Since the late 1990s technological revolution, online learning platforms have become increasingly common as training and instruction tools. It provides unmatched affordability, flexibility, and convenience in a world that is getting increasingly expensive and hectic.
And now that COVID has no end in sight, everyone is hopping on board. Online learning platforms have become one of the most sought-after goods on the market due to this demand. But picking the ideal online learning platform is no easy task! There are countless possibilities, each with a special set of qualities.
Because of this, there are many online learning platforms available to meet your needs, whether you work in academia, own a business looking to train personnel, or are a high school student.

What is an Online Learning Platform?

An information system known as an online learning platform offers a secure learning environment so that students can attend online courses.
Due to the fact that they allow students to directly search for and purchase online courses, these platforms for online learning are frequently referred to as "online course markets." Most of these course markets are more educationally focused and only provide university-level instruction, while some provide online courses that you can build.

Online Learning Platforms VS Online Course Platforms

While an online course platform adopts the online instructor's or teacher's viewpoint, an online learning platform highlights and shows the learner's perspective.
The actual differences between the two titles rely on who uses them, how they are defined, and how they are defined & used in the conversation. A learning platform is a site where students may browse instructional content, conduct searches, and purchase individual courses or entire educational packages. However, from a teacher's viewpoint, it is the location to impart knowledge.
Markets like Coursera, Udemy, and LinkedIn Learning, previously Lynda, are examples of online learning platforms that identify marketplaces for courses or education. On the other hand, learning environments created using software, such as Teachable, Thinkific, or LearnWorlds, are course platforms.
The hard work of audience development, marketing, and sales are greatly reduced when using an online learning platform, but you can lose control over price, user data, and branding.
You have more flexibility and freedom to manage your learning resources while using an online course platform. Additionally, you get to have a role in how the course is presented and advertised as well as the overall layout and appearance of the website that contains your online courses.

Benefits Of using an Online Learning Platform?

Learning Methods: New learning approaches have emerged as a result of online learning platforms in the education sector. Thanks to the enjoyable activities on these online learning platforms, students are involved in a constructive mental process and are able to see things from a fresh angle.

Interaction: Online learning environments, according to experts, can better engage kids and parents. Using these channels to communicate with students is the most efficient method. Students are encouraged to interact with one another on online learning platforms.

eBooks And Online Study: Student use of online learning systems is growing. These technologies make it easier for students to obtain relevant study materials on online learning platforms. It makes it easier for people to handle their online study materials, which gives students access to their materials.

24/7 Availability: Online learning platforms are always accessible for the students, unlike in the classroom, and there are no scheduling conflicts. Because all you need is a computer (laptop, smartphone), you can master online learning platforms in less time and with more enjoyment.
Most online learning platforms provide for parental control. Students should use the materials at their disposal if they want to learn. The user interface of online learning platforms is simple and designed with students in mind.

Tips to Choose a Best Online Learning Platform

However, the question of what constitutes a developmentally appropriate online learning platform for promoting and supporting young children's learning presents a challenge for most instructors and parents.
When choosing which platforms to utilise in the classroom, the following suggestions are a good place to start, per academic studies:

1. Look for platforms that are both instructive and useful – Platforms used in the classroom (or even at home) must be well-designed and have clear learning objectives, even though they can be enjoyable or wonderful.
If you're thinking about using applications to help kids learn to read, have a look at the teaching strategies used within the platform to determine its suitability for teaching. Finding platforms that work in the classroom and are appropriate for the subject matter is essential.

2. Look for participatory, transparent, and logical platforms- Especially in situations where the selected platforms must offer "interactivity and transparency" with clear and simple functionalities. The platform's transparency and the child's intuitiveness are taken into account, and if the child touches the pad intending to zoom in and out, the platform will complete the task in a single action.
In order to maximise a child's learning potential, platform interaction should encourage children to be more hands-on and cognitively active. It should also be engaging and empowering.

3. Help& encourage the child to assume responsibility- Instead for the platform guiding the child through programmed learning. The child must be in control when utilising the platform. There is evidence that certain arithmetic and literacy abilities can be "effectively" developed with programmable software. However, this approach goes against conventional wisdom about what is best to do.

4. Select platforms that encourage interaction between the teacher, facilitator, or parent and the student- While the teacher-child relationship is vital in the early years, it is less instructive in the years before that, when the teacher acts more as a facilitator. While many online learning platforms permit independent exploration, studies showing greater teamwork and "engaged joint attention" may lead to more effective cognitive activities.

5. Select platforms that allow teachers to communicate with students at home and school- Online learning platforms can offer new, more affordable ways for family members to participate in their child's educational development. Studies have demonstrated that students' academic performance increases when parents, teachers, and students collaborate to achieve shared objectives.

Top 10 Most Popular Online Learning Platforms

Fliplearn: Fliplearn is an online learning platform that helps parents and teachers by offering a straightforward, online space accessible from home and school. There are tens of thousands of pre-made, carefully curated questions available for students to practise on. The app Filplearn allows teachers and parents to create their students' learning environments and track their students' progress using data supplied by AI. Teachers may create and assign homework to their students using the pre-built questions in a matter of seconds.

Skillshare

One of the most well-known online learning platforms is Skillshare. There are almost 27,000 classes in its vast library, which is separated into three categories: Thrive (Lifestyle, Productivity), Build (Business Analytics, Freelance & Entrepreneurship, Leadership & Management, Marketing), and Create (Animation, Film & Video, Graphic Design, Music, Creative Writing, Photography, Web Development, and more).
Skillshare supports a project-based learning strategy that enables students to develop their creativity and use new abilities in real-world situations. A video presentation (which lasts typically 20 to 60 minutes) and a group project are the two components of every course. Remember that even though Skillshare offers many excellent courses, none of them is authorised by any organisation, and the site does not issue certificates of completion. It's a place to broaden your knowledge and acquire new abilities, not to gain a degree.

Mindvalley: One of the top platforms for personal development and change is Mindvalley. Its objective is to enable students to achieve professional success while also releasing all of their physical, mental, and spiritual potentials. The people who desire to enhance many aspects of their lives quickly are most suited for Mindvalley.
Mindvalley's library has more than 50 courses (or quests), all taught by leading authorities in their professions, including CEOs of sizable corporations, best-selling authors, celebrity coaches, well-known therapists and business owners, and prominent international speakers. Different categories have been established for the quests, including Mind, Body, Soul, Career, Entrepreneurship, Relationships, Kids, Teens, Parenting, and Performance.
Each quest lasts between 30 and 50 days and finishing the video-based lesson and practice activity each day typically takes less than 20 minutes.

Coursera: Online learning platform Coursera provides univerisity-level courses and certification programmes. Instructors teach the courses from prestigious businesses and institutions like Stanford, Yale, and Princeton. However, choosing the Audit option can take thousands of courses for free. If you opt to audit the course, you won't get graded assignments, a certificate, or extra resources. Most courses involve reading materials, assignments, quizzes, projects, and group discussions.
English, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Portuguese, Arabic, French, German, Korean, Vietnamese, and more are just a few of the languages that are offered as course options. The subjects covered in some of the courses include business, computer science, data science, information technology, health, math and logic, and personal development. 4-6 weeks are needed to finish each course.

Udemy: Another well-known online learning portal is Udemy. It is the greatest when it comes to content because it has a large library with more than 150,000 courses. You may increase your knowledge and abilities with Udemy in any area you can think of, from business and marketing to hand weaving and clowning. Udemy wants to revolutionise and democratise the educational system.
The 13 categories that makeup Udemy's course catalogue are: Business, Marketing, IT & Software, Office Productivity, Music, Personal Development, Teaching & Academics, Design, Lifestyle, Photography, and Health & Fitness. There are beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels of instruction available for the courses.
Although Udemy is not an authorised institution, completing a paid course earns you a certificate of completion. Each Udemy course comprises a video tutorial; the typical course lasts 5 hours, while some are only 30 minutes long. In addition, certain courses may also include assignments, quizzes, practice exams, coding exercises, and other extra materials.

Brilliant.org: The STEM fields of science, math, and computer science are the focus of the online learning platform Brilliant. Both adults and children (at least ten years old & above) can take these courses. Brilliant is one of the most excellent learning platforms, especially for young adults, because it aims to make learning enjoyable, engaging, and interactive.
Algebra, logic, advanced mathematics, calculus, geometry, classical physics, quantum mechanics, foundational computer science, and other topics are among the many courses you can master on Brilliant.
Brilliant offers annual and monthly subscriptions, giving users complete access to all courses and practice tests on various subjects.

Edx.org: One of the top sources for online courses at the college level is edX. Harvard and MIT formed the company, and the courses are of the highest calibre. Except for the professional education courses, all of the courses on edX can be taken for free.
In addition to biology and life sciences, edX also offers more than 2,500 courses in architecture, chemistry, art and culture, electronics, education and teacher preparation, medicine, food and nutrition, physics, science, music, law, history, language, and environmental studies. Although English is used for most courses, some are offered in Chinese, Russian, French, Italian, Spanish, etc. There are classes for beginners, intermediate students, and advanced students. The coursework often consists of assignments as well as text and video content.

LinkedIn Learning (Ex Lynda): Few years ago, LinkedIn bought Lynda, one of the first e-learning websites, and moved all of its content to its own platform, LinkedIn Learning. The organisation now provides tens of thousands of top-notch courses for all skill levels, from novice to expert, on various topics, such as Web development, software programming, economics, and business management.
You can access all of the information on LinkedIn Learning for a single monthly subscription charge. The courses' bite-sized modules promote better information absorption. Any course may be downloaded from LinkedIn Learning for offline viewing, which I find pretty convenient. Although most courses come with a Certificate of Completion that you may subsequently add to your LinkedIn profile, LinkedIn Learning is not certified

Conclusion

You can see that many possibilities are accessible, and each has advantages and disadvantages. Before making a decision, it is strongly advised to do some research on the platforms and tools you are most interested in, even though you may find it time-consuming to read through every tiny detail that characterises each one.
The online learning platform's central purpose is to increase productivity while making education more accessible and enjoyable. Filplearn is the most effective online learning platform for both teachers and students. Fliplearn also helps parents keep track of their child's progress and makes them understand the future learning strategy for their children.