You want to create an e-learning platform? Here are 9 tips to make it a success.

Founders Supporting Founders: Iterative is accepting applications for its next batch of founders. Funding is the least important thing it does for you.

Photo credit: TEA / 123RF Stock Photo.

Markets all over the world have been going online. Be it ecommerce or e-learning, the use and accessibility of high-speed internet have brought about paradigm shifts in consumer behavior.

Owing to its ease of access and flexibility, online education is becoming a popular choice for the busy professional. The industry is in full bloom; educators and market leaders now have new opportunities to tap the market.

India is currently the third largest online market for education in the world. The majority of its population is young and tech-driven. They find e-learning to be an appealing career choice and as a convenient way to re-educate themselves.

But, with all the available resources and opportunities, we cannot deny that there are pitfalls in creating a successful e-learning platform. The process must be simple and interactive to attract and retain online learners.

Here are some tips that could help you build an online learning platform.

Set clear learning objectives

In designing a course for e-learning, it is very important to set the objectives clearly. Students of online courses move at a highly fast pace; a clear impression of the learning objectives will facilitate faster adoption.

Moreover, the objectives will chalk a guideline for the learners and give them an overview of the learning outcomes. These will help them decide whether to take the course or not and to maintain focus on their approach.

Make the course interactive

The course or platform designers must ensure that they have a good amount of engagement opportunities for students — whether in the form of text, videos, or audio.

No student, regardless of any demographic factor, can stay interested for long if there is no engagement or interactivity — sooner or later, they will gradually drop it.

Plan the content effectively

It is important to plan content that delivers maximum output. Keeping in mind that virtual classrooms or e-learning courses differ from real-time lectures, the content should be kept crisp and yet in depth.

It is also important to suggest additional reference materials in optional sections or even external links. This makes the content precise and can be tailor fit for different students. Make the content impactful and relevant for practical implementations.

Get notable educators on the platform

Regardless of the content delivery, having notable educators (experts in their respective fields) as speakers or contributors to the platform adds value to the course. It’s even better if the course has a partnership with reputed educational institutions. Such courses are seen as more credible and get higher adoption rates.

Facilitate both self-paced and peer-to-peer learning

Use multimodal content delivery

Have regular assessments

Offer valid certifications or honors

Use simple yet engaging UI/UX