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How to Create an e-Learning Platform - A Complete Guide for Entrepreneurs
By 2026, eLearning market size is projected to reach $167,5 billion, so there is no surprise that online learning solutions are on the rise now. eLearning is a promising niche for starups that opens up a lot of revenue-driving opporuntites, so if you’re an entrepreneur and want to create an e-learning platform, we’re here to help. This guide will walk you through the process of getting your platform off the ground and keeping it running smoothly.
Types of eLearning Platforms
Before discovering how to build an online learning platform and what type of software to choose for your business, let’s quickly discover a brief definition. An e-learning platform is a digital space where students can access courses and resources that are relevant to their studying needs and goals. Since these needs and goals can be pretty diverse, there are several types of eLearning solutions that can be classified in several ways.
Types of eLearning platforms depending on the functionality:
Custom eLearning platforms
Teacher-supported online learning platforms
Online cources websites
Learning Management System (LMS)
Interactive mobile apps
AR-enabled eLearning plarforms
Virtual classrooms
Learning Management System (LMS). LMS systems are the solutions frequently used by schools, colleagues and univiresities for class schedule planning, attendance control, teachers’ workload planning, and student’s success tracking.
Online courses websites. We bet you know this type of eLEarning software well – Udemy and Coursera, for example, needs no introduction. These are the platforms that consolidate online courses from different areas so that everyone can study them for free or for a fee.
Teacher-supported online learning platforms. With the help of these eLearning applications, students can study with teacher’s support. These platforms often take form of a marketplace where a student can hire an online teacher, depending on the topic they would like to study, the cost per class, teacher’s availability and rating.
Custom eLearning platforms. There are also custom eLearning platforms that are usually tailored to a certain business. For example, HubSpot, an all-in-one marketing software provider, has created HubSpot Academy – a platform that shares introductory marketing video courses for free.
Interactive mobile apps. eLearning mobile applications usually come with gamification features. The learning materials are structured in such a way that the user can study in short iterations and right on the go. For example, DuoLingo allows for studying a foreign language using a game-like mobile app.
Virtual classrooms. This type of eLearning software makes the most sense for remote or hybrid learning in groups. With its help, a group of students can interact with a teacher during a lesson, send homework assignments, and receive feedback within a single platform.
AR-enabled eLearning platforms. These are the most sophisticated eLearning solutions that are usually used for employee training. For example, with the help of Augmented Reality technology, it becomes possible to create a virtual environment to let employees develop critical skills safely.
Types of eLearning platforms depending on the target users:
For students. These platforms are designed to be used in the classroom, and they can be used by teachers or students. They can include a variety of features, including content management systems, learning management systems, automated testing and reporting tools, and more.
For employees. eLearning solutions for employees are designed to help them learn on the job. These apps often feature training resources or courses related to the company’s goals.
For anyone. With this eLearning software, everyone can learn anything from anywhere at any time. For example, Khan Academy and Coursera allow users to take free or paid online courses from prestigious universities around the world.
In addition, there are also self-hosted and SaaS (software-as-a-service) eLearning platforms. The companies that develop eLEarning solutions for their internal goals (for example, employee training) usually host them on their own servers, while in the case of SaaS, anyone who paid a subscription fee can access the learning materials. In our recent article, we have also explained how to create a SaaS platform, and you are welcome to check it out as well.
The Benefits of Creating an Online Learning Platform on Your Own
Still doubt whether you have to create your own eLearning platform in 2023? Discover the main business benefits to do it.
Tap into a trending industry. The online learning industry is booming. And with the rise of new technologies, there are more opportunities than ever to create new edTech startups that modern learners will love.
Create a recurring revenue stream. Not only will you be able to tap into a trending industry, but you’ll also be able to create a recurring revenue stream off of your customers’ subscriptions and memberships. Plus, creating your own eLearning platform is an opportunity to drive revenue in the long run – the popularity of eLearning and mobile learning solutions will only increase in the future.
Leverage free learning materials to attract customers to your brand. With so many people looking for free learning options, why not use them as an opportunity to attract new customers? This is just what HubSpot does. The company helps its prospects learn the basics of digital marketing, builds their loyalty in this way, and then, sells its software subscription packages.
Ready to get these benefits for your business? Meet our business analysts and software developers today!
Contact usHow eLearning Platforms Make Money?
Advertising
Course-based payment
Subscription
There are three ways to monetize your eLearning platform.
Subscription. Subscription is a common monetization strategy for eLearning platforms. It allows the users to pay a fee for accessing all courses available on the platform. This article also makes sense for language-learning applications since this process is likely to take up to several years.
Course-based payment. In this model, the users pay for each course separately, for example, like on Coursera. They can choose from a variety of courses on the platform and purchase only those that are relevant to their needs. As usual, promo codes and discounts encourage users to buy more courses faster.
Advertising. This is one of the most popular ways of making money online. It involves placing ads on the platform in order to generate revenue from them. However, be careful with this monetization strategy. Place highly-relevant ads only, and make sure they don’t annoy the learners.
Essential Features of an eLearning Platform
Before you create your own eLearning website, decide on the feature set you have to develop for each of the user groups.
For Students
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Sing up/Log in | This is the process of registering with the eLearning platform and also a prerequisite to accessing the platform and its content. |
| User Profile | A user profile is a way for the student to create a unique identity on that platform. It provides information about the student such as their name, contact information, and other personal details. |
| Courses, classes, or media libraries | These are different types of content that can be accessed by students once they have signed up for the platform. |
| Reviews and ratings | This feature is useful for both learners and instructors alike in order to help them make decisions when choosing which courses/classes/materials might be best suited for them. |
| Tests and quizzes | Tests and quizzes provide a way for students to check their comprehension of the material, which can help them improve their learning. |
| Referral system | A referral system allows students to refer their friends and earn points by doing so. Points can be redeemed for gifts or discounts on other courses. |
| Progress tracking and evaluation | A progress tracking feature helps students keep track of what they have learned, how much time they have spent studying, and how well they are doing in relation to other learners. |
| Chat with a teacher/ classmates/ colleagues | A chat feature allows students to talk directly with teachers or classmates who can help them with learning-related questions or issues. |
| Video conferencing | Video conferencing allows students to interact with each other and their teachers in real-time. |
| Payment gateway integration | Students need to be able to pay for courses before they start them, so it’s important that your eLearning platform has payment gateway integration (like PayPal). |
For Teachers
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Sing up/Log in | The first feature of an eLearning platform is the ability to log in and out. |
| User Profile | In their profile, the teachers can introduce themselves, describe their specialization, add qualifications, and encourage prospective students to get in touch. |
| Class scheduling and cancellation | The third feature is the ability to schedule classes, as well as cancel them if necessary due to illness or other emergencies. |
| Chat with students | The fourth feature is a chat window where a teacher can communicate directly with your students outside of class time. |
| Video conferencing | Teachers can use video conferencing to interact with students and parents over the internet. This feature allows for a more personal experience for all parties. |
| Assessment and feedback | An eLearning platform should give teachers the ability to assess their students and provide feedback on their performance. The assessment can be based on the teacher’s own criteria or an automated system. |
| Calendar integration | An eLearning platform with an integrated calendar makes it easy for teachers to stay organized, avoid double-booking and plan their schedule with ease. |
| Referral system | This feature makes sense for a marketplace-like eLearning platform that connects teachers and students. With its help, a teacher can invite other teachers and get a perk from a platform. |
| Payment withdrawal | This feature allows teachers to withdraw funds from their accounts and monetize the knowledge they have shared with the help of an eLearning platform. |
For Administrators
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Course management | This is the core function that allows the administrators to create and manage courses, including adding content, creating quizzes and tests, adding discussion forums, and more. |
| Configurable user roles and permissions | Here, the administrators should be able to set up different user roles for different types of users within your organization. |
| Analytics and reporting | This feature tracks the progress of students in each course as well as overall usage statistics. |
| Payrolling | If your eLearning solution connects teachers with the students, the administrator should also have a dashboard to manage payments that should be sent to the teachers at the end of the reporting period. |
| Certification issuing | After the students complete the course successfully, an administrator can issue a certification. |
How to Create an Online Learning Platform - Step-by-Step Tactic for 2023
Now, let’s find out how to build an eLearning platform stage-by-stage, following the latest development practices and battle-proven approaches of Agile methodology.
Stage 1 - Discovery
The first stage is all about discovery. This is where you’ll get a good idea of the needs of your target audience, as well as what’s already out there in terms of similar products or services. So, think about what you’re trying to accomplish and why it’s important. What are the problems that need to be solved? What are the benefits of your product or service? Who is your target audience? What are their needs, desires, and goals?
Stage 2 - Software Requirements Specification
After you have found clear answers to the questions above, you need to write a document that describes how your app should work. This document is called Software Requirements Specification (SRS) and it will be used by software engineers to implement the features described in it. It will also help you communicate with developers about what features are required so that you can make sure they don’t miss anything important.
Stage 3 - Prototype and design
The prototype stage is where you have to start building your online learning platform. This stage begins with an initial design of your site, followed by a functional prototype that will give you a sense of how the final product will function. The main goal of this stage is to create a wireframe (or mockup) of what the site will look like, including both the visual design elements as well as the functionality and interaction.
Stage 4 - UI/UX testing
Once the prototype is ready, it is necessary to test it with real users and get feedback on whether they understand how to use the app and if they’re able to complete tasks successfully. If there are any issues with either usability or functionality, you have to make the corresponding adjustments and test a prototype again until everyone is happy with the results.
Stage 5 - Coding and development
Coding is the process of translating a business idea into a functioning software program. It involves writing code using programming languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript if you build a web-based solution. At this stage, it is better to have a team of software developers who specialize in front- and back-end development, are skilled with either web or mobile development technologies, and have a deep understanding of both your business processes and eLearning niche specifics.
Stage 6 - Testing and bug fixing
Once your developers have coded your platform, it’s time to test it before launch. Ensure that all of the features are working correctly and then, fix any bugs that may have been missed during the coding process. This step is crucial because it allows you to identify any errors before launching the platform and avoid those embarrassing moments when users report issues with certain aspects of the platform.
Stage 7 - Launch and post-production support
Once everything is ready to go live, you need to make sure that your platform is running smoothly and providing a great experience for users - and this is where post-production support comes in. We, at Binerals, are ready to support you at each development stage, sharing our expertise and suggesting pitfalls-free ways to make your eLearning project idea happen.
The Cost to Develop an eLearning Platform
As with any other software, the eLearning platform development cost depends on the complexity of the solution you would like to create, the number of features you have to build, the complexity of the design, and the location of your development team. In the chart above, we provide an approximate breakdown of the cost to create an online learning platform in Ukraine, hiring a software development team at a rate of $50 per hour.
The Cost to Develop an eLearning Platform
| Development Stage | Hours | Cost ($50 per hour) |
|---|---|---|
| Business analysis | 50 | $2,500 |
| Market research | 50 | $2,500 |
| Prototyping and design | 150 | $7,500 |
| UI/UX testing | 50 | $2,500 |
| Educational content development | 300 | $14,000 |
| Coding and development | 300 | $14,000 |
| Testing and bug fixing | 150 | $7,500 |
| Launch and post-production support | 100 | $5,000 |
| Marketing | 150 | $7,500 |
| Total | $63,000 |
So, the cost to develop an eLearning platform is approximately $63,000 for an MVP version of a future solution. When planning your development budget, keep in mind that the final price tag to create an eLearning website or mobile app also depend on the software type and the technologies you use to develop it. Contact our tech team now for an initial consultation to get a better idea of how much your future eLearning app may cost.
Conclusion
eLearning is a very promising business niche, as it’s growing rapidly every year. The number of eLearning platforms is growing as well, making the competition more fierce. The only way to stand out from the crowd is to create an online learning solution of exceptional quality, tailoring its features to your target learners’ needs.
However, if you are an entrepreneur with little to no technical background, creating an eLearning platform from scratch will be a serious challenge. Here is where Binerals’ team can help by sharing our tech expertise and the best eLearning development practices. We have extensive experience in building enterprise-level solutions for edTech and eLearning niches. Our dedicated developers would also be happy to meet you right now and discuss your project.
