The term “online courses platform” can be interpreted in several ways. This post will discuss the definition of this term and its components. Along with that, this post will also provide some examples of online course platforms and give you an overview of some well-known companies that are currently offering online courses.
An online class platform is a website or other digital resource that provides free access to educational content regardless of videos, text materials, or articles. Online course platforms usually offer educational materials in categories such as science, art, math, or language learning with varying difficulty levels in each category.
There are several differentiating features of an online course platform.
First, online course platforms do not offer any instruction or mentor. These platforms are solely for educational purposes and do not offer extra resources or tools to help with curriculum and exam preparation. Therefore, you are on your own when completing online courses on these platforms.
Second, an online course platform is free to use regardless of whether it is just one free trial class or offers free access to all courses. However, some companies will allow you to purchase premium packages that provide additional features such as advanced library search and additional tutor support services.
Third, online course platforms generally do not offer textbooks or other physical materials. These platforms usually offer digital-only educational materials such as videos, articles, or even interactive learning tools.
Fourth, suppose an online course platform does have a library of premium courses that you can access for free. In that case, it will usually also provide you with the option to purchase complete packages that contain all the premium courses within that specific course platform. For example, suppose a company offers an online language learning platform. In that case, they might provide free complimentary access to all their premium language courses available at their But if you want to purchase a complete package, you can choose from courses such as English, French, Spanish, Chinese, etc.
Finally, online course platforms do not provide teachers or tutors. Online course platforms give students access to their library of resources to complete their education by themselves. However, an online course platform might provide links to different websites that can provide you with tutoring services or even access to a forum where other students post questions and answers.
These are just a few terms and ideas associated with online course platforms.
But as you can see, all of these terms have some relationship to each other. With that being said, it is also great to realize that these definitions should not become your only definition of online courses platforms, as there are many different ways to interpret this term. So, in conclusion, this is what I think an ideal definition of an online course platform should contain:
1.) There is no instructor (teacher) or tutor who can guide you through a curriculum or review your work for you.
2. It is free to use (no charge for courses, trial classes, or resources)
3. It gives access to a range of different courses; generally, these courses are in videos and articles with interactive learning tools.
4. It usually provides users with the option to purchase a package deal that will give them access to premium content- ebooks, audios, articles, and more than the free online course platform has access to.
5.) If you are looking for a “teacher,” you will have to search elsewhere because an online course platform does not offer that service.
6.) Online course platforms are great for those who want self-directed, independent learning. You can choose to complete the provided course material in any order and at your own pace.
7.) Online course platforms are usually reliable sources of educational resources that you can trust; however, they might also give you access to third-party websites with questionable educational content.
