Overcoming the top 5 challenges of remote learning

August 18, 2021

In today’s world, where social distancing has become the norm, conventional learning and education is no longer a viable option. With COVID-19 casting a big shadow of uncertainty over not only our day-to-day life but also our futures, we are forced to rapidly adapt. Thanks to advancements in technology, that doesn’t mean that our education and training has to come to a complete halt.

Remote learning is a hot topic that is on the tips of the tongues of students, teachers and businessmen alike. Learning management systems (LMS) are popping up all over the internet, each claiming to be a step above the others. But how will you know which LMS is the better solution for you? Whether you are a student, facilitator, employee or business owner, understanding the challenges most LMS platforms are facing will make it easier to choose the right platform in advancing with your studies or training.

In this article, we highlight the top 5 challenges of remote learning and how a properly designed LMS can overcome these issues.

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<li>Lack of Technologies & Features</li>

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Although many LMS platforms might claim to feature the latest technology, it quickly becomes apparent that many of them are simply not on par with what an LMS can or should be. An LMS should be easy-to-use, engaging and filled with features that make remote learning a breeze.

These platforms are built with one main goal, to educate in an online environment. Therefore, to compromise for simplicity, they may also lack certain features and tools necessary to convert the online environment into a fully functional virtual classroom. In short, some LMS systems are lacking. When taking an activity that has traditionally been a physical, face-to-face one, there are certain key features that need to be digitised in order for an online course to be a success. This ranges from proper online assessments to things that seem simple, like the ability to take roll call of everyone attending a specific session.

Ideally, an LMS should boast the latest technology with an easy-to-use and understandable interface so that one’s main focus can be on the learning material and not having to figure out how to use the platform to its fullest extent. Advanced features like time limitations, direct communication, live feedback, the options to upload assignments and tasks, live streaming lectures, etc. are what ought to be the norm when it comes to standard features of remote learning software.

<li>Integration Issues</li>

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Quite often, when using LMS platforms, you have to switch back and forth between various programs and apps to make use of certain tools to be able to present or attend your classes and training. Being able to have a full, live video lecture, completing quizzes, uploading assignments, taking notes, presenting your content, getting proper statistics and reports can mean switching between multiple pieces of software at any given time which can be confusing and time-consuming for both the facilitator and student or trainee. It also leaves room for errors to slip in, making data and insights inaccurate and untrustworthy.

Having all of these features and platforms integrated into one central education hub saves up a lot of time and keeps all of your learning material and tools in one central platform. In this regard, it is much easier to get the job done. You also only have to train facilitators and those who are going to use the LMS once, seeing as training for only one system is required.

Proper integration with third-party programs, like Zoom, xAPI and SCORM are essential to ensure that your LMS links up with existing systems and processes in your institution or business.

<li>One Dimensional Platform</li>

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Most LMS platforms tend to favour a simplistic design with minimum tools and features that are focused either on the educator’s needs to present their class or the student and trainees’ need to learn. This means that the system can be geared towards one favourable user experience: either that of the student or that of the teacher. What does this lead to? At least one segment of users will be unsatisfied with the platform, while the other segment will be more comfortable with the platform. This ultimately creates a disconnect between educators and students - something that one does not want when not in the same vicinity. In these times of social distancing, proper communication and collaboration has never been more important.

Remote learning platforms must be easy to understand, with features like simplistic facilitator and student dashboards that give you an overview at a glance. One could also expect a central point for creating content and reporting to get proper statistics and data.

In short, emphasis must be placed on excellent user-experiences for both students and educators. An online learning platform needs to cater to the needs of all parties involved. If one segment of users do not buy into the concept or program, it is only a matter of time before e-learning fails.

<li>Engaging Custom Content</li>

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Presenting your course in an all-new online environment might seem daunting, but in reality, it doesn’t have to be difficult. The tools available out there to create your online learning materials are limited and hard to use. Other than that, educators are teachers. Not content creators in the digital space. Therefore, it is unfair to expect of them to be in position to have enough skill and knowledge to create content fit for online learning if they have never been exposed to this dilemma.

It is also much easier to keep a student or trainee motivated and engaged in a course or subject in a physical classroom where you can be present. In an online environment, the biggest hurdle that both facilitator and student have to overcome is staying motivated with engaging and interactive custom content. If the content is not on a certain level or quality, students will lose interest and that will reflect in grades and success rates.

The days of conventional learning and training are coming to an end. With the use of the latest technology, an LMS ought to offer the tools to assist in the creation of said custom content in all forms to provide an all-in-one blended education and training solution. From presentations and PDF documents to video content, every piece of learning material must be geared towards keeping users focused on the task at hand: learning.

<li>Customizability</li>

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Oftentimes, LMS programs are limited in terms of their customizability. Corporate companies might want to have the ability to pull very specific reports to see how effective a certain set of training was in their company. Schools might want to brand the platform with their logo and colours to give learners a sense of togetherness especially when we are apart. Not being able to customize your online learning platform means that it will never fully match your needs. In terms of reporting, it would mean that an employee would need to spend hours analysing and compiling a range of data to get the insights they need to present to the company. If a platform cannot be customized in terms of user-experience, it might mean that for certain industries, that specific LMS would not be best suited.

Organisations need to remain focused on their business. They should not be expected to spend wasted time managing a learning platform, while trying to juggle the expectations of a fast turnaround time, quality of what is being taught and so on.

A fully adaptive online learning environment can help companies and institutions in this regard. Being fully adaptive means that almost every element of the system can be tailored to meet the unique needs of the client in question. This would mean that businesses can focus on their operations, while knowing that their training and education needs are streamlined as far as possible.

So which online learning platform should you be looking at?

In conclusion, e-learning platforms are still a fairly new concept and may seem quite daunting but weighing your options and knowing what your challenges are going to be going forward, makes it easier to plan ahead and workaround. Choosing the correct platform that caters to your needs is vital to ensure that you get the most out of your available resources to stay engaged and motivated.

Keeping all this in mind, SOCO_ED is homegrown in South Africa and developed to fully cater to the user’s needs in every industry to not only just be your preferred LMS platform but also to be your partner in education and training. Our platform was created with all of the above challenges borne in mind, which is why our platform truly is one-of-a-kind.

We also offer a content creation service. Here, we offer assistance with highly captivating video editing to enhance concentration and engagement. Furthermore, we also provide the necessary tools for the development of animations to help conceptualize and simplify difficult-to-understand concepts through visual stimulation. Our creative team is fully committed to helping clients digitise their coursework to ensure a seamless transition to the online learning environment, which is quickly becoming the norm in education. For more information on what SOCO_ED can do for you, visit our website at <a href="https://www.socoed.com/">https://www.socoed.com/</a> and may you have any further questions or concerns get into contact with us on +27 (0) 21 879 2788 or per email at <a href="mailto:info@socoed.com">info@socoed.com</a>.

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