The demand for LMS website development has increased significantly since the rise of online education. And why wouldn’t it? LMS websites allow education service providers to overcome the need for physical classrooms, printed materials, and other traditional educational expenses. They contribute immensely towards making the entire education delivery process streamlined and systematic.
However, there are still many educational institutions and independent instructors who don’t know why they should consider building an LMS website in 2023. If you are one of them, keep reading!
In this blog, Techosquare - a leading web app development company in India - will tell you everything about building an LMS website. From meaning to benefits and suitability to the development process, we will cover all crucial aspects.
First, let us understand what exactly LMS means!
Learn management system (LMS) is a web-app designed specifically to curate, manage, monitor, and deliver educational content online. Known for holding and executing multiple e-learning courses and training programs as well as learning and development programs, it allows instructors to create and organize course content, track the progress of each student, and provide feedback and support.
In fact, learners can also use LMS sites to put their hands on course materials, submit assignments, participate in discussions, and receive feedback, and grades just like traditional educational methods. Google Classroom, Moodle, LearnDash, and Masteriyo are some popular examples of LMS websites.
Investing funds in building an LMS website is beneficial for education service providers and businesses. But how? Well, here are the reasons why investing in LMS website development can be a smart decision in 2023:
#1 Flexibility
We all know much more choice and flexibility OTT websites and apps have provided us in comparison to traditional TV. Today, we can literally watch what we want, when we want, or on whatever device we want. LMS websites are no different. They also provide flexibility and convenience to education service providers to deliver education and training programs.
Learners can access course materials and get assignments from anywhere. All they need is just an internet connection and a desktop or mobile.
#2 Cost-effective
Physical classrooms, printed materials, building rent, utilities, and maintenance costs - there are many costs involved in running an offline educational institution. LMS websites can help eliminate these costs and reduce the overall expense of delivering education and training programs.
#3 Analytics and Tracking
One of the biggest benefits of investing in LMS website development. Tracking progress and keeping an academic record of each student is no easy feat. An LMS website provides useful insights and data on student engagement and performance. It makes it easy for instructors and administrators not only to track progress but also to make data-driven decisions to improve course outcomes for each student.
#4 Scalability
Planning to scale your educational offerings to students but don’t have enough room in your institution? No problem. LMS website allows for accommodating a large number of students and courses. Be it 100, 200, or 500, you can add students and expand your educational offerings as much as you want using this cost-effective solution.
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Now that you know about the meaning and benefits of creating an LMS website, it’s time to talk about who can benefit from it. First thing first, LMS portals are not just for organizations active education industry. Anybody who wants to offer e-learning courses and programs online can consider building an LMS website. That includes:
Large multinational companies and SMBs across different industries who want to train their workforce, clients, and partners
Government organizations and public sector agencies who want to educate their staff
Non-profits and non-government organizations
Primary educational institutions including universities, colleges, and schools
Other educational institutions such as entrance exams and coaching centers
Independent instructors who want to foster a culture of knowledge-sharing across the globe
When it comes to developing an LMS website, you can either build it using a custom approach or use a platform-based approach.
Platform-based approach: A platform-based approach involves the use of a pre-built platform or software solution to create and run an LMS website rather than building it from scratch. This approach can help education service providers save time and resources as the platform already comprises crucial features and functionality required for the LMS site.
However, the platform-based approach has limitations on customizations. Meaning, you can’t tailor your LMS website to your own needs and preferences. Also, you have to rely on the provider for updates, maintenance, and support.
Custom approach: As the name itself suggests, the custom approach involves creating an LMS website from ground zero. It is best for those who want full product ownership, top-notch security measures, and personalized features. Although it can be more time-consuming and a little expensive compared to the platform-based approach, the flexibility and control over the LMS site’s design and functionality it offers are beyond belief.
The following are the steps you need to follow in order to create a highly functional and aesthetically pleasing LMS website using the custom approach:
#1 Create a Plan
At Techosquare, we believe that a goal without a plan is just a wish. If you really want to start things on the right foot, you should definitely come up with a foolproof plan for your LMS website project. By doing so, you can easily organize your efforts, collect the assets you need, and kick off with a blueprint of goals as well as a clear way to achieve them.
Ask yourself the following questions while creating a plan for your LMS website:
Why am I trying to achieve this by creating an LMS website?
Whom am I creating it for? Do I want to create it for internal use in my company/university or do I just want to offer it as a service to students, businesses, and other educational institutions?
What resources do I need to build and implement in my LMS website?
What should be the budget and timeline for my LMS site project?
Once you have found answers to these questions, you are all set to move to the next step.
#2 Choose Core Features
When it comes to deciding which car to purchase, we look into the features like engine size and power, fuel efficiency, safety, comfort and convenience, and technology used in each car, right? Similarly, when it comes to building an LMS website, it is important to decide on the core features that you want.
Not only will it help you define the scope and purpose of the site but also ensure that it meets the requirements and expectations of its intended users. You will be able to design and develop your LMS website efficiently and effectivity by focusing on core features. In fact, you will get a clear idea of what is important and what can be implemented later.
There are certain features that are a must for any LMS website. Here are some of those:
Course management feature to create and manage different educational content including videos, audio, slides, and more.
User and group management based on elements like role and location
Features of managing students' and teachers’ accounts
Learning analytics tools for tracking students' progress and performance
Automated reminders and notifications
Gamification with functions like leaderboards, reward systems, and badges for course completion.
Social features such as forums for peer-to-peer discussions or letting learners share their achievements on social media channels
Mobile compatibility and responsiveness
Integration of other tools and systems like learning management systems, student information systems, and content management systems
SCORM compliance to standardize learning content
#3 Pick Right Technology Stack
One of the biggest steps involved in building an LMS website. Once you are done with finalizing the core features for your site, choose the right tech stack. Now some of our readers might be wondering, “Why it is so important?”
Just like beams are used to support the weight of floors, walls, and roofs of a house, the right technology stack is essential for creating a sturdy and scalable LMS website. Also called the backbone of any site, choosing the wrong tech can sabotage website prospects.
Here are some popular tech stacks to use for LMS website development in 2023:
Server-side programming languages: PHP, Java, Python, JavaScript, and Ruby
Web frameworks: Django, Laravel, Node.js, Ruby On Rails
Servers: Apache, Ngnix
Databases: MongoDB, MySQL, and PostgreSQL
UI/UX tools: Figma and Photoshop
Front-end technologies: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Bootstrap, and Angular
#4 MVP Development
Just like we create an MVP before launching the final product in the market, it is important to create a minimum viable product for an LMS website. Putting all eggs in one basket is risky given that a lot of money and time goes into the development process. To increase the odds of your project’s success, MVP is the way to go for full-scale product development of your LMS website.
A comprehensive guide on MVP app development
#5 Start Working on the Final Product
After gathering feedback from early adopters, start working on the areas of your LMS website that needs improvement. Make data-driven decisions about how you can improve the site to better match the requirements of users. Keep working hard on both the front-end and back-end of your LMS website until they don’t function in one fell swoop.
With continuous iterations, you’ll be able to successfully launch your full-scale LMS product in the end.
Building LMS Website: Final Words
Investing in the LMS website is an excellent option as it has become the next big thing in the education industry in 2023. Of course, building one for yourself isn’t going to be a cakewalk. However, if you choose the right road and collaborate with the best web developers, you can take your education business to new heights of success.
Highly skilled website designers and developers at Techosquare also follow the aforementioned steps and do a lot more to deliver fully functional and aesthetically pleasing LMS websites for their clients. Email us at info@techosquare.com in case of queries about website development.
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