Discover the Top Online Learning Platform for University: Enhancing Higher Education Experience

As the face of higher learning continues to change, universities are shifting to implement digital change to improve students' experience across the globe. Thus, the growth of the technological approach to machine learning has positively affected people’s possibility to learn due to the flexibility and individualization of the given type of knowledge.

Due to this shift and the current efforts of universities seeking to offer students the best learning experience, the right online learning platform should be selected. Such deep learning platforms are not just applications; they are opportunities for universities to offer courses that are borderless yet not lacking in rigour.

As colleges and universities strive to maintain market relevancy in the technological age, the addition of premier web-based delivery systems has emerged as an essential component in re-envisioning the college experience. Whatever the nature of the course content, these tools can be used for developing engaging content formats, encouraging students’ teamwork and creative skills, or offering path individualization. Specifically, this blog will look at the most suitable learning management systems for universities to enhance their academic delivery and reach out to the diverse student population.

The Online Learning Platform Market is Booming!

Online learning platforms are in great demand today due to the flexibility and easy availability they provide students. With technological advancement, most universities and other learning institutions have embraced online learning platforms.

1. A report by Research and Markets shows that the global e-learning market is expected to be valued at $325 billion by 2025 with a CAGR of 7%. 2%.
2. This boom is driven by technology, the need for constant education, and the rapid growth in online learning.

A prime illustration of this shift is Coursera, a renowned online learning platform affiliated with universities, offering courses in various disciplines. The fact that Coursera's revenues surged by 59% in 2020 compared to 2019 is a clear indicator of the escalating demand for such platforms from both learners and institutions.

For instance, the above graph outlines the enhanced enrollment of students in online learning platforms over the past ten years. The graph also shows an increase in enrolment in the current year due to COVID-19, which suggests the relevance and sustainability of online learning during uncertainty.

It is essential to understand that this market is not just about the figures; it is about a revolution in the education market, and you are all part of it. Given the current status of innovations, more universities have seen the benefits of using online learning platforms to improve their course offerings. Thus, the market will continue to grow, presenting more career opportunities for the educator and learner.

How to Choose the Best Online Learning Platform?

Selecting an appropriate online learning platform is a strategic one for universities that wish to expand the range of their educational services. Given this, it becomes essential to choose a platform relevant to the institution's aim, can address the various needs of all the courses and learners, and is easy to use.

Undoubtedly, selecting the right platform is very important in influencing student interaction and learning, as well as the delivery of courses. Here are vital considerations to keep in mind:

1. Scalability: Make sure the platform has the potential for expansion to serve more users and courses from your institution.
2. User Experience: The content layout should also be friendly to the eyes and easy for the students and instructors to maneuver their way through.
3. Customization: Choose tools that allow for customization so that you may adopt the look and feel of the platform to your institution and course offerings.
4. Integration Capabilities: Select a platform that also works well with, for example, your student information systems or learning management systems.
5. Support and Training: Assess the level of technical support and the training provided for the faculty and students to realize the platform's potential fully.
6. Content Delivery: Look for those that enable different types of content, such as videos, quizzes, and other methods to enhance content delivery.

Through such considerations, universities can then identify an online learning platform that fits their current needs and future vision of innovation in the field of education.

Key Differences Between Online Learning Platform and LMS 

Understanding the distinctions between an Online Learning Platform and a Learning Management System is not just crucial, but it empowers educators, institutions, and businesses in this rapidly evolving digital learning landscape. 

However, these terms are commonly used interchangeably, though they address different educational requirements and have distinct functions.

An Online Learning Platform is an even larger environment, allowing learners to take many courses and participate in many other learning activities. In contrast, an LMS can also be viewed as a more confined environment explicitly designed to handle, track, and deliver specific content to educate the learners. It can come in handy when selecting the right instrument required for your educational or training initiative.

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It's essential to understand the difference between an Online Learning Platform and an LMS. This knowledge equips you to make the right choice based on the specific needs of your scenario. If you're looking to cover a wide range of topics or provide adaptable learning opportunities, an Online Learning Platform could be your answer.

However, when you have content that requires structured organization, monitoring, and controlled distribution, especially for organizational learning, training courses, or education, an LMS is the perfect fit. Understanding these differences is crucial in selecting the right tools to enhance your learning or training outcomes.

Top Online Learning Platforms for University 

In today’s world, more and more universities opt to use online learning platforms to expand and improve the range of courses available. These places not only allow institutions to extend a reach that crosses international territories but also allow students to learn at their own pace and convenience.

For instance, comprehensive course management systems and specialized learning resources, critical features of online learning platforms, play a crucial role in enhancing the quality of education. Here is a list of some of the most popular online learning platforms that are especially suitable for universities and their variations according to the programs offered.

1. EdisonOS

EdisonOS is a stable and beginner-friendly software designed to meet the needs of educational institutions. It offers a range of solutions that enable universities to create personalized learning experiences, track students’ performance, and share quality educational content, thereby enhancing the overall learning experience.

Another functionality is enhanced reporting and analytics that provide educators with valuable data on the performance of many courses and their students and help them make informed decisions regarding the course content and delivery.

Features

1. Custom-branded courses
2. The ability to perform advanced reporting and analysis
3. SCORM content support
4. Mock exam platform

2. Thinkific

Thinkific is a well-known LMS providing an intuitive platform for universities to create and deliver online courses. Unlike other LMS platforms, Thinkific focuses highly on developing courses and engaging students to better-fit institutions that wish to offer students more of an individualized learning experience. It also supports various forms of multimedia, and although it is an e-learning platform, it means that educators can come up with engaging lessons for students with different forms of learning.

Features

1. Drag-and-drop course builder
2. Student engagement tools
3. Supports multimedia content
4. The incorporation of formatted tests and assignments

3. Coursera

As mentioned earlier, Coursera proudly collaborates with over 200 prestigious institutions, including top universities, to provide a variety of online courses, specializations, and degrees. This partnership not only expands the audience for these institutions but also assures the global student community of the high quality of education they can expect. The platform offers both self-paced and cohort-based courses, giving institutions the flexibility to structure their online programs as needed.

Features

1. Collaboration with leading universities
2. Provide accredited courses, degrees, and certifications
3. Flexible learning options
4. Global student reach

4. LinkedIn Learning

LinkedIn Learning, formerly Lynda.com, integrates seamlessly with LinkedIn, enabling universities to provide students with courses that enhance their marketability. The program's focus on career-oriented learning, coupled with a vast library of thousands of videos covering diverse topics, including IT and business skills, motivates learners to set and achieve their career goals. Additionally, LinkedIn Learning, an online platform, offers personalized course recommendations based on the learner's academic interests and career goals.

Features

1. Extensive course library
2. Career-focused learning
3. Linked accounts with LinkedIn profiles
4. Personalised course recommendations

5. Udemy

Many universities choose Udemy courses as partners because they offer the most significant number of subjects and types of lessons on the market. Udemy allows instructors to post almost free courses in any subject they desire, meaning that universities can offer courses that are nonexistent anywhere else. It also dispels a static approach to content, as various producers and sellers engage in a competitive marketplace, providing Students with fresh information relevant to current trends.

Features

1. Wide range of both undergraduate and graduate courses
2. Instructor-driven content creation
3. This is a digitized marketplace model that is constantly updating.
4. Affordable course options

6. edX

edX can be described as a reputable learning platform that delivers courses from Harvard, MIT, and other top academic establishments. This open-source, academic-based system ensures quality education and, at the same time, is very liberal in ensuring that educational quality is granted within a university setting for students undertaking online courses to earn credits. With edX, institutions can also design their own programs and deliver full-fledged programs for students to ensure they get the best education they deserve.

Features

1. Educational programs from Leading universities
2. Credit-eligible and degree programs Credit-eligible and degree programs
3. Open-source platform
4. Academic intensity

7. Pluralsight

Aimed at technology enthusiasts, Pluralsight is an online learning platform that hosts courses based on themes and skills like software development, IT, and data science. To universities with a significant focus on STEM, Pluralsight becomes a great asset to the learners and instructors through updated technology information. The platform also includes skill diagnostics and learning patterns that allow students to define the gaps in their knowledge and enhance the learning process.

Features

1. Focus on Technology and STEM
2. Skill assessments
3. Personalized learning paths
4. Up-to-date course content

8. MasterClass

MasterClass has a customized learning model way of teaching that incorporates courses by famous personalities and celebrities in different fields. It may not specialize in conventional subject area knowledge, but it offers real-world perspectives on art and many professional arenas, including film, writing, and business management. This platform greatly benefits universities that provide arts, mass communication, and humanities programs.

Features

1. Supplemented by courses taught by industry professionals
2. Emphasize creative and professional competencies.
3. High production value
4. Engaging learning experiences

9. 360Learning

360Learning can be described as a learning platform that focuses on sharing knowledge with the help of peer-to-peer learning. It is well suited for Universities where students and faculty can create content and be actively involved in developing and discussing the content posted. Besides, it has earned a reputation as a convenient and efficient platform to track students’ activity and achievements by the institutions.

Features

1. Consideration of the process of using peers for learning and collaboration.
2. Modularity and flexibility of the content
3. Robust analytics
4. User-friendly interface

10. Khan Academy

Khan Academy is a nonprofit and free online-based learning source that includes various subjects and practical skills. In contrast, its primary role is in K-12 education but is sometimes applied in universities for initial-level courses. Due to its features comprising lessons, practice, and instructional videos, it is an effective complement to university studies, particularly in areas such as numeracy, science, and business studies. Another factor is that Khan Academy has embraced the mission-driven model, where education is affordable to every person.

Features

1. Free, nonprofit platform
2. Both K-12 and foundational areas of mathematics instruction
3. Real-life scenarios and practice sessions
4. Mission-driven accessibility

These platforms add value, providing universities different ways to improve their online course materials and teaching methods. These platforms are the perfect solution to our needs regarding course growth, student interactivity, or the sheer maintenance and organization of our educational materials in the current climate of online courses.

Pricing Comparison 

It may be complex to compare the prices charged by online learning platforms because these often vary based on the pricing models and options available to the institutions, including the institution's size, number of users, and required features. 

Here's a general overview of what you might expect when comparing pricing across these platforms:

1. EdisonOS

• Pricing Model: Subscription-based
• Details: Basic plan starts from $159/month
• Growth plan starts from $369/month

2. Thinkific

• Pricing Model: Subscription-based
• Basic Plan: It begins at roughly $36 every month.
• Pro Plan: Approximately $74/month
• Growth plan: Available at $149/month with additional functionality and higher capacity organizations

3. Coursera

• Pricing Model: Generally, it includes per-user licensing and subscription.
• For their Coursera for Campus solution, they have several service options available with different subscription fees.
• Basic Plan: Up to 5-125 users, it is available for $399/year
• Institutional Plan: As per the number of students and according to the specific features they need, they can offer a custom quote with special offers. This covers high-level analysis and reporting, API connections, and bespoke services.  

4. LinkedIn Learning

• Pricing Model: Subscription-based
• Individual Subscription: around $19. 99/month or $299. 88/year
• Team Pricing: They can provide an individualized quote depending on the institution's size and number of users.

5. Udemy

• Pricing Model: Pay-as-you-go for courses and team licensing.
• Per-Course Pricing: Individual plan starts from ₹850 per month.
• Udemy for Business: Contact sales team as the company provides bespoke quotes for extensive entities.

6. edX

• Pricing Model: By course and institutional subscriptions
• Individual Courses: Usually, colleges offer an open door for the students to attend their classes, and the certificates may cost between $50 to $300.
• edX for Business: Hence, the product variable from customer to customer is based on the number of users and specific needs.
• Degree Programs: The costs can significantly differ depending on the program and university.

7. Pluralsight

• Pricing Model: Subscription-based
• Individual Subscription: Starts at ₹ 4092 /year
• Premium Plans: Starts at ₹ 6126 per user annually
• Enterprise Plans: Custom pricing with advanced features like analytics and skill assessments

8. MasterClass

• Pricing Model: Subscription-based
• Annual Subscription: Around $120/year for access to all courses
• Group Pricing: Available for educational institutions with custom rates

9. 360Learning

• Pricing Model: Subscription-based with custom pricing
• Custom pricing based on the number of users, specific features, and level of support required

10. Khan Academy

• Pricing Model: Free
• Khan Academy is free to use and supported by donations and grants.

When comparing the pricing of these platforms, it's essential to consider what each offers regarding features, support, and scalability. While some platforms like Khan Academy are free, others like Coursera and Thinkific provide more specialized features that might justify higher costs, especially for larger institutions or those needing specific functionalities. 

For most universities, pricing will ultimately depend on their unique needs, such as the number of users, required integrations, and the level of support desired.  It's recommended to contact the platforms directly for the most accurate and tailored pricing information, especially if your institution has specific requirements.

Wrapping Up 

This means the role of learning platforms in improving higher education is more important today than before. By comparing the abilities of these mobile learning platforms, one can see that each has advantages and is suitable for some aspects of the university education system.

This is due to various factors such as Coursera’s international presence and courses offered by accredited universities, Thinkific's simple process of course and skill development together, LinkedIn Learning’s professional courses, and EdisonOS's flexible and all-in-one offerings.

The nature of change we are witnessing on campuses is not simply about technology – it’s about how to make the right decisions regarding using technology at our institutions and for our students. If you are interested in adding new courses, enhancing students’ activity, or offering various learning opportunities, there is an online platform to contribute to these goals.