Educational platform

What is an educational platform?

In the digital age, educational platforms have revolutionized the way we access knowledge, opening the doors to a much more flexible, personalized and effective education. The term educational platform refers to a digital environment specifically designed to manage, deliver and host online education.

These platforms allow both instructors and learners to absorb knowledge, interact, share resources, conduct assessments, and even track learning progress effectively. In addition, they can be used for different educational purposes, benefiting academic institutions as well as companies and organizations that wish to provide their employees with training programs.

Types of educational platforms

Today, there is a wide variety of educational platforms available, each one adapted to different learning needs and contexts. Some of the most common include:

Learning Management Systems (LMS)

Learning management systems (or LMS) are one of the most widely used platforms in the educational field. They allow you to manage a whole training program from start to finish, including the registration process, evaluations, and even the tracking of student progress. They are ideal for educational institutions and companies looking for a comprehensive training solution for their employees.

Online course platforms

This type of platform offers online courses to anyone who can access them through the internet. There are several different types of online course platforms – such as MOOCs, or massive online open courses – that offer free, open courses to anyone who is connected digitally. Other course platforms, such as isEazy Skills, offer companies and organizations an impressive catalog of agile, practical and 100% accessible power skills courses, so that employees can develop new skills both quickly and effectively.

Social learning networks and training apps

SLNs or social learning networks are digital platforms designed to stimulate interaction and collaboration between students, instructors, and experts. They take advantage of the familiar structure of social networks, but tailor them to support the learning process. Like training apps, these are ideal for corporate training, especially for global companies or those with teams of remote workers, since they can be accessed from anywhere. This accessibility helps them to increase engagement, productivity, and collaboration.

The key features of an educational platform

The characteristics of an educational platform can vary depending on its purpose and design. However, some of the most common include:

• Content management

They allow training managers to organize, manage and distribute educational materials such as texts, videos, presentations and interactive activities.

• Evaluations and feedback

They also make it easy to create quizzes, exams, and other forms of assessment, as well as provide immediate feedback to students.

• Progress tracking

Educational platforms provide tools that can help you monitor student progress, identify strengths and weaknesses, and adjust content based on individual needs.

• Interaction and collaboration

Communication features, such as discussion forums, live chats and private messages, make it easy for students and instructors to interact

• Personalization

Content and activities can be easily adapted in-platform to the individual needs and preferences of students.

• Accessibility

Some of the best educational platforms ensure that all learners, regardless of their abilities or disabilities, have equal access to content and can take part in learning activities.

The advantages and disadvantages of educational platforms

Advantages

• Flexibility: They allow students access to education from any location at any time, making them ideal for students and professionals with busy schedules, or those who live in remote areas.
• Personalized learning: Because content and activities can be adapted to a range of different learning styles and individual needs, the effectiveness of learning is greatly enhanced.
• Interactivity and collaboration: Educational platforms encourage active participation and collaboration between students and educators, which enriches the training experience.
• Monitoring and evaluation: They make it possible to monitor progress and evaluate student performance, providing valuable data that can help to improve the learning process.

Disadvantages

• Requires self-discipline: Students need to be self-disciplined and motivated in order to keep up and complete courses on time.
• Difficult to adapt to for some learning styles: Some learners may find that online learning does not fit with their preferred learning style, either because they prefer hands-on learning or because they need more direct interactions with instructors.

How to choose the best educational platform

Choosing the best educational platform depends on several factors, including your specific needs, the type of content you intend to offer, and your budget. Here are some key steps that can help you in making an informed decision:

1. Identify your needs

First, determine what type of education or training you want to offer, and what essential features you require in a platform. For example, if you plan to carry out corporate training, look for a platform that includes specific tools for skills development and performance evaluation.

2. Evaluate the features

We’ve already seen some key features of educational platforms. However, it’s important to remember that each one offers a different set of functionalities that you should consider. Compare the features of your preferred platforms, and make sure that they meet your requirements. Always look closely at aspects such as content management, evaluation tools, customization options, and accessibility.

3. Consider the user experience

Any learning platform should be easy to use for both trainers and students. An intuitive interface and friendly design can significantly improve the learning experience in this respect.

4. Carry out a cost analysis

Evaluate the initial cost, as well as any recurring expenses associated with the platform. Additionally, consider the return on investment you can get by improving the quality of education you offer, as well as levels of student satisfaction.

5. Seek out opinions and references

Investigate the opinions of others who have used the platform, and look for references from institutions or companies that have worked with it. This can help to give you an idea of its effectiveness and reliability.

6. Test the platform

If possible, ensure that you test the platform before making a decision. Many platforms offer free trials or demos that allow you to explore their features, and determine whether they fit your needs.

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• Embrace innovative learning methods with isEazy Engage, our training app for frontline workers.
• Access isEazy Skills, the most complete catalog of courses for upskilling your team.
• Share your complete library of corporate knowledge through isEazy LMS – a new concept of e-learning platform, designed to enhance the user experience through dynamic and flexible content.

So what are you waiting for? Request a demo of our tools today! Try them separately or together, and take your team’s training to the next level.