There are quite a few conflicting accounts on how technology has impacted students and their learning. Some surveys record a deteriorating attention span resulting from the proliferation of mobile devices. On the contrary, according to the Pew Research Centre, 77% of teachers think that the internet has a “mostly positive” impact on students’ research work. This strengthens the case for incorporating technology, such as a Higher Ed LMS, in education for the benefit of students. 

Higher Ed LMS platforms have the potential to transform the current traditional classroom setting into a blended model that has the positives of eLearning intermixed with the benefits of in-person instruction. With features like self-paced, flexible, and mobile learning, it is hard to imagine the future of education without technology. Let’s explore how LMS platforms help make higher education convenient and more efficient. 

Analytics and Reporting Tools

Curating a perfect higher education experience requires constant feedback and reporting on what works for the students, instructors, and the administration, and what doesn’t. LMS reporting tools enable institutions to collect data such as time logs, course enrollments, and attendance data. 

This data helps institutions understand the way students receive the courses, and which courses are more popular than others. Having this insight allows universities to improve on their shortcomings. 

Customizable

Having the option to create customizable LMS platforms allows institutions to accommodate various types of learners with different learning requirements. No two institutions are run in an identical fashion, similarly, their corresponding LMS platforms would also be unique. Custom solutions in LMS can be leveraged to add a touch of personalization to the platform and add integrations, such as an SSO, that are specific to the requirements. 

Customization also helps institutions take ownership of their own LMS and scale the platform according to their future needs. Customizable Higher Ed platforms are, without a doubt, a worthwhile investment for institutions.

Flexible Learning Options

Perhaps the best advantage of having a well-equipped Higher Ed LMS is the flexibility it provides. The pandemic has made it evident that institutions need to keep prepared for all possibilities and need to make education flexible enough to be made remotely accessible at any time. 

This is where hybrid and blended learning come into play. Hybrid learning allows students to access classes both, in-person as well as online. Instructors can also upload certain lectures as a video, instead of making all lectures in-person. Blended learning involves in-person instruction with supplementary material available online via an LMS.

Personalized Learning

Institutions need to take great care when designing courses, to make sure that it works well for all kinds of learners. This is especially required in higher education, where complex learning is assimilated by individuals differently. A Higher Ed LMS allows for the creation of personalized learning pathways that are paced according to each student’s preference. Learners can choose which modules to take up in what order and how they would like to attempt assignments.

Social Engagement 

Higher Ed LMS platforms have the potential to encourage social learning. With the help of leaderboards, discussion forums, and help centers, students can ask questions and share notes around the clock. Group assignments can be done together with input from multiple learners and the platform can be used to present projects. Having an online platform tailored to the specific needs of the institution creates a very specific kind of social platform, which can help students create a unique learning experience.

Better Management 

Perhaps the most obvious advantage to having a Higher Ed LMS is that the organization on all users’ end is made much easier. Calendars can be populated at the beginning of semesters filled with assignment deadlines, assessment schedules, and class timings. This lets students know well in advance the kind of workload they would be facing and would be able to manage it better. 

For the instructors, it is easy to give feedback to each student and receive feedback from students in exchange. Data like class statistics and student progress can help them get a better picture of the way their classes are being received. For the administration too, having a central platform filled with student and instructor data makes it that much easier to manage leaves, reschedule, or resolve other conflicts.

Interactive Learning

Having an online interface that can be gamified means that learners can experience better retention and be more engaged in the learning process. An interactive learning interface is known to keep students focused and boost their performance. With the help of a points or levels system, learners can be motivated to excel and can encourage a sense of healthy competition among them. Gamification in Higher Ed LMS has become essential in today’s day and age, where short attention spans mean that students can only take in small pieces of information at a time.

Efficient Grading

In the same vein as better management, Higher Ed LMS makes managing grading and assignments a very easy task. In higher education institutions, instructors have to deal with a number of classes, each with a sizable student strength. It is inconceivable that instructors would be able to spend a lot of time studying each student’s individual profile and grading them accordingly. 

An LMS can automate grading for assignments that have fixed answers like multiple-choice questions. Other than that, grades can be automatically populated and related statistics can be calculated on the fly. Quizzes can be created online and assigned to students, which can be self-timed. Assignments don’t need to be physically collected or managed, in fact, much of the hassle of the traditional grading system is largely avoidable thanks to Higher Ed LMS.

The Bottom Line

Higher education institutions have a lot to benefit from adopting technology, such as LMS platforms, in their educational setup. Higher Ed LMS has the potential to improve not just the learning experience of students, but also the teaching experience of instructors. The option to leverage flexibility or personalize learning helps students get comfortable with learning in a way that has never been done before. Add to that, the convenience of grading and planning courses makes the case for Higher Ed LMS stronger than ever.

Leverage Edly’s Higher Ed LMS Solution

Edly’s Higher Ed LMS solution provides all the features required to create a personalized, thoughtful and efficient learning experience. Edly’s custom learning solutions are trusted by some of the world’s most prestigious higher education institutions including MIT and UCSD. If you are a higher education institution looking for an LMS that caters to all your needs, get in touch with us today!