E-learning has been around for more than two decades now, and with the rise in digital learning content, the importance of Learning Management Systems (LMS) is also increasing. In fact, in 2021, 98% of large companies were using an LMS to deliver their training; 96% of midsize companies were doing the same; and 80% of small companies were also following suit, according to the latest training industry magazine report. Most of these companies use LMSs to support their employees’ learning throughout the employee development lifecycle, mainly in areas such as:
● Upskilling and reskilling
● Compliance training
● On-boarding and pre-boarding
● Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging
● Certifications and more
LMS for Corporates
There are many reasons why Learning Management Systems (LMS) are considered essential for e-learning programs and are being used all over the world, by many organizations. Companies of all sizes need some form of training and learning management system. It’s no wonder that Learning Management Systems are becoming so popular — these systems manage the business-critical work of training employees, customers, and partners/resellers. They provide an easier way for organizations to manage their learners’ needs in one central place, helping them learn the skills they need to do their jobs better.
When employed by corporations, LMSs help employees stay up to date on company policies and best practices and obtain the necessary industry, functional, or state-mandated certifications. Learning Management Systems (LMS) can be used by companies to provide learning programs in a variety of formats to large groups of employees as well as assess their progress and provide testing for company compliance. Overall, they enable companies to create, manage, track, and report on employee training.
Not only that but Learning Management Systems ensure that your employees are learning the skills they need. Modern LMSs use artificial intelligence and data analysis to accurately assess your employees’ current skill gap as well as their skill needs for the future. LMSs today are also enhanced with a variety of powerful tools that help increase your learners’ engagement. These tools vary from gamification tools such as badges, levels, leader boards, etc. to social collaboration features that enable the building of discussion forums and communities of practice. Learn more…
These value-adding features of LMSs are why most companies already have at least one LMS or even several ones in the case of many larger organizations. This fact helps to explain why the market for Learning Management Systems is one of the oldest and most mature of all the various HR technology platforms.
LMS for Educational Institutions
Learning Management Systems have brought about significant developments in the education field as well, particularly in the facilitation of distance learning. It has made education more accessible and has allowed for new methods to be incorporated into the learning process. In the world of education, an LMS can be used by schools and universities to distribute course content, monitor student performance, and even conduct virtual classrooms. In fact, as of 2020, according to the 2020 Capterra report, 64% of K-12 schools and 36% of higher education colleges and universities have been using an LMS.
One of the best advantages that Learning Management Systems can offer educational institutions is the ability to reduce time spent on administrative tasks and focus more time on quality teaching, research, and counselling. Owing to that, even before the pandemic, almost 89% of higher education faculty already used some of the features of an LMS mainly to optimize administrative tasks such as posting curricula, collecting and grading assignments, and maintaining a continuous channel of communication with their students.
More importantly, there is increased evidence that using an LMS increases the effectiveness of the learning process as LMSs introduce new ways of driving student interaction with the learning content. LMSs enable faculty and teachers to present their courses entirely or partially in digital format leveraging tools such as scenario-based learning, simulations, and gamification, all of which have proven empirical evidence to enhance students’ comprehension and application of the subject matter. Moreover, LMSs enable educational institutions to provide their learning courses in a digital format both synchronously and asynchronously, thereby expanding the reach of their student base and reaching out to students who would have been otherwise marginalized.
As a result of this long list of benefits that educational institutions gain from using an LMS, more and more academic institutions are working towards adopting an LMS and integrating more of its features in their learning processes, so much so that the global LMS market is projected to grow to $40.95 billion by 2029, at a CAGR of 14.2%, with the academic segment accounting for the larger part of this growth. Is your educational institution lagging behind? Then maybe it’s about time to look into an LMS.
What to Look for in an LMS?
There are many different types of LMSs available, but there are some basic features that you should look for in any system you choose:
-You should be able to create courses in a variety of formats, including HTML, Flash, PDF, Word, and Excel.
-You should be able to upload your own learning material and make it available to learners.
– You should be able to manage learners’ grades and receive notifications when a learner needs extra support or needs to do make-up work.
-You should be able to set up assessments such as quizzes and tests so that learners can receive feedback on how they are doing.
-You should be able to track learners’ progress over time and provide feedback on their performance so that you can help them achieve their learning goals.
Conclusion
Learning Management Systems have undergone many changes over the years. They are becoming more and more sophisticated while at the same time, they are getting easier to use. With all of this in mind, it’s safe to say that LMSs will continue to be a core element in any successful online program. If you are driving e-learning in your organization, or want to deliver life-changing teaching and learning experiences at your institution, then you need an LMS to support and measure your objectives. If you don’t have an LMS, it’s time to start looking into one. If you are working with one now, take a look at how it’s performing. Maybe it has room for some upgrades. Either way, the learning management system is a critical component of any e-learning program.
How We Can Help
At XpertLearning, we work with the best and most popular LMS software providers like Cornerstone OnDemand, Sumtotal systems, Totara, Blackboard, and OpenLMS to give you a one-stop solution, great pricing options and excellent customer support. Contact us for a demo!
-XpertLearning
