Online education programs are now more prevalent than ever. The market for all kinds of tools that support digital learning has grown since the beginning of the covid-19 pandemic, and it is vast. When it comes to finding the software your organization needs to support online courses, there’s a lot to sift through. Looking for a platform that is both cost-effective and can meet your needs from a business, technical, instructional, and end-user standpoint can be complicated. Ultimately, the success of your program can come down to finding a tool that achieves your key aims without a lot of expensive or distracting extras.
While some course hosting platforms are designed and utilized mainly by schools and universities, others are designed mostly for businesses and organizations which provide online training and education programs. Meanwhile, depending on the unique instructional format and the degree of learner interaction in your program, you may have very different concerns even compared to another organization much like your own. As you begin to consider what sort of tool will best serve you, you will want to think about issues like access to learning materials across devices, integration with other tools, registration options, the integration of your existing design and branding, customer support options, kinds of learning materials supported, and more.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you’re not alone. Getting started on a new RFI or RFP can be daunting. Popcorn RFP is here to help. Our straightforward RFx creation interface and course hosting kernels are designed specifically to help you find the vendor you need. Check out how it works in practice.
First, we get you started in considering the basics. What are your key requirements? This might include the ability to integrate specific third-party services or develop custom components to support things like an SEO-friendly catalogue, certificate generation, or something else entirely. You may also want to consider whether you will charge for your courses or if they are for internal training purposes, in which case being able to accept and process payments won’t be necessary. Our hints give you some suggestions to get going.
Next, we ask you to consider some of the specific features of course hosting tools that can potentially really enhance user experience, or, in other cases, needlessly drive up costs. For example, do you need the platform to support learning across types of devices?
When it comes to selecting the right course hosting platform for your organization, you may or may not want to provide your own customer support. Meanwhile, you may have technical or other service requirements of your own. We prompt you to consider these options so that you can provide potential vendors with the best possible understanding of your priorities.
Finding the right course hosting platform in a big and diverse marketplace can feel like a herculean task. At Popcorn RFP, we’re determined to help you find the right fit when it comes time for your next RFx. We hope you’ll give our tool a try for free and let us know how we can further support your purchasing process!
