Thanks to the internet and digital technologies, thousands of entrepreneurial businesses and individuals are now finding new opportunities to profit from in areas like online training and education.
Electronic learning (e-Learning) is is the digital equivalent of distance learning, where students have no direct face-to-face contact with the trainer or teacher.
The e-Training Industry Is Growing
e-Learning sites like Udemy are indicative of the massive growth of the e-Learning industry.
Udemy.com offers over 30,000 courses online covery every topic imaginable, from design and personal brand building, to health and fitness and making better lifestyle choices, etc …
(Udemy currently offers 30,000+ ecourses covering all topics!)
The fact that the eLearning industry is growing is not only great for people looking to gain skills and competency in areas of strong interest, but also for individuals that have valuable information that can help transform the lives of others.
e-Courses – Opportunities And Drawbacks
The digital medium provides tremendous opportunities for developing and selling ecourses. Training tools include Learning Management Systems (LMS), video tutorials, video-conferencing apps, audio courses, slide presentations, forums, etc. There are, however, some drawbacks involved in planning online courses.
Some of these include:
- Figuring out methods of delivery,
- Using popular tools and technologies that do not require spending additional time learning,
- Ensuring consistency across the content, course branding, etc.
- Measuring learning performance,
- Grading student performance,
- Generating reports, certificates of completion
You also need to take into account factors such as lack of human contact, boredom and potential lack of motivation, distractions that cause loss of focus, etc.
eCourses – A World Of Possibilities
If you are trying to grow your web presence, creating an elearning product that teaches people new skills is a great way to grow a list or develop an online stream of revenue. Product creation is one of the best ways to attract customers, as well as establish authority and credibility online and position yourself as an industry or niche leader.
There’s a ton of opportunity. Anything can be turned into an e-learning product.
(Got a business or passion for commercial photography, horticulture or creative writing? Turn it into an online training product!)
The problem with product creation, however, is that creating “how to” ebooks and training courses from scratch is very time-consuming. If you have been online for a while, however, you probably already have training content on your website or blog that can be leveraged into a new digital training product.
If your site is powered by WordPress and you are searching for an inexpensive way to develop and sell e-courses then here is a great WP plugin that you may want to look into.
Introducing …
WPCourseware – WordPress Learning Management System Plugin
Plugin Description
WP Courseware is a learning management system plugin for WordPress that lets users set up e-courses and build e-learning products quickly using WordPress.
(WPCourseware – WordPress Course Creation Plugin)
WPCourseware is used by thousands of businesses online and makes creating training courses in WordPress simple.
In WP Courseware, courses consist of modules and modules are built from units, surveys, etc.
WP Courseware integrates fully with any WordPress site. The plugin adds an “options” menu that lets you add new training courses, edit course modules and units, add quiz questions, edit settings, import/export course information, create custom certificates, view training documentation, etc …
(WP Courseware options menu)
WPCourseware also lets you include a sidebar widget, giving users access to information about their course progress …
(WP Courseware Sidebar Widget)
You can fully customize and configure your courses.
For example, you can specify if course participants need to have completed a course section before they can advance to the next unit …
(Configure your course settings to suit your needs)
You can view details about your courses “at a glance” and perform various types of actions (e.g. access the grade book) …
(View details about your courses inside your dashboard)
If you have a basic understanding of the way WordPress works, you can create training courses fast using familiar WP interfaces and functionality.
For example, you can add and edit course titles and descriptions, set user access, customize user messages and notifications, provide course completion certificates and fine tune other course settings simply by clicking tabs, entering data into fields, checking radio buttons, choosing options from drop-down menus, dragging and dropping elements around screens, etc …
(Easily edit course settings)
Adding training modules and units is as easy as creating and editing WordPress posts. You can include text, images, embedded media, and any other form of content that you would normally add to a post.
You can reorder your training content by dragging and dropping units inside modules inside the ”Order Course Modules & Units” screen …
(Order Course Modules & Units section)
When you are done adding content to your module, simply publish it like any other WordPress post or page.
You can view a list of your course units in the “Course Units” section …
(Course Units table)
Placing your course and modules into pages is simple. WP Courseware lets you insert courses and module information into pages using a range of shortcodes …
(WP Courseware shortcode)
Shortcodes let you display course content on your pages and manage all of your course details from a central location …
(Create training courses with WPCourseware)
After your etraining product is published, you can restrict content access to registered users only …
(Users must log in and have permission to view your training content)
For more details, visit the plugin site here: WP Courseware
Benefits Of Using WPCourseware
Below we have listed just some of the benefits and advantages of using WP Courseware to add professional training courses to your site on your WordPress website:
Quick And Easy To Install And Use. Be Up And Running In No Time.
WP Courseware installs just like any regular plugin. Just upload it to your Plugin folder via your WP dashboard and activate.
Very Simple To Use
As mentioned earlier, if you already understand how WordPress works, you can quickly create courses using familiar interfaces and functions.
Just create a course, training module, or course unit with course content, and optional quiz or survey. Drag and drop to arrange the content and create a course outline using the plugin’s shortcodes or widget.
Unlimited Expandability
The plugin allows you to add unlimited courses, modules, lessons, surveys, quizzes and enrollees.
Use Different Content Types
A course unit uses WordPress custom types, which lets you add anything you would typically insert into a WordPress page or postWordPress posts or pages besides text, such as embedded media, graphic elements, links, file downloads, etc.
(Add different content types to create your training courses)
Additional benefits and advantages include the following:
- Use on all themes: WP Courseware works with all WordPress themes.
- Compatible with all devices: The plugin deliver content that can be viewed on all devices.
Features
WP Courseware offers WP users with many great features. Here are just some of these:
Course Outline
You can create a course outline and course progress page via shortcodes. The course progress shortcode displays all the courses students have enrolled in as well as displaying their current progress.
Track Course Progress
Students can also view their course progress with a custom sidebar widget.
As a course administrator, you can also track students as they progress through courses inside the dashboard …
(Track course progress)
Automatically Enroll New Course Participants
You can set up courses to allow automatic enrollment of new students.
Certificates
Students can be issued with a customized certificate of completion. You can add custom backgrounds, logos and signatures to course certificates …
(Training certificates)
Import/Export Functionality
The import/export functionality lets you move courses to other sites.
Custom Email Notifications And Messages
WPCourseware allows you to create custom user notifications for students after completing modules and courses and communicating on related administrative matters. You can also customize the quiz result email to congratulate students who successfully complete course quizzes. Additionally, you can also send out a mass email trainees with their final grades with a single click …
(Custom Notifications – WP Courseware)
Quizzes & Surveys
You can add a quiz or survey to your course content …
(Quizzes And Surveys)
- Depending on your needs, you can use course progress blocking or non-blocking quizzes.
- Quizzes can be timed, paginated, and include customized feedback based on question tags.
- Results can be downloaded in PDF format. You can also download a CSV file with the survey results.
- The instructor grade book helps track how your students are progressing in a course …
(WP Courseware – Edit Quiz/Survey Settings Area)
eCommerce And Membership Site Integration
WP Courseware can be used with many ecommerce and membership plugins …
(Membership Site And e-Commerce Plugin Integration)
Testimonials From Plugin Customers
Below are some of the testimonials and feedback customers have submitted regarding the WPCourseware plugin:
“No e-learning solution for WordPress compares to the ease and speed that WP Courseware offers people when setting up online courses.” Chris Lema, Author, Speaker, and E-Learning Expert
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“Nate contacted me about checking out WP Courseware. I did… and I was impressed. Today, I have WP Courseware integrated into the delivery side of Blog Marketing Academy itself.” David Risley
WPCourseware – Tips
As mentioned earlier, if you have been online for a while, you already have plenty of great training content on your blog or website that can be leveraged into a new digital training product.
WP Courseware lets you convert any page or post on your site into a course unit, so if there are a number of great educational content like step-by-step tutorials published on your website or blog, you probably already have a product partially created …
(Convert any WordPress post or page into a course unit)
You can use the export/import feature to build and sell training courses to other WordPress site owners.
Apart from using the plugin to create sellable e-courses, you can also use WP Courseware to train new staff, or document instructions for outsourced business tasks.
Support
WPCourseware is very well-supported and backed by a risk-free, thirty day, complete refund guarantee. Users get free access to all integrations and 1 year of support and upgrades with their purchase.
The plugin’s “Documentation” section inside the plugin’s options and settings area explains how to use the shortcodes …
(WPCourseware Documentation – Shortcodes)
And access to a complete set of ”how-to” videos …
(WPCourseware Documentation – Plugin Tutorials)
Plugin Pricing
WP Courseware is available in the following options:
- 2-Site License – This lets you install WP Courseware on one WordPress web site only. Includes 1 year of free upgrades and support. Cost = $99.00.
- 10-Site License – This license lets you configure WP Courseware on 10 domains. It includes one year of free upgrades and support. Cost = $125.00.
- 25-Site License – This edition enables you to activate WP Courseware on twenty-five WordPress web sites. Includes 1 year of free upgrades and support. Price = $175.00.
Please Note: The cost to purchase WPCourseware can vary, depending on whether there are any promotions or limited-time specials being offered. The above reflects the price when this article was written. This may not be the actual pricing charged by the product seller when you visit the website and you may be shown additional upsells or one-time offers after your purchase.
Check the plugin’s website for the latest pricing here:
Additional Information
For ”how-to” videos of the plugin, including help documentation and tutorials, FAQs, support helpdesk, contact details and more, visit the WPCourseware website.
Get This Product
If you are searching for an inexpensive way to create elearning products, The WP Courseware plugin is a powerful, yet simple and easy to use WordPress solution you may want to keep in mind.
To learn more, visit the plugin website:
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