It’s fair to say that there’s never been a better time to work in the education sector. Whether your organisation worries about school aged pupils, university students, professional training or adult education; there are just so many online learning tools to work with.

The range and scope of these digital tools opens up many opportunities for educational organisations and training centres. Learning and teaching is now no longer limited to inside the classroom within working hours. Instead, tutors can use online learning tools to facilitate training at any time of day or night, and from any location in the world.

Now that all of these opportunities are out there, it’s becoming increasingly important for training centres to carefully consider what they are offering to their students. Both potential and existing students now expect to be offered a range of flexible teaching and learning options that suit them. Any educational organisation that isn’t offering this may find that they get left behind by their competitors.

One of the key ways that training providers are seeking to manage and deliver these flexible learning opportunities is through the use of a learning management system (LMS), also known as a learning content management system (LCMS). These valuable systems are pieces of software which act as a central learning hub.

online learning tools

A Learning Management System (LMS) / Learning Content Management System (LCMS) is a cloud based program that allows administrators, tutors and students to log in from anywhere on whatever device they have to hand. The LMS/LCMS will allow various different types of user to complete a wide range of tasks, from creating and distributing content, to teaching live lessons, to completing revision exercises, to sending out staff communications and monitoring course admissions.

 

From within a LMS/LCMS, training centres can facilitate access to a wide range of online learning tools.

#1.Virtual classrooms

A virtual classroom is an online learning space where tutors can host live meetings online. This could be with individual students, small groups, or even the whole cohort. This can help turns ensure that online courses maintain the same level of personal contact and community atmosphere as more traditional classroom based courses.

 

#2.Language labs

Though language labs haven’t always been online learning tools, they certainly lend themselves extremely well to this kind of learning forum. Students who seek to learn a new language can practice their speaking and listening skills using up to the minute technology on their laptop, smartphone or tablet whenever they have a spare few moments.

 

#3.Virtual campuses 

Just because a course is online doesn’t mean that community isn’t important. Many LMS/LCMS solutions offer the option for training centres to build a virtual campus for their students. Not only does this create an online space to host a whole selection of valuable learning tools and resources, it also gives students a designated space to communicate and build relationships.

 

#4.Digital study groups

Again, communication between students is important. This is true whether or not those students are on the same campus or even in the same country. When students feel encouraged to work together they can practice skills, share techniques and explore different experiences.

 

#5.Monitoring and evaluation tools

Being a tutor is not an easy role. Many high quality LMS/LCMS software seeks to provide online learning tools that will make things easier for tutors to manage. This includes monitoring an evaluation tools that help to ensure no student can slip under the radar. Tutors will be able to see at a glance how all their learners are doing, as well as key areas for improvement.

 

#6.Virtual whiteboards

In a physical classroom the whiteboard often becomes a place for sharing key messages. These is very much still a place for this type of communication in online learning. Virtual whiteboards give tutors the opportunity to leave messages, illustrate complicated concepts and emphasise important notes.

 

#7.Lesson video recordings

One of the biggest benefits of online course is the student’s opportunity to control the speed of their learning journey. Learners can choose how quickly or slowly to pass through each stage of their course. They can also revisit material as often as they feel is necessary to ensure they have completely understood it. Recording lessons and hosting them in one single space within the LMS/LCMS means that students can watch them as often as they choose.

 

#8.Automated assessments

Automated assessments are a major benefit for students and tutors. Not only does this cut down the workload for the tutor, it also means that students can get feedback instantly. Apart from automatically marking assessments, the software will also make practical suggestions for improvements and which areas need further revision.

 

Interested in learning more about the range of online learning tools available to training centres? Get inspired by taking a look at our LMS/LCMS solutions and what they have to offer.

 

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