Online learning is changing the entire education industry. It has transformed the way we learn, when we learn, and where we learn.

The move to digital education is so powerful that over 75% of universities today offer some form of online learning. Wonder how?

The universities generally use a learning management system (LMS) which helps them provide online courses by facilitating content delivery, student engagement, assessment, and more.

That said, if your institute is considering offering online education, you must invest in an LMS platform that would support the entire process.

But which LMS option should you choose?

Open edX is a clear winner, especially when it comes to the education sector. 9 out of the leading 10 universities rely on this LMS platform, as per the Times Higher Education World University Report.

In this write-up, we’ll explain what Open edX is and why investing in this solution can turn out to be a game changer for your educational institute.

TL;DR

• Open edX is a free-to-use, open-source learning management system created by Harvard and MIT.
• Open edX is trusted by the world’s leading universities to deliver MOOCS and online education.
• It integrates easily with various other tools and supports educational technology standards like LTI, xAPI, and SCORM.
• Open edX is highly scalable and can help your institution teach thousands of learners.
• The platform allows for customization and can be tweaked to fit the unique needs of your institution.
• The platform supports various content types while also facilitating certification and credentialing.

So, let’s begin.

What is Open edX?

Open edX is a free, open-source learning management system. The platform was created through a collaboration between Harvard University and MIT to power edx.org, the world’s reputed online learning portal.

Open edX is used by organizations of all sizes from different sectors worldwide, including educational institutions, governments, nonprofits, and corporations.

It helps these organizations deliver online education and MOOCs (short for Massive Open Online Courses) to diverse audiences.

The platform supports 50+ languages. It has impacted more than 55 million learners all over the world. The highly scalable and flexible nature of Open edX has made it a go-to option for many institutions big and small.

Read more: Everything You Need to Know About Open edX

Why Educational Institutions Should Invest in Open edX

Open edX has gained widespread adoption across educational institutions. K-12 schools are using it to offer online and blended learning options to students and teachers. Colleges and universities are leveraging Open edX to provide distance learning courses and degree programs. Similarly, vocational training institutes are using the platform to deliver skills development programs and certifications in various domains.

Here are some key reasons why investing in Open edX could be a worthy choice for your educational institute:

1- Open edX is Easy to Integrate

Open edX is very flexible in its nature. It can seamlessly integrate with a variety of services and systems out there.

For instance, if we talk about educational technology standards like LTI, xAPI, and SCORM, Open edX supports all of them. What does it mean for you? This means migrations from any of these open standards will be simple, without any data loss.

Similarly, Open edX has the ability to connect with other external tools such as student information systems, content repositories, learning management systems, and more. As a result, you can continue using Open edX along with the technologies you already use.

2- Open edX is Highly Scalable

In fact, it’s built that way. Having a cloud-based infrastructure, Open edX can handle both small and large scale implementations.

Let’s say you need to select an Open Source LMS. Definitely you’d want a system that can grow as your business grows. This is where Open edX really thrives because it can scale on demand.

It’s interesting to note that Open edX was initially created to support massive open online courses (MOOCs). So by its very design, it can help your institution teach thousands of learners.

3- Open edX Can be Tweaked Your Way

You know why Open edX is a popular choice among educators? It’s customization.

Since Open edX is an open-source platform, it allows you to modify and rebrand the original source code the way you want. For example, you may want to implement game-based learning. It can be easily developed into Open edX.

The customization options in Open edX enable you to create add-ons based on the unique needs of your organizations. Whether you need to customize the theme, tailor the structure of your courses, or want to build any specific functionality, you can do it with Open edX custom solutions.

Read more: What are Open edX Custom Solutions and Why are they Important?

4- Open edX Supports Various Content Types

When it comes to keeping learners engaged during online programs, variety matters a lot. You simply can’t rely on dense text-based lectures to deliver the best learning experiences.

Open edX helps you create online learning materials using a diverse set of content types, including images, text, videos, interactive elements, quizzes, and various kinds of assessments.

This ability to support a wide range of content types ensures that you cater to different learning styles of students and keep them focused and motivated throughout their journey.

5- Open edX Facilitates the Certification of Learners

Certification and credentialing are essential components for many organizations. Open edX allows you to set up different certification programs within the platform. And offer certificates and credentials when learners successfully complete a certain course or module.

The certification functionality helps you increase the credibility of your courses and programs. The certifications you offer will validate the achievements of learners and they can highlight them in their professional profiles for future employment or educational opportunities.

6- Open edX is Trusted by Organizations Worldwide

As stated above, Open edX is the go-to platform for nine out of the top ten universities. World renowned educational institutions like Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Stanford University, and Arizona University are using it.

Other than educational institutions, various other international companies have shown confidence in using Open edX for their online training and education needs. Here is a brief list of them:

• Microsoft
• IBM
• NVIDIA
• Linux Foundation
• World Bank Group

These are only a few of the many reasons that make Open edX a strong option for your educational institute. Adopting this LMS solution will equip you to provide engaging and effective online learning experiences like never before.

How Edly Can Help

Open edX is an open-source, free-to-use platform. However, it’s important to note that while the core platform is free, it’s not very easy to set up and you would need professional assistance to deploy, customize, host, and maintain it.

This is where Edly steps in. We’re one of the most trusted Open edX service providers that can help you with everything from platform installation to custom feature development. Our team is ready to help you unlock the full potential of what Open edX has on offer.

Contact us today to get started.