Learning Platforms: The Ultimate Pocket Guide

Learning Platforms: The Ultimate Pocket Guide
Summary: Learning platforms, more commonly referred to as Learning Management Systems, have witnessed extreme popularity lately, mostly due to a rise in the development of eLearning courses for various industries. In this article, I’ll present what a learning platform is and demonstrate common features and benefits of learning platforms.

What Are Learning Platforms?

Docebo’s free LMS Project Toolkit was designed to give you a thorough understanding of various aspects of learning platforms. Whether you are a first-time user or a company looking to transition from your current learning platform to a new one, the free LMS Project Toolkit is here to help. At its simplest, a learning platform is software that enables organizations to manage, distribute and track learning activities. A learning platform is also known as a learning management system or LMS. Common features include the ability to organize courses, enroll learners, assess learner proficiency, and report on progress. The most advanced platforms also include the ability to manage ILT/classroom courses and facilitate social and experiential learning. They also enable training material purchases such as ecommerce materials, and integration with web conferencing tools or other enterprise systems.

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Companies use learning platforms to onboard and train a number of different types of learners. Learner types include employees such as new hires, salespeople or managers. Learning platforms can also be used for training of partners such as resellers or franchisees, as well as customer training. What's more, members of external organizations can also be trained towards acquisition of required certifications in various disciplines. In addition to training that serves specific business requirements, high performing organizations use learning platforms to offer continuous learning opportunities to their employees for development and talent retention.

What Audiences Does This Pocket Guide Concern?

The ultimate pocket guide to learning platforms by Docebo is part of the free LMS Project Toolkit and can prove to be of extreme help to numerous audiences. Firstly, it can help you if you are responsible for researching, purchasing, or influencing others in your company on learning technology solutions. Additionally, you can use the free LMS Project Toolkit if you are trying to scale your learning programs globally in an efficient way, improve learning performance, and drive successful business outcomes.

Lastly, take advantage of the free LMS Project Toolkit if you are a manager, CLO, or work in departments such as procurement, IT, HR, or L&D and just want to know more about what learning technologies can do for your business and what you should be looking for in a solution. You can also use this guide to educate yourself, get insights from reputable research firms and thought leaders, share with others in your organization, and lead the effort to catalyze an informed decision that brings successful business outcomes.

18 Common Features Of Learning Platforms

  1. Course And Catalog Management
    With learning platforms you can easily create and manage courses and course catalogs to deliver more targeted learning to your users.
  2. Assessment And Testing Management
    Learning platforms also allow you to incorporate tests, exams, and other assessment tools into your learning programs to measure learning progress.
  3. Blended Learning
    Mix self-paced online courses with live, instructor-led training classes to accommodate various learning styles.
  4. Content Integration And Interoperability
    Support learning content packaged according to interoperable standards such as SCORM, AICC and xAPI (formerly Tin Can).
  5. Search
    Learning platforms provide functionality that allows learners to find specific courses or materials based on keywords, title, delivery format, and other identifiers.
  6. Tracking And Reporting
    Gather data that will provide insight into individual and group learning activity.
  7. Classroom Resource Management
    Learning platforms capture resources such as different locations, rooms, and facilities, and manage instructors and class lists for both classroom-based and online courses.
  8. Reporting And Analytics
    Gain insight into the effectiveness of your learning programs directly from your LMS.
  9. White-Labeling And Branding
    Learning platforms enable you to configure the system to match your brand’s look and feel.
  10. Certification Issue And Management
    Efficiently administer the ability to certify users after completing a course, learning plan or external activity, and to renew a certification upon expiration.
  11. Alerts and notifications
    Automate notifications for learners and administrators within the system, and integrate with email tools to receive external notifications within your workflow tools.
  12. Curriculum Tracking And Prerequisite Enforcement
    Using learning platforms you can build a complex curriculum and manage enrollment by enforcing prerequisite courses, certificates, or other criteria.
  13. Integrated eCommerce
    Allow users to purchase courses, either individual or bundled, and make secure online transactions through prominent payment gateways.
  14. Integrations With Authoring Tools
    Enforce compatibility with authoring tools to streamline the development and publishing process of course material.
  15. Mobile Learning
    Learning platforms allow learners to access content from their mobile device, both online and offline, at the point of need.
  16. Social Learning
    Learning platforms also enable learners and experts to join forces to create best practices and curate knowledge capital and allow learners to easily access information on-the-job.
  17. Experiential Learning And User-Generated Content
    Capture user-contributed knowledge by means of learning platforms, validate it through peer review, and share it across the organization.
  18. Skills And Competencies Management
    With learning platforms you can assess skill gaps and fill them with formal and informal learning interventions.

3 Benefits Of Learning Platforms

With the right learning management technologies in place, organizations can see powerful and long lasting results in numerous areas:

  1. Revenue
    Learning platforms allow you to get new employees up to speed faster so they are productive in less time. Additionally, they also can help you onboard partners and resellers to improve their ability to sell as well as retain customers by ensuring they use your products and services effectively.
  2. Employee Retention And Growth
    Using learning platforms people feel more comfortable and capable in their roles as well as more engaged and motivated to do their jobs and go beyond what is required. Learning becomes fun and engaging. Learning platforms also aid you in supporting employees’ career paths as well as in building the next generation of leaders.
  3. Brand
    Customers get more value from your products and your employees achieve compliance which ensures public confidence. Partners are aligned with the brand and have insight into values and vision. Consistency allows for a uniform experience across different company locations or stores.

Learning platforms constitute an indispensable tool for the deployment of online training courses. Not only do they provide significant benefits that have an impact on numerous areas of a company’s presence, but they also showcase functional features which can take online training to the next level.

Download the free LMS Project Toolkit by Docebo and gain further insight into how to build your business case to convince your executive team to invest in a learning platform. The free LMS Project Toolkit will also inform you regarding things to consider when looking for learning platform vendors.