Constellation ShortList™ Learning Marketplaces

Learning marketplaces provide a platform for online education, bringing the content of teachers to learners. These online marketplaces often include features of learning management systems, which allow courses and skills to be taught on-demand and at a student’s pace. Most online marketplaces offer both free and paid content. Constellation estimates the total market for eLearning at $413 billion by 2027 with a CAGR of 10.7%. Learning marketplaces are a sub segment for this market

Performance and learning can be measured by evaluations, and coursework can go toward a defined curriculum. Self-paced instruction often incorporates interactive capabilities with video chats, online communities, mentoring, live classes and live feedback.

Learning marketplaces differ from traditional corporate learning management systems with the ability to author, assemble and sell courses. Many of these marketplaces can feed into corporate systems or enable classes to be hosted as needed.

A wave of consolidation is on the horizon as newer technologies such as virtual and augmented reality will enter this market and emerge as key criteria in future evaluations. Expect blockchain to appear as an important technology in providing authentication and verification of skills.

Threshold Criteria

Constellation considers the following criteria for these solutions:

• Offer online courses and course libraries
• Deliver gamification and incentives
• Provide assessment tools
• Facilitate online communities
• Deliver live feedback
• Enable content authoring
• Support outside content
• Create virtual classrooms
• Host and sell courses
• Provide commerce and marketplace capabilities
• Provide a curriculum set
• Support SCORM compliance
• Ensure regulatory and compliance management
• Integrate into learning management systems
• Provide credentialing and badging