What is a Learning Management System? LMS Basics, Features and Benefits
LMS stands for Learning Management System. As the name suggests, Learning Management System is a software that is used to deliver training programs or educational courses and also assists in organizing, creating, changing and assigning to students and grading the courses.
Just as a Document Management System helps in creating and editing, writing and managing written document. Learning Management System is a software that helps create, manage and convey eLearning courses.
Learning Management System is the engine that drives eLearning and comprises of two main components.
i. A server part, performing the core functionality i.e. creating, managing and conveying courses, verifying users, serving notifications and data, etc.
ii. A user interface that runs in the browser as a web and is used by students, instructors and administrators.
The Rising Trend of eLearning & Learning Management Systems
Since 2017, eLearning and learning management systems are on the rise.
In the wake of the novel coronavirus, distance and time are the two major hurdles to training, development and education. Due to pandemic and social distancing, institutes and organizations all over the world are finding ways to educate and train students and professionals by innovative means and technology has become their greatest ally.
How Does Learning Management System Works?
Consider Learning Management System as a huge repository which permits users to collect and track information at a solitary place. With a secure login and password, any user can easily access online learning system and its resources. If it is a self — hosted system, than either a software is to be installed on the user’s hard drive or accessed through the organization’s / institutes server.
Common Features of a Learning Management System
Some of the common features of learning management system are:
User Friendly Interface
User friendly interface enables easy navigation on the learning management system platform. User interface is also aligned with the goals and abilities of both the user as well as the organization. A non-intuitive user interface creates distractions and confusions making the learning management system useless and ineffective.
Responsive Design
Learning management system must be accessible from any device be it laptop or a desktop, tablet or a smartphone. Learning management system should automatically display the appropriate version according to users’ device. Allows downloading of content for offline accessibility.
Reports & Analytics
E-Learning assessment tools allows instructors and administrators to view and track online training initiatives to determine its effectiveness. This is applied to learner groups and individuals.
Course & Catalogue Management
Learning Management System holds all the relevant eLearning courses and its related course content. Admins and instructors have access to create and manage these catalogues in order to convey a more targeted learning experience.
Support Services
Various Learning Management Systems offer different varying support services. Most of the Learning Management Systems offer online discussion boards to help users connect and help each other. Extra support services like dedicated toll free number can be subscribed via payment.
Content Integration & Interoperability
Content created and stored in Learning Management System is designed in accordance with the interoperability standards including xAPI and SCORM.
Certification & Compliance Support
Essentially this feature is used to for online compliance training and certification purposes. Instructors and admins assess individual’s skillset and determine the lack in their performances. This feature makes Learning Management System a possibility to be used in audits.
Gamification
To create extra engaging and motivating course content, some Learning Management Systems let instructors and admin design courses with game mechanics and built — in gamifications to help students that need extra motivation to complete the course in the shape of leaderboards, badges and points.
Social Learning Capabilities
To allow users to connect with their peers, collaborate and share their experiences, Learning Management Systems have included social media tools within the software system.
Automation
Learning Management Systems automate administrators’ repetitive and tiresome tasks such as new user population, user grouping, group enrollments and user deactivation.
Localization
To keep the training and learning content unaffected from language barrier, its essential that Learning Management Systems incorporate multilingual support feature. Most of the Learning Management Systems have integrated geolocation features that automatically displays the suitable version of the course immediately when accessed.
Artificial Intelligence
To create personalized learning experience on LMS, artificial intelligence provides users with the course formats according to their needs and suggests topics based on the users interests and previously completed courses.
Benefits of Learning Management System
Regardless of the type of organization a Learning Management System is being used, it provides with various multiple benefits.
Improves eLearning Accessibility
In the present digital age, when information is at an individual’s fingertips, thanks to wearable tech and smartphones. Modern learners expect on demand online training resources. Learning Management Systems allows user to expand and track their online training courses without any geographical or lingual barrier. So be it corporate learners, students or young professionals, as long as they can login into the system, they have the opportunity to broaden their knowledge horizon and hone their skills up.
Improves Resource Allocation
Learning Management System has multiple means to help user in allocating the online training resources effectively and efficiently. It identifies the online training programs through different aspects that aren’t much effective and successful. Low learner engagement usually indicates that an online training activity or module needs a reevaluation.
Through Learning Management System, professional learners are kept updated via a single tool. As the LMS assists eLearning teams in rapidly collecting updated online training assets and then expanding and distributing those online training resources globally on a large scale.
Personalizes Online Training Experience
With the help of Learning Management System, various online training resources and learning paths can be assigned to corporate learners. Hence receiving personalized online training accordingly to their needs based on job duties, learning goals and other various criterions. An option to unlock navigation is also available which allows corporate learners to select their own online training coursework and activities. All of this leads to a more effective and successful online training experience with increased learner satisfaction and enhanced and improved engagement and memory retention.
Organizes & Stores Big Data
Learning Management Systems collect all the big data at on place making it easy and stress free to maintain and update the learning material. Also, most of the LMS have started featuring advanced encryption making the data secure and protected from falling into the wrong hands.
Monitors Learners Progress & Performance
To track different aspects of online training programs, almost all the Learning Management Systems have a built in reporting and analytics feature. If there is a sufficient lack in Learning Management Systems reporting capabilities then additional add on and plug ins can be purchased to enhance the learning management systems functionality. From learner engagement to eLearning assessment results, everything can be tracked. Allowing instructors and administrators to determine trends and patterns. Therefore, many learning management systems offers data visualization like charts and graphs.
