Whenever there’s a discussion on different kinds of Learning Management Systems, there will obviously be the inevitable point of Learning Management System features. For any training module, a seamless LMS is pivotal, but not everyone makes use of LMS as it needs to be.
In the world of mobile and app development, the need for a proper LMS is more, as the rapid changes in technology make it highly essential for staying relevant in the competition. Developers should be flexible enough to get a learning curve every time an opportunity presents itself.
Learning Management System (LMS)- What is it?
A Learning Management System, ideally, is a software solution that empowers companies to deliver amazing training and learning experiences. An impeccable LMS should be able to govern the training processes and programs, taking care of two very important functions-
- Brings to the fore a server that makes creating, managing, and proper delivery of training modules with the data of every individual’s performance.
- Has an interface that works through a browser or app, and can be accessed by everyone.
Types of LMS Systems
Learning management system software have quite a number of different types. Here are a few of them, with brief comparisons between them-
- Free vs. Commercial
Free LMS systems are open-sourced products that allow creating courses for different individuals. It can be deployed easily to be accessed through any e-learning ecosystem.
A commercial LMS product is specifically designed for organizations, colleges, or other educational institutions. The commercial intent behind such a solution entails certain costs behind them.
- Enterprise vs. Individual
An enterprise learning solution is usually tailor-made for large organizations, that have a workforce of more than 500 employees.
An individual LMS offers a number of features, but on a scale that depends on the requirements of individuals. A small organization can perfectly use this learning solution.
- Cloud-based vs. Installed
A cloud-based LMS allows access to learning resources from any device, even remotely as everything is stored on an off-site server. Multiple features can be included on a cloud-based LMS
An installed LMS is a genuine product that is hosted on a server as per the organization’s requirements. For a bog organization, installing specific servers can incur more costs to the organization.
Must-Have Features of LMS
Okay, so now that there is awareness about some types of LMS software, how to select a learning management system?
To answer this, let’s dig into the features that are absolutely essential for a result-oriented LMS.
Here goes-
1- Easy to Use
A simple, intuitive interface is the first and foremost requirement for a proper LMS. It should be pretty easy to use for most users, as it’s not going to make much sense if there had to be training on learning to use the system to actually get trained for organizational functions.
No enterprise will want to spend extra hours educating its employees on how to use the LMS system appropriately. An easy-to-use LMS is critically important.
2- Personalized Experiences
A big feature of capable LMS products is how they adapt to their users’ requirements and lead them to what they are in need of. The training modules should be easy to access, and relevant to what is required.
Being aware of a learner’s training history will be helpful for any LMS to guide the users properly. Personalized learning is a feature that will take any LMS system a long way.
3- Tracking Progress
With a feature that allows the tracking of progress, being aware of a learner’s progress makes it easy for professionals to formulate a further learning strategy as per individual learner’s performance.
Performance tracking also brings an awareness of those points where more work is needed, leading to an efficient training process overall.
4- Mobile Support
Mobile learning has become a pretty common term these days, where learning is delivered via a mobile device. While a responsive design that adjusts to varying screen sizes is surely a requisite, it’s just the beginning.
With increased mobile users, the learning delivered on a mobile format tends to be more convenient and interactive, comfortably divided into smaller chunks for better learning. If the LMS you choose has mobile support, you will surely be on the right track.
5- Automatic Notifications & Alerts
Even if a learning system is loaded with features, it’s going to be very difficult for the mentors to keep a track of everyone’s progress and achievements. With an automated alerts feature, there can be timely notifications whenever a learner completes a certain training set, making it pretty easy to track regular processes through updates.
It’s important to understand that the final choice of LMS features will largely depend on the kind of requirements that you have, and they can surely vary from the ones that have been highlighted above. Get in touch with Consagous Technologies if you require cutting-edge learning management system software.
Get Free Consultation
Let our extended team be part of your journey and help you.