A unique feature of WordPress is that it allows you to build online learning platforms with ease. Using the right set of tools/plugins, you can create a reliable WordPress LMS, which enables you to offer training to the learners. The most widely used content management system (CMS), WordPress, is used by 61.5% of all the websites using a CMS solution.
With the availability of some of the excellent LMS WordPress plugins, you can choose one according to your online classroom features and business goals. Let’s explore a few important factors to keep in mind while building an LMS using WordPress and understand how to set up an LMS platform in WordPress.
Narrow Down A Few LMS Features
LMS comes with a list of different features. When you are building an LMS, you should write down your list of requirements followed by starting your search for the available options for you.
- The Administration: Providing an online learning platform is a great value addition to your organization. However, you should be able to manage the process. LMS features such as email notification process for learner engagement, group management, user profiles, test expiration, assigning grades and rewards, etc. are a few ones must look out for.
- Effective Communication: A lot of administrative time and overhead is required for accomplishing excellent communication. In an ideal LMS, you will find the tools and features to make communication easier. Your users get a visual reminder on their pending progress, with automated notifications about their account, courses, and progress with notifications and desktop application features of an LMS.
You can set up an active email notification system to run automatically which reminds the users about the recommended courses they can complete or efforts that they need to make. Moreover, you can automate the emails to the trainers and the managers for notifying various metrics and performance indicators like course progress or daily work report of courses they manage.
- Mobile Responsiveness: It is extremely important that your LMS platform is accessible across various devices such as laptop, desktop, tablet, and smartphone. It will provide users with access to the LMS round the clock, irrespective of the location. They can perform critical tasks like viewing learners’ progress on-the-go or communicating with the users using a smartphone or a tablet.
WordPress & Learning Management System
A content management system, WordPress is an application which is designed for you to publish and manage vast libraries of content. However, an LMS enables you to manage the learning activities, let you track the progress of the learners, perform evaluations, and allow the learners to sign up for specific classes or learning programs. To put it, LMS provides you with set features required for managing an online classroom.
A Three-Step WordPress LMS Creation
WordPress LMS plugins play a significant role in building an online classroom program. First, you should decide the purpose of your learning website.
Decide the objective of your LMS: Before creating your WordPress LMS, you must be aware of the topics that you want your online training to focus on. You can either deliver your training for free or through paid service. The list of WordPress LMS plugins discussed here includes monetization options; however, you can also opt for a combination of both the options.
Work on your WordPress LMS structure: Mapping out the structure of your WordPress LMS is probably one of the most critical parts after deciding on the objective of your LMS. It includes the brainstorming session of determining the web pages to be added to the platform and the lessons that will be published initially. A basic WordPress LMS website shall usually comprise of the home page, list of courses including prices, student testimonials, about us page, student forums, and course pages. As the site’s structure becomes more complex, it will be harder to implement the LMS. Hence, as a good practice, you must keep it simple initially, and only insert the vital information.
Set up a WordPress LMS Plugin: As discussed before, there are a lot of WordPress LMS plugins available out there. A few of them we’ve listed below:
LearnDash: A commercial LMS plugin, LearnDash allows easy management of online courses. It enables you to create different kinds of lessons/courses with lesson plans and quizzes. Besides, the plugin allows you to sell your courses, and you can also create customized learning paths for the users.
Sensei: From the creators of WooCommerce, Sensei is an LMS plugin widely used by businesses. A built-in BadgeOS functionality enables you to integrate badge rewards and achievements to add gamification to the online courses. With this plugin, you can also create quizzes and tests through which you can assess the performance of the learners while grading them both manually and automatically.
You can seamlessly integrate it into the WordPress platform, which allows you to create and add visual themes to your courses. Furthermore, since the plugin works on WordPress, you can use it for creating the course contents, articles, or blog posts on your website as well.
LearnPress: If you have a budget constraint and are looking for a free plugin, you can opt for LearnPress. It comes with a handy drag-and-drop course builder and you can use it for selling online courses. Moreover, with the availability of a lot of premium add-ons, you can opt for more advanced functionality.
Although LearnPress is an appropriate option for an online classroom, it doesn’t allow you to carry out certain tasks like offering certificates to the learners, assigning homework, and handling paid enrollments.
Final Thoughts
With the quick know-how in place, we expect that you get a better idea on how to build an LMS using WordPress. Although this post does not cover all the aspects of building an LMS with WordPress you can use it to kick start while you are ideating the list of requirements.