The education sector has been revolutionized by technology. The availability of a vast amount of digital content and resources has enabled students to learn at their own pace and experience a more personalized learning process than ever before.
The global EdTech market was valued at $106 billion in 2021. That’s the year right after the COVID-19 pandemic had put a halt on in-person classes for almost a year. By 2030, that value will grow at a CAGR of 16.5%. Thus, there can be no doubt that online learning and educational platforms are here to stay.
However, many people still believe that online courses are not as effective as face-to-face learning because they cannot teach students in person or give them feedback on assignments.
This is not true. If done right, educational platforms can make free online courses with certificates more effective for students, and here’s how they can manage that.
Have an Easy to Use Interface
An important characteristic of good educational platforms is that they are easy to use. This means that students can easily find what they are looking for, and instructors clearly understand how to instruct.
The platform should be intuitive, with well-written instructions on how to navigate its features. The interface should also be user-friendly in terms of design so as not to overwhelm users with information or make it difficult for them to locate where you want them to go next.
In addition, an educational platform must be free from technical issues like slow load times or glitches when using various functions on the website or app itself. It’s been found that online shoppers tend to leave a website if they take longer than six seconds to load. When you think about it, educational platforms are no different. Time is of the essence here, and slow speed will bring no benefits to students.
Experienced Instructors
The role of the instructor in the learning process can truly be a game-changer. A good instructor should not only have extensive knowledge of his or her subject matter but also understand how to teach it effectively. This means they can break down complex topics into manageable pieces and explain them clearly without leaving students behind.
In addition to providing clear instruction, instructors should also be able to engage with students through live discussions so that students feel comfortable asking questions about anything that might be confusing them. It’s also important for instructors to encourage students’ active participation by asking questions that require more than just yes-no answers.
Detailed Video Lessons
The first thing to keep in mind when producing video lessons is to make them as easy to understand as possible. This means that the instructor should be able to explain concepts clearly and that the language used in the videos is simple and direct. Students are busy people with a lot of responsibilities, so they don’t want their online courses to feel like work.
Another important factor is how long each video lesson lasts. Some lessons will require more time than others. In the case of longer lessons, it’s best if the topics are broken down into smaller subsections.
For instance, if you’re running a general chemistry course on your platform, you first have to decide the topics you want to cover. Then, you have to drill down and break those topics into more subsections.
That’s how some of the best general chemistry courses online structure themselves. When teaching students about the periodic table, these platforms break the topic into different sections like period law, size of atoms, atomic properties, etc. That makes it easier to convey the lessons efficiently without boring the students to death.
Diverse Online Courses
When you look at the online course catalogs of top educational platforms, you will see that they offer a wide variety of classes. You can choose from intro-level to advanced, basic to specialized. Your options will also depend on your level of experience and skill set.
For example, an introductory course might be all you need if you want a general overview of something like economics or history. However, if your interest is in learning more about these topics, maybe an intermediate-level course is what’s right for you.
Regularly Updated Workbooks and Practice Questions
Workbooks and practice questions need to be regularly updated. Regular practice is necessary for students to improve their skills and knowledge. At the same time, feedback on student work can also help them improve, which is why you must have active instructors on the platform to provide such feedback.
The EdTech market is booming. By 2030, this market will be valued at over $400. Now is the time to invest in this market. However, it’s also expected that you leave no stone unturned to ensure that your platform provides an effective learning opportunity for students.
Teachers and tutors have access to more tools than ever before, and this means they can create more engaging courses that meet the needs of their students. Thus, as long as you have everything in place and take the right steps, you can ensure the maximum effectiveness of your educational courses for students.
