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LMS - Learning Management System

LMS - Learning Management System

A learning management system (LMS) is a software application for the administration, documentation, tracking, reporting, and delivery of educational courses, training programs, or learning and development programs.

  • L — Learning. With an LMS, you can create a single source of online courses and training materials. This will become a unique source of knowledge in your area so that you can keep and increase the in-house expertise of your company.
  • M — Management. You can manage courses and learners, and even improve your own efficiency. Unlike file-sharing services, an LMS is not just a heap of files; it’s a well-organized system where you manage the training process. To start training, simply add employees and assign courses.
  • S — System. A computer system, to be exact. An LMS automates the most boring and tedious work such as grading, processing statistics, and preparing reports. Plus, you can train your employees without leaving the office, managing all the processes right from your work computer.

The learning management system concept emerged directly from e-Learning. Although the first LMS appeared in the higher education sector, the majority of the LMSs today focus on the corporate market. Learning Management Systems make up the largest segment of the learning system market.

Learning management systems were designed to identify training and learning gaps, utilizing analytical data and reporting. LMSs are focused on online learning delivery but support a range of uses, acting as a platform for online content, including courses, both asynchronous based and synchronous based. Learning management solutions may offer classroom management for instructor-led training or a flipped classroom, used in higher education, but not in the corporate space.

Most modern learning management systems are web-based. There are a variety of integration strategies for embedding content into LMSs, including AICC, xAPI (also called 'Tin Can'), SCORM (Sharable Content Object Reference Model) and LTI (Learning Tools Interoperability). LMSs were originally designed to be locally hosted on-premises, where the organization purchases a license to a version of the software, and installs it on their own servers and network. Many LMSs are now offered as SaaS (software as a service), with hosting provided by the vendors.

Features Of An LMS

All modern LMSs are loaded with many features. Some of the common features are:

  • Course content authoring and upload. An LMS lets you author course content and upload course content in a wide variety of formats including audio, video, multimedia, documents, etc.
  • User and course management. An LMS offers user management and course management. User enrollment, tagging, course administration, order management, pre-registration and assigning courses can be done semi-automatically.
  • Communication management. An LMS can handle all course communications and notifications to concerned users. For example, an LMS can automatically send a notification to all enrolled users when a new assignment is uploaded by the teacher. There is no need to copy and paste contact data or switch between two digital services.
  • Report management. An LMS can generate a wide variety of reports, including student progress, score, student engagement, etc. The data can be utilized to gain valuable insight into the effectiveness of the course content.
  • Assessment creation and management. Assessments are a key part of any course. An LMS makes it easy to create and manage these assessments, both system evaluated and tutor evaluated. You can get a result in a single click for all students.

 

 

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Characteristics

Built-In Course Authoring

Assessments & Quizzes

Learning Paths

Assignment Scheduling

Varied User Types

Content Delivery and Tracking

Content Storage and Management

Content Libraries

Learning types

Certifications

Manager Portals

Collaborative Learning

Live chat

Integrated Videoconferencing

Audio/Video Recording

Interactive Learning

Analytics and Reporting

Offline access to content

Gamification

Supported file formats

Mobile support

Integrations

Languages Supported

Security

Pricing Model

White Labeling

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  • Asynchronous Instructor-led
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  • Synchronous Virtual Classroom
  • Self-paced online programs
  • Scheduled learning events
  • Asynchronous Instructor-led
  • Asynchronous Self-paced
  • Blended Learning
  • Synchronous Virtual Classroom
  • Blended Learning
  • Asynchronous Instructor-led
  • Asynchronous Self-paced
  • Blended Learning
  • Synchronous Virtual Classroom
  • Asynchronous Instructor-led
  • Asynchronous Self-paced
  • Blended Learning
  • Synchronous Virtual Classroom
  • Asynchronous Instructor-led
  • Asynchronous Self-paced
  • Blended Learning
  • Synchronous Virtual Classroom
  • Blended Learning
  • Self-paced online programs
  • Scheduled learning events
  • Curricula
  • Asynchronous Instructor-led
  • Asynchronous Self-paced
  • Blended Learning
  • Asynchronous Instructor-led
  • Asynchronous Self-paced
  • Blended Learning
  • Synchronous Virtual Classroom
  • Self-paced online programs
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  • Flash
  • JSON
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  • Audio
  • Video
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  • xAPI
  • AICC
  • SCORM files
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  • GIFT
  • SCORM files
  • xAPI
  • WMV
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  • PDF
  • MP3
  • ZIP
  • DOCX
  • SCORM files
  • XLS
  • GIF
  • JPEG
  • SWF
  • URL
  • Documents
  • PPT
  • PDF
  • DOCX
  • SCORM files
  • SCORM files
  • AVI
  • MP4
  • PPT
  • PPTX
  • PDF
  • MP3
  • ZIP
  • DOCX
  • Video
  • Text
  • GIFT
  • XLS
  • SQL
  • GIF
  • JPEG
  • API
  • Salesforce
  • Cornerstone
  • API
  • Zoom
  • Webex
  • GoToTraining
  • G Suite
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  • LTI
  • HRIS
  • Video asset management software
  • API
  • BambooHR
  • Zoom
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  • Drupal
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  • Microsoft Dynamics CRM
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  • SSO
  • Microsoft Teams
  • API
  • HR Systems
  • Kallidus Recruit
  • Tazio
  • Yammer
  • Facebook
  • API
  • Social Integration
  • Paypal
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  • Slack
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  • Google Drive
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  • Elementor Page Builder
  • Office365
  • YouTube
  • Vimeo
  • Facebook
  • HR Systems
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F.A.Q. about LMS - Learning Management System

Types of Learning Management Systems

Free vs. Commercial. This is typically one of the first dilemmas organizations face when choosing an LMS.

Free, open-source software has a pretty clear upside: It’s free. Also, because the source code is open, it can be modified to be highly customizable for each organization. However, most free LMS products tend to be more complicated than commercial products — typically they are utilized by more sophisticated users.

Commercial software, on the other hand, offers users a support staff, and tends to be much easier to deploy, and use. But of course it costs money. Among commercial LMS products, there are typically two main forms: Installed, or the service-based cloud option.

Installed vs. SaaS. One of the most important elements of an LMS is the ability to scale up or down quickly and easily. Commercial LMS software solutions are typically sold as either a locally hosted enterprise product, which is hosted on an organization’s own servers, or as a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) offering, which is hosted on the vendor’s servers and is accessible from anywhere (the data is stored in “the cloud”).

Generally, cloud-based LMS products offer trainers more flexibility when it comes to scaling up or down. Because the product is sold as a “service” (usually monthly), the burden of making systems upgrades, freeing up bandwidth, and providing IT support falls on the vendor. Because data does not have to be stored on local servers, scalability isn’t a concern; most SaaS LMSs can ramp up or down by thousands of users with ease.

A locally installed LMS offers users the ability to individualize and customize their LMS. So if an organization already has an IT staff in place that can administer the system, handle support and customization and scalability concerns, a locally hosted LMS can be powerful.

Course-creating or not. Another thing to look for in an LMS is whether it comes with the ability to create training content. In some cases, an LMS is simply a tool to distribute course content, which must be created in a Learning Content Management System elsewhere.

Some LMS systems, however, do come with some authoring tools that allow trainers and designers to develop their own unique content. Other LMS vendors offer separate course-creation tools for purchase, while some offer no authoring tools whatsoever, and instead rely on third-party course materials.

Integrated. As LMS systems become more sophisticated, one of the most exciting developments is the ability for the system to integrate with other applications your organization already uses — whether that’s internal calendars, email, or social networks.

Other LMS products may also integrate closely with talent management systems, which tend to focus on providing support to Human Resource staff functions like recruiting, performance management, and payroll. Depending on your organization’s needs, you may keep an eye out for an LMS that features this sort of app integration.

Choosing a Learning Management System

Choosing the right LMS is crucial to the success of your eLearning strategy. The selection process may seem overly complicated and stressful, but it doesn’t have to be! With these steps to choosing an LMS, you’ll discover a simple and straightforward technique to help you choose perfect LMS for your business needs.

Identify your audience. Identify exactly what you need from your LMS and who your learning content is aimed towards. This will vary depending on your learner audience and the type of training you wish to deliver.

If you’re training your employees, you’ll need an LMS tools to formalize learning processes, like employee onboarding, and improve employee retention.

If compliance training is your focus, you’ll need an LMS that makes it easy to achieve, maintain, and track compliance.

Customer training delivered through an LMS optimizes onboarding, increases retention and presents opportunities for upselling thanks to customers who complete training having a more thorough understanding of your product or service.

If you need an LMS for partner training, your priorities will be scaling your partner business while building and protecting your brand.

Focus on important features. There are many basic LMS’s out there, but your LMS has to support your “need to have” features to ensure it’s fit for purpose. Some examples of invaluable LMS features include:

  • Ease of use - A platform that’s easy to use ensures your learners and admins can use the LMS without needing training on how to do so. This makes the process of using the LMS a positive experience, increasing engagement.
  • Reporting - LMS reporting makes it easy to accurately track learner progression, course status and completion rate, exam results, etc.
  • Integrations - By integrating applications you already use in your organization, you’ll get the most efficiency out of your LMS. LMS integration can help increase learner and admin engagement, and delivers a better user experience.
  • SCORM and xAPI compliant - Ensuring your LMS is SCORM and xAPI compliant is a pretty essential feature. If the LMS you’re considering isn’t compliant, it’s likely it’s a very basic system.
  • Portals - Learning portals offer your learners a great user experience, but also make it possible to manage multiple training audiences in one system.

Evaluate each LMS. Start evaluating potential contenders by doing an initial round of high-level research to identify systems that appear to meet both your training audience and features list needs. This will become your LMS longlist. Once compiled you can then evaluate each one individually to rule it in or out of the next stage of selection.

Look beyond the LMS. Go online and research LMS vendors on your shortlist. Find out as much as you can about each company. Once you’re satisfied with the company’s reputation, peer reviews, and support services, sign yourself up for a free trial and demo so that you can see the LMS in action and understand how the system will meet your audience and feature requirements. You could also submit support tickets to each vendor during your free trial to compare the responsiveness and attentiveness of each support team.

What are the advantages and disadvantages?

Advantages:

There are six major advantages of LMS: interoperability, accessibility, reusability, durability, maintenance ability and adaptability, which in themselves constitute the concept of LMS.

Other advantages include:

  • An LMS supports content in various formats: text, video, audio, etc.
  • One can access materials anytime, from everywhere, teachers can modify the content, and students can see the updated material.
  • The evaluation of students is easier and fair, based on student attendance and online quizzes.
  • Students and teachers can re-use the material every time they need.
  • Students can learn collaboratively by setting up a School website with the LMS software and helps "Keeps organizations up-to-date with compliance regulations. If your organization must stay up-to-date with current compliance regulations, then a Learning Management System can be an invaluable tool. Compliance laws change on a regular basis, and updating a traditional course to reflect these changes can be a time-consuming chore.

Disadvantages:

Although there are many advantages of LMSs, authors have identified some disadvantages of using these systems.

  • Implementing an LMS requires a well-built technology infrastructure. Teachers have to be willing to adapt their curricula from face to face lectures to online lectures.
  • Expense.
  • Difficulty of learning to use authoring software.
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