Important Things To Consider About Your LMS Tools Customization
Do a thorough walkthrough of the tools and interfaces in your chosen LMS. Does everything work as you would expect? The more creative your software provider is, the more likely they will be to work with you on modifying your system and creating custom tools and interfaces. The more customized your LMS is, the less time you will spend convincing it to do your bidding. Expertus put together the free eBook LMS Buyer's Kit to share their rich experience regarding LMS tools customization.
1. Can The Learner Homepage Be Used For Training Programs And Classes?
There are lots of ways you can spruce up the learner homepage of your LMS. This is where employees, partners, and customers land after they log into the LMS. The page usually includes information about assigned tasks and classes, but you can add more information if you like. The homepage is prime real estate. You can use it to market your learning programs. the
There is a plethora of ways you can use your homepage to promote your learning programs. First, put your training department logo in your homepage. Second, add a section or banner that promotes upcoming classes or special events. Next, include graphics or charts that visually show where each learner is in their learning process, what they’ve completed, what’s next and what’s required or optional.
Your LMS may even allow learners to register for classes from the homepage using dynamic links. Ask your software provider for help.
Create a Twitter feed for your company’s training! Embed the feed in the learner homepage, so that learners see the latest news from your training team. You can also achieve a successful LMS tools customization by using the homepage to communicate company-related news. You can even embed stock quotes. Google Gadgets offers a free stock quote tool that can be placed on any website.
Have you considered placing a link on the homepage that leads to answers to common LMS technical issues?. You can also, embed videos of your company leadership discussing pertinent company issues.
The possibilities for customizing your learner homepage are endless! Just be sure not to advertise more than a couple of pieces of information at a time. The LMS homepage should be clean, well-designed and appealing to your learners for optimal LMS tools customization.
2. Have Your LMS Software Provider Walk You Through A Few Learning Sessions From An Average User’s Perspective.
How tech-savvy is your average learner? During these walkthroughs, do your best to view the LMS from the eyes of one of your users. What areas are confusing? How can you address these challenges?
There are certain points you need to evaluate during the walkthrough and Expertus created the free eBook LMS Buyer's Kit to present all of them. Some examples include:
- Think about how complicated the log-in process is. Is the homepage self-explanatory and user-friendly for the computer-challenged? Evaluate how easy it is to search for courses and launch them.
- Take a course in every format available. In other words, watch a training video, play an interactive game, launch an electronic document or try a multi-module course, both from a desktop computer and a mobile device.
- The registration process needs to be easy enough for learners across your enterprise to register for classes.
- Take an assessment test and evaluate the procedure. It has to make sense and should include easy-to-answer questions. Also, the average user should be able to run a transcript of their completed courses.
- Take a very thorough tour of the administrator dashboard, commonly known as the system’s back-of-house. Does the dashboard confuse you? Your admins are going to spend a lot of time there. Make sure the dashboard makes sense, and has streamlined workflows.
3. Ask Your LMS Software Provider About The Regular Tasks They Would Recommend For Their Administrators.
Ask your LMS software provider what administrator tasks will be necessary to maintain the Learning Management System. This is an ideal discussion to have while you are doing the walkthrough of the administrator dashboard. The free LMS Buyer's Kit provides you with a basic set of questions that will aid you in the process. Will your admins be responsible for uploading course content, or is that the responsibility of the LMS software provider? What about the LMS implementation process? Will admins play a role in uploading data? Have your LMS software provider handle this if at all possible. Uploads can be very time-consuming.
4. If You Are Offering Courses That Have Multiple Modules Or Sections, Ask Your LMS Software Provider To Show You An Example Of A Multi-Module Course.
You have likely seen a multi-module course before. They typically start with a table of contents that lists multiple modules. Once you click on and complete the first module, you are brought back to the table of contents where you click on and complete the next module.
This procedure might be slightly different depending on the LMS. They can include multiple assessments and a variety of eLearning content. Splitting up a long course into multiple modules allows your employees to quit the course after completing a module, and come back to complete the next module once they have time.
It is important that the navigation for multi-module courses be clear and easy to understand. Have your LMS software provider show you such a course. Will the average user be able to navigate without a lot of instruction? What modifications would make navigation easier? These are questions you should ask yourself as they will drive a successful LMS tools customization.
No company is the same as another one, so not modifying your LMS to fit your company’s needs is not a good way to go. LMS tools customization is not a minor issue. Always keep in mind that one of the most fundamental things in any LMS implementation is the ability to convey your company’s needs to your LMS software provider so they can optimize your LMS accordingly.
Download the free eBook LMS Buyer's Kit and get informed on important questions to help you prioritize your company’s LMS selection needs. The LMS Buyer’s Kit will additionally educate you on convincing arguments you can use to secure LMS implementation funding.
