branded every bit 'Cheat Sheets,' and the option to include 10 unlike types of questions to test learners.

We too appreciate the free xxx-day trial without credit carte du jour info, and the pick of tiered plans. However, nosotros were less impressed that there are few options for direct contact, with some features reserved for the top plan (like support for course attachments), and that the Android app has a significantly lower rating than the iOS version. We besides like the 'Collaborative Authoring' approach that lets even inexperienced users create a course in minutes, rather than months.

Read our full 360Learning review.

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Website screenshot for Canvas LMS

(Image credit: Instructure)

x. Canvas LMS

Best for app integration

Reasons to buy

+

Free trial and free teacher plan

+

Highly rated smartphone apps

+

Automated grading

+

User support community

Reasons to avoid

-

Opaque pricing

-

No app dark mode

-

Some sign on issues with apps

-

Lacks gamification

The Canvas LMS is used by height institutions worldwide, and it tin can avowal information technology has over half-dozen 1000000 users with an over 90% satisfaction rate. Users are sure to exist impressed that it integrates well with pop apps that students use, such as those from Adobe, Google Workspace and Microsoft Teams.

Nosotros also like the robust community forum, with thorough answers for mutual user bug, and the multiple communication options covering the spectrum from messaging (individually and equally a group), to sound, and video. Some areas nosotros would like to see improved would be support for gamification, and some transparency in the pricing. Teachers will besides be pleased to see the support for automatic grading via integration with SpeedGrader.  While the opaque pricing is frustrating, we appreciate both the free 30 day trial, and also the lowest 'Teacher Tier' plan that is free long term for both teachers and students to allow for instruction of all.

Read our total Canvass LMS review .


Young brother and sister using a laptop in the kitchen

(Image credit: Getty Images)

What is an online learning platform?

An online learning platform is designed to support a student's learning. It is an online portal for educational activity, and inside it are multiple tools, all cocky-contained, to exist a one stop resources for both students and teachers alike. Activities supported include lectures, assignments, quizzes, interactions between the teachers and learners as well as between the learners, and also the issuance of certificates. More advanced versions have features for course creation and to streamline the production and delivery of this content.

Online learning platforms vs Learning Management Systems

Both a learning platform, and a learning direction system have the commonality to offer an environment for learning- only they are not the same. They are both useful pieces of tech to assist teachers and students for the management of learning.

A learning management organisation (LMS) is a software based app that facilitates a user making, designing and delivering their ain cocky created grade content. Information technology can use either, or even both a website, or a mobile app for the creation and delivery of this content. LMS' tend to have a larger feature set to collaborate between teachers and students, and greater support to share files. A practiced example of an LMS is Blackboard.

Alternately, an online learning platform is a web based learning platform for a user to both pattern the online course, and then evangelize this content to the audition of students. With an online learning platform at that place is the pick for the creation of the content by the educator, but it can also incorporate previously created content. Online learning platforms focus more than on the hosting of the education, with more than basic tools for calculation content. An example of an online learning platform is Adobe Captivate.

Person looking at website on laptop

(Image credit: Pexels)

Online learning platform vs online course websites

There are plenty of ways to receive education online these days. This tin can include annihilation from casual content, such as an educational YouTube Video, to more than structured online education such every bit a series of videos, and in some cases supplemental content in the grade of text or a downloadable PDF. While there are many websites to educate and impart content, they are not all online learning platforms.

An online learning platform goes beyond what an online course website offers, with additional content to support the educational activity. While it volition incorporate the elements of an online course website, it volition include additional tools, which volition all exist combined into a unmarried platform. These tools can be advice methods such as live video or messaging, the opportunity to take assignments, and a record of certificates of completed courses. Overall, an online learning platform provides content that volition be more than in depth, and organized in a more formal environment to promote greater learning.

Open up source vs free vs paid online learning platforms

Learning platforms tin can be divided into 3 unlike categories based on the pricing model.

The first is free, which has the benefit of no price. There are both services that offering this at no toll, or ones that have a free tier, with reduced features, that then promise to upsell the service to a paid tier, and use the gratis offering every bit a gateway to getting a paying client. A downside of these free offerings is that the back up tends to be minimal to nonexistent, such as only via an online community board.

Open source is some other overnice option for a learning direction organization. In this model the software is distributed for no cost. This can permit an organization to then run this off of its ain server. However, in that location are nevertheless costs to doing this, and so this must be supported internally. Some other downside is that and then the software may not exist as updated as oftentimes, exposing it to security vulnerabilities.

The terminal choice is a paid offering. While this does have an upfront cost, and in about cases for each additional learner, information technology does take plenty of advantages. This includes that the provider can host the software as a cloud service, requiring no in business firm personnel to provide back up. Also, there may be options for phone back up, and likewise more than features.

Zoom

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Is Zoom an online learning platform?

Made popular by the pandemic with remote meetings condign commonplace, Zoom is a video communications platform. Other popular choices in this category are GoToMeeting, and Google Meet. Zoom and other video advice apps are used for online audio and video meetings for business, casual and educational apply. Each too supports boosted content to back up the virtual meeting, such as sharing screens, or chat within the app.

However, Zoom is not specifically an online learning platform. While information technology can certainly exist used to support education, it has no fashion to give assignments, grade them, or practice quizzes for instance. Every bit an online learning platform it falls pretty short, with enough of better options out there. Also, many of the better online learning platforms offer video chatting inside the platform then Zoom equally a standalone is not needed as the functionality is already incorporated in.

What are the pros and cons of an online learning platform?

There are plenty of pros for an online platform. This includes the instant availability of the education, and that learners are not limited past geography and can attend class anywhere- even from the comfort of abode. The learning is too self-paced, as it can adapt a diversity of learning styles and learner needs as it is more flexible. There is also the benefit that learners don't need to commute to the school reducing the cost and brunt of education, which can besides be a fourth dimension saving benefit also.

While at that place are certainly benefits, in that location are some downsides equally well. Some students may adopt confront to confront learning with a teacher directly in forepart of them, that an online learning platform lacks. Also with no physical schoolhouse to attend, there is less of a structured learning surroundings, which some learners may do amend with. Furthermore, in that location is less or even no camaraderie between learners than at a physical schoolhouse, which tin all be part of the total educational experience, and is a missing component with an online learning platform.

What are the essential features of an online learning platform?

When choosing an online learning platform for your organization, be sure the selection is a good one. Hither are some essential features to expect for:

  • Scalability: Nobody wants to outgrow their platform too before long, and have to transition to another one. Therefore, expect for scalability that can grow equally y'all need it to.
  • Mobile presence: Today's learners desire to be able to learn when on the move. Therefore, look for an online learning platform that has well rated apps for both the iOS and Android platforms, that are highly rated.
  • Tools for authoring: A flexible platform allows for content creation that is easy to use. This tin include tools for text editing, and also video capture and editing from within the platform to streamline production.
  • Easy to utilise interface: Nobody likes to utilise a clunky interface, and then look for an easy one to utilise, that is well presented, and won't distract or overwhelm users.
  • Robust support: When the inevitable problems of a platform come up, users are going to demand some help. Look for a platform that offers a variety of support choices, including options for direct back up such as a direct email and phone number.

Which online learning platforms are best for yous?

When deciding which of the best online learning platforms to utilise, first consider what level of competency you lot are currently at. If y'all've not used a LMS or VLE earlier then it would definitely exist recommended to start with the lower end platforms, and so you won't exist overwhelmed by the number of options that enterprises need but smaller players usually don't. These volition help introduce you to the nuts yous'll need before you cover more advanced tools. Still, if you already have a stiff Information technology background and a lot of feel using a range of different software platforms already, or have even used a LMS or VLE yourself as a student, then feel costless to try your hand with the more advanced courses.

  • We've featured the all-time online course sites

What Is A Digital Learning Platform,

Source: https://www.techradar.com/uk/best/best-online-learning-platforms

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