When around 1.2 billion children worldwide began schooling from home in 2020, educational institutions were forced to consider better solutions for remote learning. While the Online Learning Management System (LMS) was in existence well before the pandemic, it became an absolute necessity since then.
Schools and universities bought or tied up with Edtech platforms such as Udemy, Coursera, etc., for specific courses or for distance learning solutions. However, adaptability remained a challenge.
What exactly went wrong with LMS solutions back in 2020?
The biggest limitation was the lack of customization with LMS features. As a result, individual needs were not met and learning remained sporadic for the most part. Adapting from the existing system to the new one posed as one of the most unavoidable challenges for educators and learners.
Topchallenges with LMS software in 2020
LMS system was expensive for most people
Features couldn’t be customized
Customer support wasn’t timely
LMS systems took time to learn
Most software wasn’t scalable
Hard to navigate
7 important features that are badly needed for an eLearning platform
# 1 Course creation tools embedded in the LMS software/platform
# 2 LMS features with mobile capabilities
# 3 Asynchronous learning facility: Learners have access to learn at their own pace
# 4 Gamification features to make learning more engaging
# 5 Video conferencing
# 6 Message boards/forums for community interaction
# 7 E-commerce and subscriptions
How can you design LMS software in 2021 to accommodate the above features?
# 1 Get into the learners’ shoes
There’s no way you can design fantastic LMS software without getting into the shoes of learners. Design thinking will enable you to design LMS features that are easy to use for all the parties: teachers, parents, students, etc.
# 2 Consider network connectivity
Network connections make or break eLearning. Educators or app developers must focus on native software development and offline-friendly technologies such as progressive web applications. Make the elearning system hybrid in terms of offline mode (document creation/content creation) and online mode (tests, etc.).
# 3 Content creation tools
Learners need to generate content such as text, drawings/images, audio etc. while teachers need to create videos, tests, quizzes, assessments, etc. Your eLearning software developmentmust include features that will make the creation of content possible in the software itself apart from allowing users to import content from outside media.
# 4 Tools that foster community interaction
Distance learning software should always be about community users such as parents, teachers, students, deans, principals, etc. ELearning platforms such as Pear Deck, Seesaw or Edpuzzle have features such as linking voice or interactive content into the LMS or Flipgrid allows learners to reflect together and hear each other’s voice asynchronously. Features such as discussion boards, peer reviews, etc., foster community interaction.
# 5 High-concurrency
Make your elearning software high-concurrency friendly, so when teachers and students are active on the platform all at once or conduct tasks such as uploading documents or video conferencing, the system runs smoothly.
# 6 Cross-platform integration
Create a distance learning software with cross-platform capabilities like Alexa compatibility for reminders, facilities of uploading any type of media or documents through Pages or MS Word or Google Docs or facilities of conducting an immersive session over a VR device.
# 7 Scalability is crucial
Remember that a large part of the population of learners may return to schools or colleges in 2021 and 2022. The data that’s collected on an LMS software must be made available or must be adaptable to the traditional software at these institutions. Ahighly scalable and robust eLearning applicationwill impact learning deeply and engage with learners in a more immersive way.
The most crucial factor in building and designing good LMS software is design thinking. App developers must start thinking like learners and teachers. If you are on the verge of getting a thoughtfully craftedLearning Management System Solution, do let us know.
