Useful Tips Before Creating An eLearning Platform
The demand for eLearning is on the rise, with industry experts predicting that it will surpass $370 billion in 2026. This year, more people are learning online, whether at school or from companies who want their employees trained properly. This growth can be attributed largely to technological advancements, making this type of education accessible through many types of devices like smartphones and computers.
What Are The Different Types Of eLearning Platforms?
eLearning platforms come in a variety of types, appealing to different needs. Some of those most commonly used include:
- Learning Management Systems (LMS)
- Online tutoring platform
- Student management systems (SMS)
- Assessment software
- Virtual classroom software
- Video conferencing software
- Massive open online courses (MOOC)
What Is The Magic Recipe For Creating An eLearning App?
Even if you know how to build an eLearning platform, each app will be different. You still need a few processes regardless of what software it is that makes up your course structure.
1. Develop The Idea
One of the first steps you need to take is to develop the idea before developing the product itself. Identify your target audience and create content that they will find helpful. There are many eLearning elements you can use to do this, including considering these seven product dimensions that measure how well-designed an online course is for people who want the specific type of information found in a certain kind of product or service.
- Multiplicity
What kind of content do you want on your eLearning platform? More generic, or targeted? In other words, something for everyone or just for those interested in this topic specifically? - Publicity
Creating a learning platform can be challenging, but it's important to figure out who your audience is. Are they public or private? If it is for the employees of a single company, then there should only ever be closed access! - Geography
What is your target audience's location? Will you focus the app on people living in a specific region, or will it be global, with options for different languages and cultures to better resonate? - Identity
You need to think about who your target audience is before you start developing an app. If it's for computer programmers, then make sure that the online learning platform takes into account their needs and interests. On the other hand, if this isn't specific and you have a broader audience in mind, create something neutral with no-frills content rather than personalized videos tailored toward one segment of your audience (which could turn off potential users). - Communication
Communication is key to any successful relationship, and this also applies to the apps you develop. On your app, users will need information, as well as interactivity, so that they can get what's going on in an easy-to-understand way. Maintaining communication with them throughout the development process ensures that everything works out smoothly when it comes time to launch. - Time
Depending on the nature of your app, you might need to interact in real time or be free when it’s convenient. For example, if users need quick answers they will always want them right away, so having a chat room where people can ask questions and share their thoughts is necessary. On the other hand, forums may do just fine without this constant back and forth between posts/comments, etc., because these don't have any time sensitivity attached at all. - Price
If you want to build an online learning platform, pricing should be one of your most important considerations. You need to research what other companies charge for their services and how they monetize them so that you know if yours is competitive or not. You also need to know which monetization options are best suited to fit the project you have in mind.
2. Understand Your Audience
Researching your audience is important for any business venture. The eLearning industry is not exempt from this rule! Make sure you research the wants and needs of the people so that when it comes time to launch a platform or company, you will already be familiar with what's on offer in order to give them everything they need without leaving anything wanting.
Use buyer personas to guide your strategy. A caricature of typical customers with key details about them like interests, income levels, or educational backgrounds can be very useful in guiding the development process for any platform you are developing.
3. Research The Project’s Details
You should research the technical aspects of your project as well. This includes looking into what other companies have done in order to get ideas for what could work best, while also potentially helping you identify any gaps or weaknesses (if they exist) specifically with respect to this industry sector. For example, you might want to find out whether there's anything special about their technology that would make you think differently when designing yours: maybe you can do something more effectively?
4. Define Your Monetization Strategy For External Users
- Subscription
A subscription system means that you periodically charge your customers (often monthly) to use your platform. Different subscription levels are typically available, giving access to additional content or higher volumes of content. - In-app purchases
With the in-app purchases model, your users will buy courses as they use them. Such a model is usually best if your audience is unlikely to use the platform frequently on an individual level. - Sponsorships
Some businesses will likely be happy to sponsor your platform, depending on which courses you offer and how they relate to the sponsor’s business. - Advertising
Websites and apps that get a lot of traffic can generate significant revenue in advertising. Not only that, but you can also harvest peoples’ contact details, helping you build a potentially lucrative marketing database.