Right now, more than ever, there is a massive opportunity for the eLearning industry, WordPress, and learning management systems (LMS). That’s because eLearning, also known as online learning or digital education, is rapidly growing.
eLearning Billions
According to a report by Global Industry Analysts, the global eLearning market is projected to reach $325 billion by 2025. This is fueled by technological advances, increasing access to high-speed internet, and a growing emphasis on lifelong learning.
A wide range of different types of players and offerings characterizes the eLearning industry, such as:
- Traditional universities that offer online programs
- Companies that develop and sell online learning platforms
- Online tutoring services
- Content providers
- And many other specific providers to different industries
According to the Babson Survey Research Group, in 2020, more than one-third (34.7%) of college students in the US were taking at least one online course. This highlights the trend of eLearning adoption among educational institutions. Keep reading for a deeper understanding of how this impacts WordPress and LMS platforms.
Why the eLearning Industry Continues to Grow
The eLearning industry is continuing to multiply due to several factors. Technological advances, such as WordPress and LMS, are the major factors driving this growth. These advancements have made creating, delivering, and accessing online educational content more accessible and cost-effective.
With the widespread availability of high-speed internet and mobile devices, learners can access online courses and educational materials from anywhere. Additionally, learners can do so at any time.
This increased accessibility has made eLearning more convenient and appealing to many learners. This includes both traditional students and working professionals.
Another factor contributing to the growth of the eLearning industry is the growing emphasis on lifelong learning. As technological change accelerates, individuals continuously update their skills and knowledge to stay competitive in the job market. eLearning provides a flexible and cost-effective way to accomplish that.
According to a report by Mordor Intelligence, the global eLearning market is expected to reach $398 billion by 2026.
The Need for Learning Management Systems
A learning management system, or LMS, is a software application or web-based technology used to plan, implement, and assess a specific learning process. Typically, LMS provides an environment where educators and learners can connect, communicate, and share resources to facilitate learning. Many LMS platforms also provide tools for tracking student progress, managing and delivering educational content, and assessing student performance.
Who Uses LMS?
Learning management systems are widely used in the eLearning industry. They support the delivery and management of online courses, training programs, and other educational content. An LMS can be used by educators and trainers to create and deliver content, track student progress, and assess student performance.
Organizations also use them to manage and deliver employee training programs and individuals to manage their learning and development. In recent years, businesses, schools, and universities have been increasing their adoption of LMS to adapt to the growing trend of remote or hybrid learning caused by COVID-19.
Benefits of LMS
There are several benefits of using an LMS for eLearning. First, LMS provides a centralized location for storing and managing educational content, making it easier for educators and learners to access and share resources.
Second, LMS makes it easy to track student progress and assess student performance, providing educators with valuable data that can be used to improve the learning experience. Third, LMS platforms are highly scalable and can support many users, making them ideal for organizations of all sizes.
Fourth, an LMS provides a convenient, cost-effective way for individuals to gain new skills and knowledge, regardless of location or schedule. Overall, LMS is a powerful tool for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the eLearning process.
WordPress as a Platform for Learning Management Systems
WordPress is a content management system (CMS) that allows users to create and manage websites easily. It is an open-source platform, meaning it is free to use and can be modified to suit the needs of individual users or organizations.
WordPress is known for its ease of use, flexibility, and scalability, making it one of the most popular CMSs in the world. It’s estimated that over 60% of all websites using a CMS use WordPress; this indicates how popular this platform is.
WordPress can be used as a learning management systems platform by leveraging several available plugins and themes. These plugins and themes provide various tools and features that can be used to create and deliver online courses, track student progress, and assess student performance.
eLearning with WordPress and LMS
WordPress can integrate with other tools and services, such as payment processors and email marketing platforms, to support the full range of functionality needed for an LMS. It can also create online communities, online marketplaces, and learning portals.
There are several advantages of using WordPress as a platform for LMSs. One significant advantage is that WordPress is open-source, which means it is free to use and modify.
Manageable Costs
This can significantly lower the cost of developing and maintaining an LMS, particularly for small and medium-sized organizations. WordPress is user-friendly and highly customizable, which makes it easy for educators and trainers to create and deliver content, and for organizations to adapt the LMS to their specific needs.
Access to Support
WordPress has a large community of developers, users, and supporters, creating a constant flow of new features and capabilities. This makes it versatile, constantly adapting to the market’s changing needs.
Customization
Furthermore, the many available plugins and themes make it easy to add new functionalities and create a professional-looking website. Overall, using WordPress as a platform for a Learning Management System can provide a cost-effective and highly customizable solution.
LifterLMS Case Study: A WordPress-Based LMS in Action
A leading social enterprise in Kenya, Toolkit iSkills used LifterLMS and WordPress to create an online vocational training platform to empower underserved, impoverished youth. Their mission is to offer workforce development for these high school dropouts and individuals who need to gain skills to pursue sustainable employment or jobs.
Toolkit iSkills recognized that the ability to bring its courses online would scale their impact and reach a wider audience. Before bringing their courses online, students had to travel far to get to a workshop, and the time and cost were often prohibitive.
With the help of LifterLMS and WordPress, Toolkit iSkills have created an online vocational training platform, delivering free online entry-level courses in plumbing, welding, tiling, flooring, painting, scaffolding, and more.
Within six months of the launch of Toolkit iSkills in the summer of 2019, around 1000 students signed up for the participant database, giving them the ability and opportunity to do things they never thought possible and to work towards a brighter future.
What is LifterLMS?
LifterLMS is a powerful learning management system (LMS) plugin for WordPress that provides various features and capabilities for creating and delivering online courses, tracking student progress, and assessing student performance. Some of the critical components of LifterLMS include the below list.
Course Builder
This feature allows you to create and organize your course content in a drag-and-drop interface. You can add various types of content, such as text, images, videos, and quizzes, to your course and customize the layout and appearance of your course pages.
Quizzes and Assignments
LifterLMS provides various tools for creating and delivering quizzes and assessments. You can create multiple-choice, true/false, and open-ended questions and provide instant feedback to students. You can also use quizzes and assignments to track student progress and assess student performance.
Drip Content
This feature allows you to release course content over time. You can set specific release dates for each lesson or module; students can only access content when available.
Membership and Access Control
LifterLMS provides options for creating and managing membership levels, which can be used to restrict access to specific courses or sections of a website. This feature allows you to create different membership levels, such as free and paid, and assign additional access rights to each group. This way, you can control who can access your content and when.
Student Management
LifterLMS provides tools for managing student data and tracking student progress. You can view detailed student profiles, track their progress through your courses, and view their quiz and assessment results.
Reports and Analytics
LifterLMS provides various information and analytics to help you track student engagement, assess student performance, and improve the course content. This way, you can analyze your data and optimize your course to enhance your students’ experience.
Comprehensive Solution
LifterLMS provides a comprehensive solution for creating and delivering online courses, tracking student progress, and assessing student performance. Its wide range of features and capabilities allows for very comprehensive management of eLearning experiences, including membership management, access control, student tracking, and reporting and analytics.
All this functionality, combined with the versatility and scalability of WordPress, makes it an excellent option for educators, trainers, and organizations looking to create an eLearning program.
The Role of Enterprise WordPress Agencies with Learning Management System Experience
Organizations of all sizes can leverage WordPress agencies like WebDevStudios to implement WordPress LMS eLearning solutions like LifterLMS to meet their education and training needs. For instance, it can create and deliver employee training programs, track progress, and assess performance.
This can improve employee training and development efficiency and effectiveness. Eventually, this leads to a more productive and skilled workforce.
Any organization can use an LMS to create and sell online courses or offer subscriptions to a membership-based learning platform. Here are some sectors that benefit from using LMS.
Government and Schools
Governments and schools can use an LMS to create and deliver online education programs, track student progress, and assess student performance. This can be especially beneficial for schools moving into remote or hybrid learning.
An LMS can give students access to course materials, quizzes, and assessments. They can track their progress and performance in real-time.
By using an LMS, schools can ensure students receive a high-quality education. These institutions can also provide teachers and administrators with valuable data that can be used to improve the educational experience.
Enterprise-Level Companies
Enterprise clients can also benefit from LMS. Training and education goals can be met by leveraging the knowledge of WordPress agencies like WebDevStudios to implement WordPress LMS eLearning solutions like LifterLMS. For example, large-scale corporations can use an LMS to create and deliver professional development programs and track employee progress and performance.
Additionally, enterprise clients can use LMS to create and deliver custom training and education programs tailored to their specific industry or field. This can be especially useful for organizations that need specialized training and education, such as healthcare providers, or organizations that operate in heavily regulated industries, such as financial services.
By leveraging the capabilities of an LMS like LifterLMS, enterprise clients can ensure that their employees have the skills and knowledge they need to perform their job functions effectively and stay up-to-date with the latest developments in their field.
Additionally, by working with a WordPress agency like WebDevStudios, enterprise clients can receive expert guidance and support throughout implementing an LMS solution, which can help ensure a smooth and successful implementation.
The Future of eLearning and WordPress
In summary, the eLearning industry continues to increase, with the global eLearning market projected to be a 398 Billion dollar industry in a few years. As more and more organizations, businesses, schools, and individuals turn to online education and training, the need for effective and efficient eLearning solutions has never been greater.
WordPress LMS solutions like LifterLMS are well-suited to meet this need, providing a cost-effective and highly customizable way for educators, trainers, and organizations to create and deliver online courses, track student progress, and assess student performance.
The Future of LMS and eLearning
The future potential for the use of WordPress-based LMSs in the eLearning industry is significant. As technology advances and more organizations and individuals become comfortable with online education and training, the demand for eLearning solutions grows.
The need for online training and education increases as more organizations move to remote or hybrid working models. WordPress LMS solutions like LifterLMS, with their flexibility, scalability, and ease of use, continue to be a popular choice to meet these needs.
Conclusion
I encourage readers to use a WordPress-based LMS like LifterLMS. Organizations can receive expert guidance and support by working with an experienced and reputable website agency like WebDevStudios. Doing so ensures that their eLearning program is successful and effective.
Furthermore, with LifterLMS, organizations can benefit from its comprehensive solutions. It is an effective and cost-efficient way to create and deliver online courses, track student progress, and assess performance.
About the Author
Chris Badgett is the Founder and CEO of LifterLMS. He first learned about online education while on a glacier in Alaska. He is an experienced course creator, covering topics from organic gardening to woodworking. Chris is passionate about helping other entrepreneurial educators find success. You can follow him on Twitter.
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