The Intricacies Of Implementing A Learning Management System In Your Organization

The Intricacies Of Implementing A Learning Management System In Your Organization
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Summary: LMSs can be tricky to implement. Learn the intricacies of implementing a Learning Management System in your organization.

Implementing A Learning Management System: How Complex Things Can Get

There are certain difficulties and specifics that must be considered when adopting a Learning Management System. Nothing is perfect and neither are LMSs, as they can be tricky to implement.

Today, we are going to reveal some of the intricacies of LMS implementation. Make sure that you learn how to avoid and overcome all the little problems or you might face a lot of big issues in the future.

Choosing The Right Software

The first essential you need is to choose software that is actually right for your business. Learning Management Systems are all built with the same purpose, which is to help engage learners and allow them to retain valuable knowledge, but there are also many differences among them.

Companies must choose an LMS solution which is flexible enough to fit into and provide the features, functionality, and structure which the organization wants.

The best way to do this is by looking at your training/learning needs.

For example, if you plan on creating basic onboarding program for new employees around the globe and integrating them into your organization properly, you may only need LMS features such as user registration, course navigation, quizzes, timers, progress tracking, certification features, and feedback, to name a few.

On the other hand, you might need to provide training with direct interaction between the teacher and the learner.

This requires a more in-depth implementation allowing information to travel back and forth between the student and the teacher. This is why you will need an LMS that allows easy communication, sharing comments, uploading documents, and collaboration.

Mobile compatibility is simply a must, as everyone has a smartphone, and it’s just the most convenient way to access the learning content. Also, consider things such as integration options and features, when choosing an LMS.

Define Your Requirements

Learning Management Systems have many features, functionalities, and different things that they can be used for. It can be difficult to pinpoint what you will be using the LMS for and why, but this is something you can’t overlook.

However, the biggest issue is not with the Learning Management System itself, it is with the organization. You need to understand your training needs properly and pinpoint the shortcomings within your workforce. A lot of companies don’t evaluate their real training needs and implemented LMSs which weren’t suitable for what they needed.

If this happens, not only will your training processes be inefficient, but you will also spend money on something you don’t really need. Thoroughly analyze your training needs, and consider what your future needs might be to acquire the right solution.

Content Delivery

The features that come with an LMS are designed around the learning material or content. Creating the right content for the right learning course and delivering it properly impacts the overall success of your training.

You need to ensure that your content can be delivered through the platform you choose. If not, the LMS needs to have adequate integrations which will bypass this issue. On the other hand, the type of content that is delivered also needs to be considered.

Do you need training content in PDF, Word, video streaming or something else? Does the LMS support the format you need? At the same time, consider the type of content that can be created with your LMS. Do you plan on providing text, video, images, or modules such as quizzes or surveys? Narrow down your needs, and find an LMS which supports the kind of learning content you need.

Are There Gamification Options?

One of the oldest concepts that have been introduced in learning is gamification, and it can be used in online learning as well. The concept has been taken from video games, as the name implies, and it refers to principles that help improve the User Experience of learners and their level of engagement.

This concept is very effective and can greatly improve your training performance when used for the right learning program. Some of the most popular gamification features to look for are:

Adding The Concept Of Progress

The leveling concept allows you to show learners where they are located in their learning and how much progress they’ve made. This will give them a sense of how well they are doing and if they’ve taken the proper approach to the course. Additionally, when they have reached a certain point, you can open up additional lessons that they can partake in.

Implementing A Reward System Into The Course

When playing video games, players are rewarded for their actions, and this gives them the motivation to finish more tasks. This is one of the most effective gamification concepts that can work equally well in a learning course.

By giving learners rewards for their progress, you can also motivate them to pursue further training. For example, learners can get points that they can use to start new training or get badges that showcase their achievements among their group.

Creating Storylines

A storyline can define the general structure and concept of your online learning course. Simply put, a storyline is a theme which will follow the whole learning experience and engage learners.

This is essential and can be effective when used properly. If you think that this is something you should have in your training, make sure to find a custom LMS add-on that gives you the option to introduce stories that will make your content more engaging.

Finding An LMS With Good Engagement Features

While gamification can greatly improve engagement, there are other features that learning software can have that serve this purpose quite well. Some might be more or less effective depending on what kind of content you plan on creating and which people will be taking the learning courses.

There are countless features that could be used for this, and we simply can’t name them all. When considering engagement, it’s important to look at the features through the findings of an employee engagement poll which concluded:

  • Employees are much more likely to be engaged in using their company’s online learning tools if the training content is divided into small, shorter, and more digestible lessons.
  • Apart from gamification rewards, employees also respond very well to rewards in real life, based on their achievements in training.
  • Most employees agree that discussion boards are the best social learning module for engaging them and getting them to take learning courses.

Proper implementation of a Learning Management System is essential. Take your time, and make sure to analyze all the intricacies of implementing an LMS and your needs thoroughly, before narrowing down the list of potential software that might be right for you.

Originally published at bridgeight.com.