What Is an Online Course Platform

What Is an Online Course Platform: Everything You Need to Know

Are you looking to turn your skills or expertise into a profitable venture?

An online course platform can help you create and sell courses from anywhere, anytime, with all the essential marketing tools.  

Whether you're a teacher looking to expand your reach beyond the classroom or a student eager to learn from experts around the world, an online course platform is the way to go.

But with so many options, where do you start?

This article gives you the lowdown on online course platforms, how they work, and how to choose the best online course platforms to help you succeed.

Online course platform in a nutshell

An online course platform is a digital platform allowing educators to create online courses.

Some people refer to it as an online course marketplace. Because they provide a venue for online teachers, anyone (with the help of an internet connection) can enroll in an online school and learn new and marketable skills.

Here are examples of online course platforms:

* *****
* Coursera
* Skillshare
* LinkedIn Learning
* Teachable

Why use an online course platform?

Online course platforms offer numerous benefits for learners and those selling online courses — flexibility, personalization, cost-effectiveness, interactivity, heightened engagement, and time-saving benefits.

Below, we’ll expand on them.

Flexibility

Online platforms make online courses to anyone — anytime from anywhere in the world. As a result, they allow learners to fit their education around their existing schedules and commitments.

Here are the types of people who can benefit from the flexibility that online platforms offer:

* Stay-at-home parents
* Working professionals
* People with mobility issues

Personalization

Online course platforms let educators create online courses with personalized learning experiences for each student. From them, students can receive feedback and support tailored to their individual needs.

Here’s how personalized learning can help students:

* Identify strengths and weaknesses - Help students understand their level of knowledge.
* Correct misconceptions - Present facts in your course. Consider hosting Q&A sessions to let students ask questions and receive immediate feedback.

Cost-effectiveness

Because online courses can provide high-quality education without breaking the bank, even those on a tight budget can pursue their dreams and career goals. Some online courses are even free!

What makes online courses cost-effective?

* Low overhead cost - They do not require physical classrooms or textbooks. You can also design them to be more efficient than traditional classrooms and reduce costs associated with instructor time and repetition of lectures.
* Scalability - You can scale them to reach many students without incurring additional costs.

Interactivity and heightened engagement

Gone are the days of boring textbooks and mind-numbing lectures. Today's online courses offer a dynamic and engaging learning experience.

Here are the factors that make online courses interactive and engaging:

* Variety - They feature multimedia content (like videos, images, and interactive activities). They also incorporate game design elements (like points, badges, and leaderboards).
* Collaborative feature - They include collaboration tools that enable students to work together on group projects, discussions, and peer reviews.

Time-saving

Time is a valuable and finite resource. And in today's fast-paced world, it is more important than ever to use it wisely.

Here are ways students can take advantage of the time-saving benefits of online courses:

* Create a flexible schedule - They can prioritize tasks, focus on the most important assignments first, and avoid wasting time on less critical tasks.
* Improve learning with mobile and offline access - They can access your course conveniently from their mobile devices if you use an online course platform that allows mobile learning. They can also rely on course materials (like recorded lectures, relevant digital downloads, online forums, and more).

How to choose the best online course platform?

When choosing from the best online course platforms, consider several factors to ensure you select the right platform that fits your needs.

Here are five key factors to consider when choosing an online course platform:

Ease of use

The goal is to focus on the content creation process — instead of getting bogged down by complicated technicalities. Fortunately, the people behind most online course platforms know this.

Here are tips on how to know if an online course platform is easy-to-use:

* Find out if it provides a consistent user experience - See if it has a simple and user-friendly interface.
* Determine if it comes with easy access - Students should be able to access resources. It should also provide clear instructions.

Features

You need a feature-rich online course platform to create a compelling and engaging learning experience. The idea is to help you make the most of your course material and make a great course curriculum.

Here are tips concerning the features to look for:

* Look for interactive features - Let it help you provide an interactive learning environment. See if it has excellent course creation tools like quizzes, discussion boards, and live chat that can make online learning memorable.
* Focus on online training platforms with advanced features - Find out if it has an online course software that can help you customize course content and structure. Also, check if it has progress-tracking tools (like analytics and reporting).

Pricing

Online learning platforms offer various pricing plans (like free trial options, subscriptions, and one-time fees). Evaluate these options carefully to choose one that aligns with your budget and course creation goals.

Here are tips to help you with an online course’s pricing:

* Find discounts - Search the internet for coupons and discount codes. Also, join special promos.
* Check for hidden costs - Ensure a platform doesn't have unrealistic transaction fees or additional charges for certain features.

Support

Technical problems and other issues may arise. And having access to responsive customer service is essential.

Here are tips to help you choose excellent support:

* Assess their competency - Ensure that the platform's customer support team has technical skills and responds promptly to your inquiries.
* Know their reliability - Make sure the platform's customer support is available when you need it — whether it's during business hours or around the clock.

Integrations

Do you use Slack, Whatsapp, and other communication tools? How about project management software and marketing features?

If so, choose an online learning platform that seamlessly integrates with them.

How to choose an online course platform with the right integrations:

* Check integration capability - Contact their support team to confirm compatibility with your existing tools.
* Gauge the quality of the integrations - Look for platforms that have well-built integrations. Don't focus only on the quantity.

So, should I create and sell online courses?

To establish a successful online course business, learn (and master) the art of online course creation.

Then, do some digging and compare different online course platforms. Check out verified customer reviews, and let other people’s experiences with a particular platform help you.

Now, based on your research, find a platform that not only meets your specific needs and budget. But go with one that also empowers you to create unlimited courses.