​​Cloud-Based Learning: Benefits and Best Practices

There are a plethora of options for online learning software. Cloud-based learning platforms are among them. In this article, we've decided to shine some light on the tricky word called cloud based learning management systems. We will also discuss what cloud-based learning platforms have to offer and the benefits they provide over desktop and locally-hosted solutions.

What is Cloud-Based E-Learning?

Cloud-based e-learning refers to learning that takes place virtually or online—in the digital cloud. You won't need to download any software, attend an in-person meeting, or even set foot in a classroom. All you need is an Internet connection.

If you want to launch a cloud-based e-learning program to train your employees or teach students, you can easily create a learning course online using a content creation tool. As for storage of training materials, you have two options here: you can store your learning content in an e-learning authoring tool or use a cloud-based learning management system (LMS).

This flexible nature has made cloud-based learning especially popular in remote and hybrid learning contexts, enabling users to get beyond the limitations of traditional desktop e-learning software.

5 Benefits of Cloud-Based E-Learning

The shift to cloud-based learning offers numerous advantages for educational institutions, instructors, businesses, content creators, and students alike. Here are some of the most compelling benefits:

1. Effortless access from anywhere, anytime

One of the biggest perks of cloud-based learning is how easy it is to access from anywhere. Since all materials live online, students can pick up their studies on campus, at the workplace, at home, or even on the go without missing a beat. This flexibility is a huge advantage for students balancing work, family, or other commitments. Plus, cloud-based platforms work seamlessly across devices, letting both students and instructors switch between laptops, tablets, and smartphones while keeping track of their place in the material.

2. Cost-effectiveness for all

Cloud-based e-learning is often more budget-friendly. Businesses and educational institutions save on expensive hardware and software as there's no need to buy and maintain large servers; the cloud operator also takes care of software updates, reducing IT costs. Online platforms provide the convenience of consuming content in bite-sized bits, such as renting books or purchasing a subscription for a specific period. LiveCarta, for example, makes it possible to buy books by chapter thanks to its Pay-by-Chapter functionality. This is cost-effective and makes quality materials more accessible. In many cases, neither educators nor students require a pre-made textbook. They can put together the chapters from different sources and build it themselves.

3. Creating interactive learning experiences

Cloud-based e-learning allows you to create a highly interactive experience that goes beyond standard text and slides. With the online authoring tool, you can embed multimedia, links, and assessments into your learning materials and tailor the learning experience to individual needs. Furthermore, the LiveCarta team is working hard on AI-powered solutions meant to help educators streamline the process of producing educational content.

4. Better data security and automatic backups

With cloud-based learning, data security and backup are already built into the system. Locally hosted solutions are often vulnerable to data loss due to server issues, but cloud-based platforms provide advanced security features and regular automatic backups. So you can work with peace of mind, knowing your data is safe and always recoverable—no need to worry about device crashes or lost work.

5. Automatic updates

For cloud-based platforms, software updates happen automatically, so users are always on the latest version without having to install updates manually. This saves instructors and IT teams a lot of maintenance time and means everyone is always benefiting from the latest features and improvements.

Getting Started with Cloud-Based Learning

Ready to make the switch to cloud-based learning? Here are a few steps to help you get started:

• Define your learning goals

Start by clarifying what you want to achieve. Think about the specific needs of your institution, business, course, or students—are you looking to improve engagement, reduce costs, or streamline content delivery? LiveCarta’s tools allow you to personalize content, mix and match resources, and make updates on the fly, so outline your goals to best leverage these features.

• Explore LiveCarta’s unique features

LiveCarta’s digital experience platform brings a wide range of customizable tools right to your fingertips. With Pay-by-Chapter functionality, users can access only the chapters they need, reducing material costs. The Remix-on-Demand feature allows you to combine chapters from various titles into a single custom collection, so you can create content tailored to your course objectives. And with built-in content protection and seamless LMS integration with platforms like Canvas, Blackboard, and Moodle, your resources are secure, accessible, and easy to navigate.

• Transform and enrich your content

LiveCarta makes it simple to adapt and expand your teaching materials. You can use existing high-quality content as-is, or remix it with supplemental resources like video, interactive elements, and personalized chapters to create a rich learning experience. Add media, links, and custom assessments, or tap into LiveCarta’s AI-powered tools (Curriculum builder and Chapter search) to streamline content creation and updates. You can keep things up to date with instant minor revisions instead of sending out new links or waiting for printed updates. Just make changes, hit publish, and your students will see the most recent version right away.

Conclusion:

By selecting the right online platform and leveraging the flexibility and innovation that cloud-based educational systems and online authoring tools offer, you will have a more dynamic, accessible, and engaging learning experience.

We invite you to invest in a more adaptable and future-focused approach to education now. Schedule a free demo and we will personally go over how LiveCarta can fulfill your needs.