TL;DR Top 5 Best LMS for blended learning
- Wise: Extremely easy to use, works on all platforms, tailored for interactive learning with gamified engagement tools and real-time analytics. However, works only with Zoom for live sessions.
- Moodle: Open-source, highly customizable with strong integration and reporting features. Requires technical expertise to manage.
- Canvas: User-friendly, mobile-optimized, integrates with many tools, and offers advanced analytics. Many features are locked behind paywalls.
- Schoology: Great for communication and collaboration. The interface can be cluttered, and reporting is less customizable.
- Google Classroom: Easy to use but limited functionalities
What is Blended Learning or Hybrid Learning? And Why is it important?
Blended learning combines traditional face-to-face classroom teaching with online learning. It leverages instructor-led training, self-paced e-learning, interactive multimedia content, and collaborative learning environments. Blended learning finds applications in classroom and online integration, corporate training, and self-paced learning experiences. It offers several benefits, including improved learning outcomes, greater flexibility and convenience, personalized learning experiences, increased student engagement, and cost-effectiveness. This blog by World Bank discusses extensively the challenges and advantages of a blended learning model.
Many school districts in the US are opting for blended learning – where teachers instruct students in-person where as the High-Impact Tutoring is offered virtually. In some cases academies or schools offer learners the option attend in-person or join virtually – so a same cohort or group could have some students inside the classroom and some watching the live telecast from their homes. It’s now really important for schools to use an LMS for blended learning that works for both in-person and online learning. Using separate systems for each makes things harder for students and staff, as they have to keep switching between the two setups.
5 Must have features for an LMS for Blended Learning
- Accessibility and Integration: Should be accessible on all devices, i. e., the platform should work on PCs, Chromebooks and mobile devices. Should easily integrate with other third party software for a cohesive experience.
- Learner Management: Easy to enroll and manage learners with learner tags, personalized learning paths and assessment tools.
- Content and Flexibility: Features for synchronous and asynchronous learning – Live classes, interactive online quizzes, content sharing, etc. Should be easily integrable with Zoom, Google Meet or other video conferencing tools.
- Collaboration and Engagement: Tools for communication including but not limited to Email and WhatsApp alerts. Features to enable 1-on-1 mentoring, peer learning and group projects. Gamification options for better engagement.
- Analytics and Reporting: Automated grading and progress tracking tools. Learner level performance reports and analytics for feedback on learner and areas needing strengthening.
Lets look at these 5 LMS for Blended Learning in detail
1. Best LMS for Blended Learning: Wise
Designed specifically for education, Wise integrates seamlessly with Zoom and other tools like Google Calendar. It boasts of Web Apps for PCs and Chromebooks, and native apps for Android and iOS devices – making it best in terms of accessibility. For hybrid sessions it automates attendance for those joining virtually and gives an option to manage in-person attendance in a single place.
Offers both synchronous (live session integration with Zoom) and asynchronous learning options; includes in-session gamified tools such as leaderboards. With features for assessments, interactive online quizzes, grading and content sharing – Wise ensures a comprehensive blended learning experience for all your learners.
Wise can be white-labelled, i. e., be used under your brand name.
Wise offers custom pricing and features for schools and academies offering blended learning. You can get in touch with the team by filling the form on their contact page.
2. Opensource and Customizable: Moodle
Moodle is an open-source LMS which means that anyone can view and modify its code. This makes Moodle highly customizable. It integrates well with third party tools. It has features for both, synchronous and asynchronous learning. It has built in features that support a wide variety of quizzing and assessment formats. Through a wide array of plugins available for Moodle – one can get advanced and customized reporting.
However, Moodle requires technical expertise to setup and customize. So if you lack an IT team – you can give this a pass as an LMS for Blended learning at your school. Additionally, the interface can feel outdated and complex for users.
Moodle is free to use because it’s an open-source platform. You can download and host it on your own server at no cost. However, if you prefer hosting through Moodle’s cloud service or need additional services like customizations, support, or maintenance, there will be costs involved.
3. Advanced LMS with minimal customizations: Canvas LMS
Canvas has a mobile responsive design – making it accessible across all kinds of devices. It easily integrated with popular tools such as Google Drive, Zoom, and more. It has features for easy enrollment management and flexible learning paths. It supports virtual classrooms via integrations like Zoom. It has standard features for discussions, group projects and peer reviews. Provides advanced analytics, with detailed learner insights and activity tracking.
Canvas is used by some of the largest schools and universities as an LMS for Blended learning. You can request a demo here.
However, Canvas can end up being very expensive. Additionally, it lacks the deep customization options that LMS like Wise or Moodle provide.
4. Great for collaboration but limited online features: Schoology
Schoology may be suited if the online part of the learning in your blended learning model is minimal. It integrates with Google classroom. It has robust set of tools geared towards in-person learning such as enrollment and progress tracking. Through integration it does support real-time virtual lessons as well. Its strengths are strong communication tools. It provides comprehensive reporting on performance, assignments and learner engagement.
However, the interface may feel cluttered with too many features – making it difficult to use. Given lack of customizations it may be challenging to get custom reports and analytics as compared to other platforms
You can request a demo for your school here.
5. Easy to use but limited functionalities: Google Classroom
Google classroom is free to use with google workspace. It fully integrates with the popular google tools – Drive, Docs, Meet, etc. As it is true for all google products the minimalistic design ensures that it is easy to use.
However, despite being comprehensive, it lacks advanced features that other LMS platforms offer. It has features for managing learners, assignments and grading. For live classes it can only be integrated with google meet.
It supports real-time collaboration with google tools and discussion boards. It only has basic reporting features, however, through third-party integrations it supports advanced reporting and other automations.
It lacks some advanced learner management and reporting features found in paid platforms. Additionally, the platform is difficult to customize. Being a self-served product there is minimal support available.
What works for someone else may not work for your organization. Some LMS are more focused on virtual learning while some are better for in-person sessions. You should decide based on what your focus. Additionally, before taking the final call you should also look at LMS for tutoring, online schools, 1-on-1 courses, group tutoring and corporate training – as this will give you a fair idea of the kind of features and innovation that exist among different LMS tools.
