Compare OpenLearning to other learning management systems (LMS)

In a world where education and training are evolving at an unprecedented pace, choosing the right Learning Management System (LMS) is crucial. While there are several LMS options on the market, OpenLearning stands head and shoulders above the rest.

In the crowded LMS market, OpenLearning shines as the beacon of educational excellence.

Our commitment to customisation, social learning, analytics, community, inclusivity, and innovation sets us apart.

In the crowded LMS market, OpenLearning shines as the beacon of educational excellence.

Our commitment to customisation, social learning, analytics, community, inclusivity, and innovation sets us apart.

AI-powered platform

OpenLearning
Other LMS
Generative AI-powered course design
The "suggest content" feature of OpenLearning's AI Assistant aids in creating a diverse array of customisable content types. When combined with the "learning activity creator," OpenLearning's AI Assistant significantly minimises the time and effort needed to craft high-quality courses, programs, and micro-credentials.
Some LMS platforms may not have advanced AI features, even when they have, it focuses more on learners not the educators.
Thumbnail generator
OpenLearning's seamless integration of AI-powered course thumbnail creation and updates directly within the platform offers educators a user-friendly and efficient solution.
Other LMS may lack a similar level of integration, potentially resulting in a more streamlined and visually consistent course thumbnail.
Name
Course Pages
Significance to user journey
When learners do a course on OpenLearning, they will mainly be interacting with course pages.

Course pages are made up of many widgets which allow for the curation of media rich content and interactive activities.
Status
Pass (depending on widgets used)

For a course page to be accessible, the widgets used on the page must also be accessible.

See list of accessible widgets
Common accessibility issues caused by user generated content
Design of course content plays a large part of whether a course is accessible or not.

While OpenLearning can provide resources and support to help course creators create accessible course content, this is ultimately the responsibility of the course provider.

Common issues

  • Using widgets that are not accessible
Future Actions
-
Name
Group Pages
  • Group Listing Page
  • Group Page
Significance to user journey
Learners need this to create new groups or join existing groups and complete course work together.
Status
Pass with some areas out of scope
  • Groups pages allow learners to author course pages to share with their group as an advance feature. This page authoring aspect of the platform is out of scope for strict WCAG comformance.
Common accessibility issues caused by user generated content
-
Future Actions
-
Name
My Progress Page
Significance to user journey
Learners can use this page to keep track of the work they have completed as well as the work they still need to complete.
Status
Pass
Common accessibility issues caused by user generated content
-
Future Actions
-
Name
Profile Page
  • About me Page
  • Portfolio Page
  • Communities Page
  • Credentials Page
Significance to user journey
As a student, I want to add and modify information about myself.

As a student, I want to control the privacy and display of work I've created.

As a student, I want to scan students who have liked my contributions.
Status
Pass
Common accessibility issues caused by user generated content
-
Future Actions
-
Name
Account settings page
Significance to user journey
As a student, I want to access my personal settings to add, modify and control my information.
Status
Pass
Common accessibility issues caused by user generated content
-
Future Actions
-
Name
Help & Support knowledge base
Significance to user journey
Our help & support knowledge base portal.
Status
Known issues

Our knowledge base is hosted on a third party tool called ForumBee. This platform is not fully accessible.
Common accessibility issues caused by user generated content
This is not an easy area for us to change.

Also, learners do not usually need to contact OpenLearning help as their queries are usually more to do with course requirements than platform difficulties.

We encourage course providers to provide their own learner help channels that are suited to their business model and delivery mode.
Future Actions
-

Reusable components that can occur on multiple pages

Name
Course page frame
Significance to user journey
This is the UI frame around all in course related content.It contains navigation, information about the course, user info and status, etc.

Course pages are made up of many widgets which allow for the curation of media rich content and interactive activities.
Status
Pass with exceptions

WCAG 2.1 AA
    • Kudos, Progress bar, Progress page progress pie charts in the contents table use hover text that may block parts of the menu.

WCAG 2.2 AA
  • 2.5.8 Target Size (Minimum) some inline text links have a touch target of less than 24px. (Likes, replies, etc.)
Common accessibility issues caused by user generated content
Common issues
  • Setting theme colours that are too low contrast with white text.
Future Actions
We intend to fix the issues with hover content and target size in 2023
Name
Module Navigation Pop Out
Significance to user journey
Learners use this to navigate between course pages grouped into learning modules.
Status
Pass
Common accessibility issues caused by user generated content
-
Future Actions
-
Name
Comments
Significance to user journey
Learners interact with their peers and teachers through the comments feature.
Status
Pass with exceptions

WCAG 2.1 AA
    • Kudos, Progress bar, Progress page progress pie charts in the contents table use hover text that may block parts of the menu.

WCAG 2.2 AA
  • 2.5.8 Target Size (Minimum) some inline text links have a touch target of less than 24px. (Likes, replies, etc.)
Common accessibility issues caused by user generated content
Learner generated content

It is often worthwhile to produce a brief primer/reminder for your learners to help them post content in a way that is as accessible as possible. e.g. Adding alt text to images that they post.
Future Actions
We aim to fix the issues with comments in 2023
Name
Global top bar
Significance to user journey
This is the main way learners get around the platform.This global top bar contains many sub menus such as

Notifications Dropdown
  • Learners use this to find out when classmates or teachers have interacted with content they care about.

Courses Dropdown
  • Learners use this to access and switch between the courses they are enrolled in.

Profile Dropdown
  • Learners use this to view and manage personal settings as well as access their profile and portfolio.
Status
Pass

Out of scope areas
  • Some links from the Courses dropdown lead to areas of the platform currently deemed out of scope. These include:
    • Manage my enrolments
    • Learn something new (course marketplace)
  • The logo on the top bar is accessible but the linked page OL.com is not in scope. This page is not essential to the course experience.
Common accessibility issues caused by user generated content
-
Future Actions
-
Name
Change Profile Picture Modal
Significance to user journey
Profile dropdown -

As a student, I want to modify my profile picture.
Status
Pass
Common accessibility issues caused by user generated content
-
Future Actions
-
Name
Log in / Logout
Significance to user journey
As a student, I want to log into / log out of the platform.
Status
Pass
Common accessibility issues caused by user generated content
-
Future Actions
-
Name
Significance to user journey
Status
Common accessibility issues caused by user generated content
Future Actions
Course page frame
This is the UI frame around all in course related content.It contains navigation, information about the course, user info and status, etc.

Course pages are made up of many widgets which allow for the curation of media rich content and interactive activities.
Pass with exceptions

WCAG 2.1 AA
    • Kudos, Progress bar, Progress page progress pie charts in the contents table use hover text that may block parts of the menu.

WCAG 2.2 AA
  • 2.5.8 Target Size (Minimum) some inline text links have a touch target of less than 24px. (Likes, replies, etc.)
Common issues
  • Setting theme colours that are too low contrast with white text.
We intend to fix the issues with hover content and target size in 2023
Module Navigation Pop Out
Learners use this to navigate between course pages grouped into learning modules.
Pass
-
-
Comments
Learners interact with their peers and teachers through the comments feature.
Pass with exceptions

WCAG 2.1 AA
    • Kudos, Progress bar, Progress page progress pie charts in the contents table use hover text that may block parts of the menu.

WCAG 2.2 AA
  • 2.5.8 Target Size (Minimum) some inline text links have a touch target of less than 24px. (Likes, replies, etc.)
Learner generated content

It is often worthwhile to produce a brief primer/reminder for your learners to help them post content in a way that is as accessible as possible. e.g. Adding alt text to images that they post.
We aim to fix the issues with comments in 2023
Global top bar
This is the main way learners get around the platform.This global top bar contains many sub menus such as

Notifications Dropdown
  • Learners use this to find out when classmates or teachers have interacted with content they care about.

Courses Dropdown
  • Learners use this to access and switch between the courses they are enrolled in.

Profile Dropdown
  • Learners use this to view and manage personal settings as well as access their profile and portfolio.
Pass

Out of scope areas
  • Some links from the Courses dropdown lead to areas of the platform currently deemed out of scope. These include:
    • Manage my enrolments
    • Learn something new (course marketplace)
  • The logo on the top bar is accessible but the linked page OL.com is not in scope. This page is not essential to the course experience.
-
-
Change Profile Picture Modal
Profile dropdown -

As a student, I want to modify my profile picture.
Pass
-
-
Log in / Logout
As a student, I want to log into / log out of the platform.
Pass
-
-

Widgets

Widgets are essential reusable building blocks of course on OpenLearning. Here is the list of core widgets that are accessible.

Name
Text
Significance to user journey
This is the most commonly used widget for formatting course content.
Status
Pass with exceptions
  • Spoilers formatting - use with caution
    • Can be confusing for screen reader users depending on how it’s structured within course content.
    • Uses images without alt tag for the spoiler formatting.
Common accessibility issues caused by user generated content
Course provider generated content

• Images without alt-tags
Using images in place of standard UI elements such as bullet points, buttons, headers, separators, etc. These are hacks that are possible but not recommended.
• Setting text colours that too low contrast.
  • Images without alt-tags
    • Using images in place of standard UI elements such as bullet points, buttons, headers, separators, etc. These are hacks that are possible but not recommended.
  • Setting text colours that too low contrast.
Future Actions
Intend to fix poor spoiler formatting - intend to fix in 2023
Name
File
Significance to user journey
This widget allows learners to browse, preview, and download files uploaded by their course provider.

Course pages are made up of many widgets which allow for the curation of media rich content and interactive activities.
Status
Pass
Common accessibility issues caused by user generated content
-
Future Actions
-
Name
Accessible video
Significance to user journey
This widget allows learners to watch video content on the platform.

The video player can be controlled via keyboard alone, or mouse alone, and has high contrast, scalable controls. There is ability to add captions and chapters.
Status
Pass
Common accessibility issues caused by user generated content
Course provider generated content
  • Using the wrong video widget.
    • For backward compatibility reasons, we have not yet removed our old non-accessible video widget. Please make sure to use the correct widget. We hope to deprecate the old widget in the future.
  • There is ability to add captions and chapters but the course provider must provide these. There is no automatic captioning available at this time.
Future Actions
-
Name
Audio
Significance to user journey
This audio widget allows learners to listen to audio content on the platform. The audio player can be controlled via keyboard alone, or mouse alone, and has high contrast, scalable controls. There is ability to add captions and chapters.
Status
Pass
Common accessibility issues caused by user generated content
There is ability to add captions and chapters but the course provider must provide these.
Future Actions
-
Name
Resource links
Significance to user journey
Learners have access to a list of resource links provided by the course provider.
Status
Pass
Common accessibility issues caused by user generated content
Course provider generated content

For an seamless accessible experience, the resource links provided by the course providers must also contain accessible content.
Future Actions
-
Name
White Space
Significance to user journey
Allows spacing to be added to the course to help break up content in a visual way.
Status
Pass
Common accessibility issues caused by user generated content
-
Future Actions
-
Name
Post widgets

• Post text
• Post file
• Post image
Significance to user journey
Post widgets allow users to create and share content with their class and/or instructors.

These are a core building block for creating transformative learning activities on OpenLearning.
Status
Pass
Common accessibility issues caused by user generated content
Learner generated content

It is often worthwhile to produce a brief primer/reminder for your learners to help them post content in a way that is as accessible as possible. e.g. Adding alt text to images that they post.
Future Actions
-
Name
Show case widgets

• Gallery
• Feed
Significance to user journey
Allows users view content that was shared with the class or instructors.

As a student, I want to see relevant content my classmates have contributed and share information with my classmates.

These are a core building block for creating transformative learning activities on OpenLearning.
Status
Pass
Common accessibility issues caused by user generated content
-
Future Actions
-
Name
Multiple Choice
Significance to user journey
A basic building block of quizzes
Status
Pass
Common accessibility issues caused by user generated content
-
Future Actions
-
Name
Short Answer
Significance to user journey
A basic building block of quizzes
Status
Pass
Common accessibility issues caused by user generated content
-
Future Actions
-
Name
Fill in the blanks
Significance to user journey
A basic building block of quizzes
Status
Pass
Common accessibility issues caused by user generated content
-
Future Actions
-
Name
Significance to user journey
Status
Common accessibility issues caused by user generated content
Future Actions
Text
This is the most commonly used widget for formatting course content.
Pass with exceptions
  • Spoilers formatting - use with caution
    • Can be confusing for screen reader users depending on how it’s structured within course content.
    • Uses images without alt tag for the spoiler formatting.
Course provider generated content
  • Images without alt-tags
    • Using images in place of standard UI elements such as bullet points, buttons, headers, separators, etc. These are hacks that are possible but not recommended.
  • Setting text colours that too low contrast.
Intend to fix poor spoiler formatting - intend to fix in 2023
File
This widget allows learners to browse, preview, and download files uploaded by their course provider.

Course pages are made up of many widgets which allow for the curation of media rich content and interactive activities.
Pass
-
-
Accessible video
This widget allows learners to watch video content on the platform.

The video player can be controlled via keyboard alone, or mouse alone, and has high contrast, scalable controls. There is ability to add captions and chapters.
Pass
Course provider generated content
  • Using the wrong video widget.
    • For backward compatibility reasons, we have not yet removed our old non-accessible video widget. Please make sure to use the correct widget. We hope to deprecate the old widget in the future.
  • There is ability to add captions and chapters but the course provider must provide these. There is no automatic captioning available at this time.
-
Audio
This audio widget allows learners to listen to audio content on the platform. The audio player can be controlled via keyboard alone, or mouse alone, and has high contrast, scalable controls. There is ability to add captions and chapters.
Pass
There is ability to add captions and chapters but the course provider must provide these.
-
Resource links
Learners have access to a list of resource links provided by the course provider.
Pass
Course provider generated content

For an seamless accessible experience, the resource links provided by the course providers must also contain accessible content.
-
White Space
Allows spacing to be added to the course to help break up content in a visual way.
Pass
-
-
Post widgets
  • Post text
  • Post file
  • Post image
Post widgets allow users to create and share content with their class and/or instructors.

These are a core building block for creating transformative learning activities on OpenLearning.
Pass
Learner generated content

It is often worthwhile to produce a brief primer/reminder for your learners to help them post content in a way that is as accessible as possible. e.g. Adding alt text to images that they post.
-
Show case widgets
  • Gallery
  • Feed
Allows users view content that was shared with the class or instructors.

As a student, I want to see relevant content my classmates have contributed and share information with my classmates.

These are a core building block for creating transformative learning activities on OpenLearning.
Pass
-
-
Multiple Choice
A basic building block of quizzes
Pass
-
-
Short Answer
A basic building block of quizzes
Pass
-
-
Fill in the blanks
A basic building block of quizzes
Pass
-
-
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