LMS Features: What To Look For In A Learning Managent System

LMS Features: What To Look For In A Learning Managent System
Summary: Is your current LMS making the grade, or failing to meet to expectations? In this article, I’ll highlight 10 overlooked LMS features that you should consider.

10 Overlooked LMS Features To Consider When Choosing A Learning Management System

Learning Management Systems are supposed to make your life easier by centralizing your data and deploying online training resources on a global scale. However, this requires finding an LMS that suits all your needs and falls within your online training budget. Do you know what you need from your next LMS, or have you left some essential LMS features off your list? Here are 10 often overlooked LMS features to consider.

1. Data Migration

You probably have a sizable collection of Big Data stored on your existing LMS or hard drive. But are you able to move all that valuable information to your new LMS? An effective Learning Management System should support a broad range of formats. Furthermore, it should make the data migration process as simple and straightforward as possible.

2. Social Media Support

Online training courses missing that crucial social media component are doing a great disservice to their corporate learners. An LMS should give you the ability to integrate social learning tools into your online training strategy. For example, corporate eLearning blogs and social media groups that allow corporate learners to interact with their peers directly, as well as tracking tools that help you monitor learner engagement and participation.

3. Built-In Gamification Tools

Games make the world go ‘round. Well, maybe that’s overstating it a bit. However, gamification does give you the power to motivate and inspire your corporate learners. This yields a broad range of benefits, such as an increase in knowledge retention and online training ROI. A top-notch LMS should feature built-in gamification tools. For example, badges, points, and leaderboards that appeal to corporate learners’ competitive nature.

4. Brand Integration

Every piece of the puzzle must reflect your brand image in order to create cohesion. Thus, you need to look for an LMS that allows you to integrate your logo, color scheme, and other essential branding elements. This usually falls into the category of customization. Are you able to adjust the layout based your corporate learners’ needs? Can you add your own icons and watermarks? These are all things to consider if you want to accurately convey your brand image through your online training materials.

5. Customizable Reporting

Most LMS platforms come with pre-built reports that cover a variety of metrics, from learner engagement to completion rates. However, the LMS you ultimately choose should have customizable reporting features. This allows you to focus on online training initiatives that matter most to your organization. For example, social or informal learning activities that enrich the online training experience or specific compliance online training courses that may be crucial in the event of an audit. Of course, the LMS should also be equipped with the most common LMS reports and analytics, such as learner performance and progress tracking.

6. Collaborative Learning Tools

Some of the most beneficial learning opportunities come from peer-based resources, such as online discussions, social media groups, group collaboration projects, and other collaborative activities. But can your new LMS handle these peer-to-peer interactions? Do they provide corporate learners with the video conferencing or Project Management tools they need to communicate with ease? If not, you may end up spending additional online training resources on third-party tools to meet modern learners' requirements. For instance, an external webinar platform to host live online training events that boost active participation rates. At the very least, the LMS should support collaborative plug-ins or add-ons.

7. Personalized Learning Paths

The secret to successful online training experiences is personalization. Your corporate learners need online training tools and resources that address their specific gaps and goals, instead of “one size fits all” online training materials that miss the mark. Some LMS platforms allow you to create personalized learning paths and non-linear course maps. For example, corporate learners are able to choose online training activities and assessments based on their own performance gaps. Thus, they have the power to continually improve without having to keep up with their peers.

8. Intuitive User Interface

All these LMS features may be rendered useless if you don’t know how to use the LMS. The Learning Management System should have an intuitive user interface that’s easy to use and meshes well with your eLearning team’s talents. For example, dashboards that give you a general overview of your online training course. This is one of the key LMS features to consider when you’re testing out the tool during a free trial or demo.

9. Multiplatform Accessibility

Are your corporate learners able to access the online training course on any device? Do they have the chance to download online training resources when Internet access isn’t an option? A truly effective LMS should be responsive and multiplatform-friendly. You can create a master layout of your online training course that automatically adjusts to suit the device. Likewise, your corporate learners can get the information they need anytime, anywhere, whether they prefer good old-fashioned PCs or the latest smartphones. Furthermore, everyone should be able to enjoy the same online training experience and reap the same rewards.

10. Support Services

Does the LMS vendor offer free phone support? Are you able to reach them via email when you encounter an issue? Or are their support services limited to an online FAQ? If there’s any doubt, ask the LMS vendor directly about the assistance they offer after you purchase the tool. They may be quick to answer emails and chat over the phone beforehand, but will they extend the same courtesy once you’ve invested in the software?

These LMS features are just a few to keep on your radar. You’ll probably have to extend the list to include your organization’s must-haves. The key is to choose a tool that aligns with your eLearning team’s skill sets and allows you to provide personalized online training experiences.