Emergence of Online Learning Management System

According to Wikipedia, a Learning Management System is a software application for the administration, documentation, tracking, reporting, automation and delivery of educational courses, training programs, or learning and development programs. Simply put, it is a software used for facilitating e-learning. LMS software can be used by organization for training employees or by schools, colleges or any other educational institute to facilitate learning. LMS has been steadily growing in market cap and user it has reached so far. Partly fueled by the growth of digital learning and adoption of mobile learning in the last decade to the latest Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) interventions, the LMS has, over the years, evolved to become a major part of organizations and their training strategies.

The ongoing pandemic has forced many activities to be conducted online. From big institutions to small coaching centers all are trying to adopt some kind of LMS for providing the best possible learning experience in remote scenarios. According to Valuates Report of 2019, the market size of Online LMS is expected grow from 9.46 billion USD to 29.9 billion USD by 2025. In this blog, we will look at hsitory of LMS, some of the leading LMS software and some market disruptors in LMS which aim to help home tutors and.

Market Analysis

For more than a year many educational institutes are operating online. This has increased the demand for online management system drastically. These LMS can be categorized in two broad types by usage – used by an organization (like university, schools, coaching institutes) and used by individuals or small groups of educators. According to Valuates Report of 2019, the market size of Online LMS is expected grow from 9.46 billion USD to 29.9 billion USD by 2025. With the ongoing pandemic and classes shifting to online mode, this prediction might come true much early.

Some of the key players of LMS for organizations are –

• Adobe Systems
• TalentLMS
• DoceboLMS
• Litmos
• Trivantis
• WizIQ
• Mindflash
• SchoolKeep
• Latitude Learning LMS
• SAP

A research has also pointed out that many students might prefer online learning management systems over in person classes. There can be various reasons for it like – flexible schedule , on demand classes, course not offered remotely etc. the following graph shows main reason for students preferring e-learning using LMS more than ever.

Brief History of LMS

PLATO was a computer-based training program which facilitated self-paced learning, allowing learners to monitor their own learning progress. However, what set PLATO apart was that it gave the learning community its first taste of social/collaborative learning. Thanks to its host of networks, learners could interact with other learners using instant chat/messaging, email, and chat rooms. Another ambitious LMS software was MIT’s project Athena it enabled students and professors alike to upload and access their studying materials from anywhere on the campus.

The first open-source LMS, Moodle (Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment) was introduced. With Moodle, learners could start learning as soon as they downloaded the application onto their desktops. Personalized learning was made possible by letting learners choose the content they wished to store or export. Moodle’s plug-and-play functionality meant that training content could be delivered to the learner faster and at less cost. In fact Moodle is still used by many universities and colleges to take online assessments and quizzes.

The online learning management systems have been added to with many features making it suitable for modern learners of today. Some of the key changes in these softwares are –

• Deliver wide variety of materials to learn from, which contains not only textual materials but also videos to further enhance learning experience.
• Make online learning more compitive by introduction of games, leader boards, badges etc.
• Discussion forums where students can discuss their doubts to gain better understanding of the concerned topics
• Showing visualizers like graphs, colormaps to show learners their progress on a given course.

Best LMS software

– Adobe Systems

It is one of the industry favorite LMS for on boarding by many big companies. Some companies which use LMS are – Domino’s, GE Healthcare, Dassault Systems, Publicis Groupem, Adobe etc. It can be used for Extended enterprise and partner training to upgrade skills and drive effectiveness for partner organizations. It can also be used for customer education and sales ennoblement. It has been ranked in top 10 of many LMS surveys. Its pricing is around $4 USD per user per year. Discounts are applied on increase in volume.

– Talent LMS

With about 70,000+ teams using this LMS, it provides for an all-in-one solution for business looking to build training programs that will make their teams more efficient. It also provides “forever free” accounts, obviously with limited capabilities. It provides with features such as setting up training without manuals, always available on cloud training. It is good for organizations with budget constraints as well. Talent LMS has gained ground as the easiest-to-use, most cost-effective solution.

– SAP

SAP litmos Training is another award winning LMS that can be implemented as a standalone solution or in combination with a robust course library. It provides free trial accounts and have a lof of features which helps in rapid deployment and integration, task automation, online course builder and content management, tracking and reporting etc. It is easily extended to customers and partners as well, providing the ideal learning solution for the extended enterprise. Similar to adobe pricing it starts with $4 USD per month.

– Schoology

This LMS combines instructional tools, assessments, collaborative features, discussion forums and advanced analytic to deliver best learning experience. This is highly suited for educational institutes like schools and colleges. Within the system, teachers can develop and distribute course materials, facilitate discussions, assign tests and quizzes, and even give parents visibility into their child’s progress. Teacher can also leverage community features which enables teachers to discuss among themselves. This software can be accessed on mobile apps as well as a website, which makes it even more reachable to learners and educators.

Schoology provides basic accounts for instructors and enterprise accounts for schools and colleges.

LMS specifically for individuals and private tutors

Tough private tutors can use a host of free apps like zoom, google meet, Skype (to video conference with students) and emails, whatsapp, telegram etc. for sharing notes. There are few specialized software which aim at providing best possible experience for tutor as well as the student. They enable students to learn comfortably and conveniently and also increase reach of tutors from being restricted to a city to being able to teach anyone with an internet access. This section takes a look at some widely used mobile friendly LMS targeted specifically at serving private tutors needs.

– Tutor room

Tutor room offers  for full management system as well as more basic virtual classroom and LMS (learning management system). The backend system is where you sign in and enables you to create tutor or student accounts, schedule classes, and upload lessons. Tutor room is great as it is easy and free to create an account and its system uploads up to 20 Mbs lessons in many formats.

– Tutorplace

Tutorplace is considered a very convenient tutoring management system. The system provides online tutoring services in accounting, economics, chemistry, math, biology, physics and English. You can connect to Tutorplace tutors from anywhere and anytime you need help. Tutorplace tutors utilize an interactive whiteboard in teaching you step by step on your questions or topics you need assistance. The great thing is that tutors are available 24/7.

Conclusion

It is also found that many student prefer online LMS rather than schools and colleges for upskilling. Platforms which provide on demand learning like Udemy, Coursera and Byju’s to name a few are rapidly increasing their customers. They provide 24 hr access to courses making it more attractive for people preferring flexible schedule. The given pandemic has given a boost to online learning management systems. Many schools and university which previously relied only on pen and paper for learning management have been forced to adopt to the technology. In this pandemic they have proved to be life line for students.

Need Help?

If you need help in picking a learning management system rigtht for your organization contact us at contact@quantiantech.com or on our LinkedIn page or visit our company website, www.quantiantech.com

References

• https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Othe-4A225/on-demand-learning-management-system
• https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-37N2458/covid-19-impact-on-global-learning
• https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-0T2839/covid-19-impact-on-global-learning
• https://elearningindustry.com/the-best-learning-management-systems-top-list
• https://tutorroom.net/en/online-tutoring/best-online-tutoring-management-systems/

Instant Apps

 

We are living in an era of instant noodles. People prefer experience before commitment.  The same is playing out the app markets. Google introduced feature called ‘Instant App’ on google store and Apple has recently followed with its version of IOS clips on apple store. 

So what are instant apps?

Google Play Instant enables native apps and games to launch on devices running Android 5.0 or higher without being installed. By allowing users to run an instant app or instant game, known as providing an instant experience, developers can improve app or game’s discovery, which helps drive more active users or installations.

More recently, at its worldwide developer conference (WWDC 2020, held in full virtual mode because of the coronavirus outbreak), Apple unveiled the next version of iOS. One of its innovations is App Clips, mini apps that can begin running on the device without having to be installed.

This is akin to sample tasting in grocery stores. Instead of making a purchase decision based on advertising or a promotional sample that’s later opened at home, you can try the product on the spot, and if you like it, buy it.

One common use of Instant Apps is to demo ultralight versions of games. In the form of an instant app, the user is offered, say, one level of the game. The main attraction is not having to install anything — you can play right there and then. And if you’d like to play the next level, you can download the full version.

E-commerce businesses can greatly benefit from Instant Apps. They provide their users with instant experience of their products. It means that users don’t need to search for an app on a company’s website or in Google search, which significantly increases brand awareness and quick demo encourages users to download the app. 

 

How does it work?

 

With Google Play Instant, users can tap on a button in the Play Store, Google Play app, or a website banner to use an app or game without installing it first. There are two options:

• Try now – This type of experience is typically a smaller trial version of an app. For example, developers may want to build the first level of their app as an instant experience and then prompt users to install the full app.
• Instant Play – The “Instant play” app are full experience , not trial versions. Users tap on the Instant play button to use the full app without installing it first

On the iOS side, app clips can be found Clips in Safari, Maps, and Messages, or in the real world in the following ways

• App Clip Code or QR code: Scan the code using the iPhone camera or Code Scanner in Control Center.
• NFC-integrated App Clip Code or NFC tag: Hold iPhone near the NFC tag.
• Safari or Messages: Tap the App Clip link.
• Maps: Tap the App Clip link on the information card 

In this blog, we will look particularly at Android’s instant apps.

 

How does this help my business?

Businesses can derive great benefits by using instant apps. Instant apps enhance user experience due to fast speed and on demand functionality. When users click on an instant app’s URL, they instantly receive the desired content. These apps are easy-to-use, highly responsive, and user-friendly.

 

Enhance online visibility

Instant apps make it possible to access your app content without downloading it. It will become more discoverable on search engines. People will be able to search your app like websites on the internet resulting in increased traffic. Instant mobile apps enhance traffic and access to more users.

Easy user acquisition

A key advantage of using instant apps is that these apps allow users to complete the desired tasks without forcing them to download and install the application to their devices. With this feature, you can attract users to your app. Since instant apps are built on Google Play Services, a simple app link is enough for users to access lots of features. So, apps can reach millions of users who can simply tap to run the app. The app can also be used via NFC or QR code.

Improve user retention

Instant apps allow users to use the app again and again anytime without installing it. Often users struggle with two main options – mobile web and native apps. Users can install an app for specific features, but when they need free space on their device, unimportant apps are removed first. If your app has poorly optimized ads, it will slow down the app and kill the user experience. Instant apps help you build trust among users as they offer a great experience. Users will be tempted to use your app due to easy-to-use options, fast-speed, and better user experience in your app. So, more users will stick around your service.

Sounds good! Is there a catch?

Well there are some restrictions and dependencies on the use of instant features.

• Each app module shouldn’t exceed the size of 15MB so that the users can download them quickly. The size puts a certain level of limitations on Instant App software development. For example, developers can’t add diverse multimedia elements into the app’s samples, like inserting heavy 3D games or full HD videos, at least for now. 
• The instant app must not consume more than 150 MB of storage space on the device.
• Another Instant App-specific is to prevent malicious use of these apps by third parties, Instant App developers restrict them from supporting background services. This ensures that an Instant App won’t send any push notifications, access to external storage, or change device settings without a user’s awareness.
• Android Instant Apps are compatible with any Android devices that have Android 5.0 and above 
• Android Instant Apps works for apps built using native code in Java or C++. But apps built with Cordova, PhoneGap, Titanium,  and other “build once, deploy everywhere” tools will not work with Instant Apps. Google requires that you make Instant Apps with Android Studio.

 

Great! How do I build these?

 

Although Instant Apps is a new feature in the mobile app world, its development process doesn’t differ much from building a traditional app. All the software developers need to do is to modularize their apps so that they allow access to a particular code section. It means that users don’t need to download the whole app but only the part that developers decide to share with them.

Moreover, if software developers already have their apps being in use, they don’t need to build a new Instant App to meet the market demand. As they can customize the existing applications by restructuring the app code.

 

I already have a full fledged app. Can I make it instant?

Upgrading an existing Android app to an instant app is a pretty easy process. For a seasoned developer, it will take about a couple of days to update an existing medium-size project to support Android Instant Apps functionality.

Developers need not create a new separate app, but they can utilize the existing app code, API, and project to build a new instant app. However, the efforts that you need to put into updating the app rely on the structure of the app. The following are the steps to update an existing app to the instant app.

 

Step 1: Install SDK and set up the environment

Step 2: Move code to feature module

Step 3: Build module

Step 4: Create an instant app module

Step 5: Define app links

One of the requisites for Instant Apps it’s that they need to be published using the App bundle format which already has a significant advantage over the old apk format.

 

Are Instant Apps secure?

 

One challenge for instant apps is the increased perception of inadequate security. After all they are installed ad-hoc. Fortunately, Google has been working on security in Instant Apps for many years. Google Play is central to the success of Instant Apps, and Google is dramatically improving the tools in Google Play to analyze new and existing apps for malicious code. Only apps published on the Google Play App Store will support Instant Apps.

 

This is big news for security. There are many independent Android app stores, most of which do not have security measures that come even close to those used by Google. By using Instant Apps you assure the source of the app (Google Play) and a prescribed level of security. That’s one less problem you need to tackle.

 

Conclusion

Instant Apps represent a tech breakthrough in the world of mobile apps. They allow their users to utilize their functionality in one click. This feature creates new opportunities for businesses to advertise and present their products, placing them at users’ fingertips.

If you decide to build your own business app or have an existing app,  you should also consider making it instant. This way you’ll make your product easier to reach for potential buyers while improving their customer experience. We at Quantian  technologies can help you with both! In case of any questions or to discuss further reach us at  contact@quantiantech.com