I recently attended a project workshop where the purpose was to discuss the high level requirements for the procurement of new Learning Management Systems and to plan the project going forward. At the meeting a stakeholder asked me to explain the difference between a Learning Management System (LMS) and a Learning Content Management System (LCMS). It is true that the lines between these systems are becoming increasingly blurred as an LMCS can add LMS functionalities, and the same can be said of an LMS. In other words they can overlap in their capabilities. The purpose of this post is to explain and [...]

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Thousands of trainers right now are thinking about investing in a training platform, or learning management system, to automate, maximize, leverage and get the most ROI out of their training activities as possible. However, before you start spending time reviewing systems and talking to various vendors, you should ask yourself a few questions to identify your current and near future needs.  A small amount of needs analysis, as shown below, will allow you to more easily streamline your research process and quickly identify your system requirements.

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We have just added a new section to the site where we will begin to add content on Learning Management Systems (LMS). If you aren’t familiar with LMS’s take a look. These systems provide organizations with the ability to better manage the learning process. This includes the ability to track who has learned what and should allow monitoring of results and even follow-up discussions. In the coming weeks we’ll add posts that cover the topic in greater detail. Our goal will be to start with LMS’s and evolve to the point we consider means and methods for measuring and assuring [...]

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A Learning management system (LMS) in the workplace can be vitally important. They work by creating a virtual work environment for employees, which can ultimately streamline business practices and employee training, among other attributes. But there is also a competitive advantage to using learning management systems. “75 percent of organizations believe knowledge management plays a significant role in improving competitive advantage,” a KPMG study, cited by learning solutions company elementK, said. By using the knowledge they have learned from taking performance improvement tests on LMS’, employees can bring their companies many extra benefits than if they didn’t use the system. [...]

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There are four important things to consider when establishing a learning management system for your business. Factor #1: Cost Implementing an LMS at your business must be done with careful thought. “You need to have your homework done ahead of time so as to make the implementation process as trouble-free as possible,” Amit Gautam said on The Upside Learning Solutions Blog, which discusses “innovation, design, development, and trends in the Learning Solutions domain.” As a first step, Gautam suggests creating a team to carry out the plans for starting a learning management system. “Early on, it is very important to [...]

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Learning management systems (LMS) are used to connect students, parents and educators in the classroom. A system could allow students and parents to see their grades from home, or it could allow educators to tutor their students virtually via chat room or video chat. Although there are many different possibilities with LMS’, the purpose remains the same: bringing students and teachers together to learn. How they are used in schools To have an effective online education system or eLearning system, the National Education Association suggests teachers have a Learning Management System (LMS) available. This is so “there is a shared [...]

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  There are many learning management systems (LMS) out there, but knowing that there are specific software programs tailored to different grade levels may benefit your school. For example, Haiku LMS is geared towards a K-12 audience, whereas other platforms might target college students. “The Haiku platform is very attractive, and extremely user-friendly, which makes it appealing for young users in primary and secondary schools,” Susan Smith Nash, an elearning trainer and educator said on Haiku’s testimonials. Personalizing Important Features Haiku also supports community-driven software, meaning teachers help and plan new features. This way, the features fit what is needed [...]

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Learning Management Systems Training is all too often underutilized at businesses, particularly at small businesses. This is a function of smaller budgets. Given the smaller budgets, it is essential that education and training programs are followed closely to assure they are delivering the expected results. Used well, the LMS becomes a great selling tool for additional training resources. Before considering what an LMS is and what it should do, let’s first consider why a company should have one. A business will take on initiatives that promise a good return on investment (ROI). Training – like any other business activity – [...]

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You manage a training function and you have decided to utilize a learning management system (LMS). Great choice. Now you need to figure out where to start. Regardless of whether you are using a home-grown system made in Excel or a database, or if you are using a commercial program, the initial steps are straight forward. Thinking through those steps should help you better understand the value of the LMS. A recommended approach might be:     If you are using a commercial program, review the entire program and decide which features you will use at first, and which you [...]

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