Online education has evolved light years ahead of where it started when the internet was first introduced into the home. And it’s only going to get better as you’ll soon realize after reading a few reasons why:

• eLearning is often free for those who pursue personal enrichment courses.
• The affordability of eLearning is second to none. Only paying for the course and books but save big on transportation and lab fees.
• Cloud eLearning is insanely convenient. You can study on your own schedule and some classes have flexible completion deadlines.
• eLearners have access to a vast library of courses that will satisfy almost anyone’s educational desires from math, science, and technology to music and art.
• Cloud eLearning naturally depends on interaction from you. The benefit is that you’ll learn more than if you were simply listening to a classroom lecture.
• Another side benefit of eLearning is you’ll improve your technical skills while enrolling in the online course and learning the subject matter by using your computer.

A cloud LMS is hosted on the internet. You can access the system by logging into the LMS provider’s website using your secure user credentials and password.

As an eLearner, you are then given access to your course information or catalog to select your area of study and related courses. It’s as simple as that. As an instructional designer, you have the benefit of using your internet browser to create new courses, upload courses and communicate directly with eLearners. This is the beauty and the elegance of eLearning in a nutshell.

All of this is done through the LMS securely, which also gives the designers the capability to store information on the cloud and can be accessed remotely by other approved users.

There is a wide spectrum of benefits associated with using a cloud-based LMS for both training and educational purposes. Here are just a few of the most tantalizing:

Cloud-based LMS systems have lower costs because there is no software or hardware to purchase. There is no time-consuming process of installing software or working with staff to fix technical issues with an organization-wide software installation process. All you need to do is sign up with the LMS service provider and begin creating your content and courses.

No need to worry about data security with cloud-based LMS systems. One of the incredible data security features is you can share information and ideas through the LMS without the risk of lost or stolen data. The LMS uses only secure data protocols such as SSL making all website connections lock-down secure.

Cloud-based eLearning is generally faster to set up and use. You don’t have to install software or hardware and deal with issues like the setup, steep learning curves or train-the-trainer. With instantly deployed solutions, you can set up an account in as little as 30 seconds.

You never have to worry about maintenance and deal with fixing bugs or system patching. LMS providers have their own IT staff on hand to handle all types of technical issues. You can sign up and forget about IT maintenance and upgrades.

One of the most popular advantages of using a cloud-based LMS is you do not have to save anything on your computer or network. All of your information is automatically uploaded and saved directly to the LMS system. You’re able to securely share and collaborate with fellow collaborators and content creators all on the remote LMS system. The best part about LMS storage is users are not limited to a certain account size.

Cloud-based LMS are completely customizable in many ways from aesthetic designs to enhanced learning content experiences using JavaScript and CSS scripting. This feature gives users the freedom to modify and scale their LMS in a plethora of ways.

The decision to use a LMS is a great choice if your organization is serious about providing state-of-the-art online education to its workforce. Organizations that choose the right solution are rewarded with optimal results in educating their workforce. 

This translates into shortened training durations and increased information retention.

Of all of the benefits of cloud-based learning, one of the most compelling reasons to use an LMS is the massive exploitation of mobile capability. Since a massive percentage of the population uses their mobile devices for almost everything, why not education?

Your workforce can access the LMS from a variety of mobile devices anytime, anywhere and improve their collaboration levels.

Top educators and human resource managers are widening their reliance on cloud solutions for learning management to manage and administer their online classrooms.

While there is an abundance of ways an educator or trainer can use a cloud-based learning management system, the most popular are those that have featured tools such as delivery, documentation, tracking, and reporting of online education and training programs.

In the academic world, some institutions are using learning management systems to open doors to a world-wide student body for online education courses. On local level, institutions are using learning management systems to complement their traditional classroom courses, encouraging communication and collaboration between teachers and peers when working
outside of the classroom.

In the case of the corporate world, HR can train new staff remotely, create new training programs and do it all from anywhere in the world. Here is a short list of top cloud-based learning management systems widely used today based on a blending of security, functionality and cost:

Absorb LM is a well-received LMS used by many major corporations like Dole and Sony. It is best known for being user-friendly and plenty of customization options.