{"id":28078,"date":"2023-09-28T09:01:36","date_gmt":"2023-09-28T15:01:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/?p=26133"},"modified":"2024-10-30T11:02:35","modified_gmt":"2024-10-30T17:02:35","slug":"choosing-lms-learning-platform-for-teaching-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/choosing-lms-learning-platform-for-teaching-business\/","title":{"rendered":"Choosing an LMS or Learning Platform for Your Online English Teaching Business"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Are you an independent online English teacher with a growing private tutoring business? Until now, you may have used free video-conferencing software and handled student management and administrative tasks on your own. But if your portfolio of students is growing, it may be time to find learning management software to assist with these tasks. Or perhaps you already have a flourishing online tutoring business and you’re ready to hire multiple tutors to manage a growing portfolio of students located all over the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether you\u2019re an experienced independent ESL\/EFL teacher with a staff or a new private tutor, there are many options for hosting a tutoring business. These days there are a variety of subscription-based LMS and learning platforms, each with different features and subscription options. A Learning Management System, or LMS, is software used to develop, manage and deliver instructional material. Options for e-learning platforms and learning management systems have grown as online and hybrid learning have expanded. These platforms are not only used in online teaching businesses but in traditional schools as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Many English teachers building or expanding independent online teaching or tutoring businesses eventually transition from simple video-conference courses to learning platforms to meet increasing student management needs as the number of clients grows.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The online English language learning market has seen simultaneous growth in the private tutoring market and subscription-based LMS and learning platforms market. With so many options for virtual classrooms, student and administrative management tools and more, today’s private tutors, tutoring organizations and teaching businesses have a lot of choices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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My biggest advice to teacherpreneurs is to keep it simple. Start with a learning platform that is easy to manage and use.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The shift to cloud-based subscription models makes them accessible and affordable to small business owners. Some platforms are specifically designed for private language teachers or tutors, featuring more robust offerings of curricula and lesson content, multilingual support and language learning tools, while others are designed for businesses with multiple teachers or tutors, with more administrative features that may be more appealing to larger schools and tutoring organizations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before choosing a platform, it\u2019s important to have a clear understanding of your unique needs and the features of the platforms you’re considering. For private ESL teachers or tutors with small businesses, the vast array of LMS and learning platform options can be overwhelming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy biggest advice to teacherpreneurs is to keep it simple,\u201d said Anna Hearrell, Director of Teacher Training Products at Bridge. \u201cStart with a learning platform that is easy to manage and use. The world of eLearning has grown so much, and new software\/technological advances have exploded over the past few years. It is really easy to get distracted by ‘shiny object syndrome.’\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Choosing a platform is a big step. The first step is to conduct a needs analysis to determine your top priorities and growth strategy. \u201cIt is important to choose a platform that meets your immediate needs but also one that has the potential to grow with you and your business,\u201d Hearrell said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before diving into some of the popular LMS and platforms for language teachers and tutors, let\u2019s define some key terminology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking for training and support as you launch or grow your online teaching business? Learn more about Bridge’s Teacherpreneur Academy, a one-of-a-kind platform that combines coursework, resources, expert-led workshops and a global community of teacherpreneurs.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do LMS and SaaS platforms differ?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In this discussion, the terms LMS and learning platform are used interchangeably, which is common. However, LMS are typically more comprehensive in their functionality, providing support for file sharing, data storage, collaboration features, etc. E-learning platforms typically focus more on hosting online courses, with some support for uploading content, file storage, etc. With the growth in the e-learning market, the lines between LMSs and learning platforms have become increasingly blurred. As a rule of thumb, LMSs remain the common system for large educational organizations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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SaaS refers to Software as a Service, a service offering cloud-based software, often white-labeled.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The SaaS model began in 1999 when Salesforce launched its customer relationship management (CRM) platform. Since then, it’s become increasingly popular. An LMS or e-learning platform may be SaaS, which is essentially a cloud and subscription-based software. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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There are an increasing number of SaaS LMS and eLearning platform options that provide affordable solutions with built-in tech support.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSaaS refers to Software as a Service, a service offering cloud-based software, often white-labeled,” said Wilim Abrook, Head of Education and Community Development for LearnCube, a virtual classroom platform for language and tutoring companies. “LearnCube is one example. another example is Gmail \u2013 you can use their email software and don’t need to design and build your own.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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SaaS is a big umbrella that contains all software products that are paid as a subscription.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

A non-SaaS LMS is hosted locally on the user’s server and requires an IT department to maintain and adapt software to the user’s needs. Self-hosted LMSs are usually open-source, allowing users to acquire the software and code needed to modify it. These features make LMS more suitable for schools than individual teachers because they need a dedicated team with the technical expertise to customize, update and maintain the system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because a SaaS platform is cloud-based, users pay a subscription and the provider handles the technical aspects. \u201cSaaS is a big umbrella that contains all software products that are paid as a subscription,” said Xavier Moretti, Co-Founder of Koala Go, an interactive, gamified virtual classroom platform. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Koala Go is an LMS that is cloud- and subscription-based, Moretti said. Koala Go provides a virtual classroom, interactive tools and teaching resources, as well as management and administrative tools like scheduling, calendar, invoicing and online payments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bottom line is \u2013 different learning platforms and learning management systems may identify as an “LMS,” “learning platform,” “tutoring management software,” or other naming terminology. Each software offers different features, some more focused on instruction and others more focused on management and administration. Some offer “all-in-one” that prioritizes both. For individuals offering services as independent teachers or private tutors and those running small teaching or tutoring businesses, a cloud-based subscription model is likely the best solution. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read about eight of the top eLearning platforms and LMS for English teachers.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having a clear vision of your needs and goals<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Whether the platforms you\u2019re considering for your business market themselves as an LMS learning platform or other related terminology, each system will have different features and capabilities. Before choosing a learning platform, there is a lot to consider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some teachers or tutors may find great value in a platform with e-commerce features that will help with payment systems in certain countries, while others are looking for student management and scheduling systems to better serve their growing student portfolios. Still other teachers may want an interactive classroom and access to ready-made curricula and other teaching materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Considering how you interact with your students, their needs, your teaching style, goals and priorities, and the potential future of your business will help you develop clear priorities for features needed for your learning platform.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s delve into some considerations that may help narrow the focus of your needs analysis. Consider these factors:<\/p>\n\n\n