What is an online course?

Table of contents

1. What is the definition of an online course?
2. Topics to include in online courses
3. How to create an online course
4. The effectiveness of online courses
5. Conclusion

What is the definition of an online course?

An online course can be defined as a virtual learning experience organized into a course format. Courses can vary in their type, from informal to formal, and cover many different topics. Plus, they can be used as preparation for an online exam or simply for fun! 

People are drawn to online courses because of the flexibility they give their participants to pace their own learning. They also allow creators to customize a virtual space to make education as engaging as possible. Online courses give you the chance to incorporate the latest learning trends, such as microlearning, nano-learning, and gamification [1].

People are drawn to online courses because of the flexibility they give their participants to pace their own learning

Topics for online courses

Once you’ve decided to create an online course, the next logical question would be: ‘What should the topic of my online course be?’ Unlike traditional courses, online courses bring the material together under a virtual roof, meaning that you can cover a variety of topics in one, organized space. That will definitely put your participants on a path to success!

The great thing about online courses is that you can make them about pretty much anything! Whatever industry you work in, there will be topics to cover with e-learning. However, while many topics are suitable for online courses, some benefit from a hybrid learning approach. Others, such as practical skills, are better off being taught in person [2].

Here are some ideas for online course topics within Easy LMS’s target industries:

HR consultancy online courses:

• Managing people
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)
• How to spot the best talent ( or 'Talent acquisition strategies')
• Interview techniques

GDPR/ cyber security consultancy online courses:

• Introduction to data security
• GDPR principles and best practices
• Managing data breaches
• Lawful processing of personal data

How to create an online course

So, you’ve decided to make an online course and picked a topic. Now what? It’s time to get stuck in! Let’s list all the steps you need to complete before you can distribute your course:

Start with your preparation

• Define your learning goals.
• Define the purpose of your course.
• Define your audience to tailor your training program.

Make a choice

• Determine some practicalities, such as the length of your course and the deadline for completion.

Create!

• Gather your resources and structure the information.

If you want your courses to be organized in a central space, you need an LMS. Easy LMS helps you to centralize all your online courses. You just need our Academy. Within the Academy, you can effortlessly design online courses. No advanced computer skills are required! You can make your courses interactive by adding images, videos, and more! Customize the colors and fonts and match your learning environment to your brand. Then view, export, and analyze your users' results. You can even generate certificates!

Read this article for all the do’s and don’ts.

Easy LMS helps you to centralize all your online courses

The effectiveness of online courses

Still doubting if online courses are for you? This learning method has the potential to be more effective than the traditional one! Check out some of the reasons why [3]:

Reason 1: Self-paced approach

One massive benefit of online courses is that they put participants in charge of their own learning. This approach empowers them to take courses at their own pace and ultimately achieve better results.

Reason 2: Improved engagement

We live in a digital age where long-form text is not enough to keep a participant engaged in the learning material. Online courses give you the ability to incorporate multimedia, such as images and videos, into your content. This, in turn, creates an engaging learning environment and, ultimately, better knowledge retention rates! For instance, the Research Institute of America found that e-learning can increase retention rates by 25% to 60%. 

Reason 3: Improved efficiency

Are your employees struggling to work efficiently? Research shows that companies that include online courses gain 26% higher revenue per employee [4]. Greater efficiency often correlates with more job satisfaction. This will likely contribute to a lower turnover rate because employees will feel satisfied and confident in their continuous education!

Conclusion

In conclusion, online courses have revolutionized the way we learn, providing learners with a flexible, engaging, and efficient approach to education. With the ability to customize the learning experience and the flexibility to learn at one's own pace, online courses have proven to be more effective than traditional in-person teaching for a range of topics. As the world continues to shift towards digital and remote learning, it's clear that online courses are here to stay and will continue to shape the future of education.

useful resources

1. mighty
2. ispring
3. eLearning Industry
4. Schoox

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