This is a guest post by Ila Mishra from WizIQ. If you’d like to contribute to our blog, feel free to mail us at [email protected].
The rise of digital technology has brought a paradigm shift in every industry, and the fast-changing world of education and training is a testimony to this! Online instruction has made learning more accessible and flexible. It’s also helped create better learning outcomes by deepening student engagement with the material.
Learning management systems (LMS) play an integral role in this process. These software platforms are typically deployed in classrooms and organizational training settings and are used to administer, document, track and report online courses and training modules.
In this capacity, an LMS software plays a key role in helping instructors prepare and deliver online lessons and track learner progress. Today’s most advanced LMS platforms, however, have features that extend well beyond such core functions – features that make the learning process more immersive, more social, and ultimately, more effective.
The importance of an LMS and the benefits it offers
Both the world of business and the realm of education are more competitive, than ever and LMS platforms are playing a key role in this regard. The LMS market is a multi-billion dollar industry that has experienced a 25-percent annual growth in the recent years.
Higher learning institutions use online learning to deepen engagement and improve classroom performance. Businesses use online training to improve employee performance and develop internal talent resources.
Some of the essential benefits of a modern LMS system include:
Learning at your own pace
LMS platforms offer lessons in a central repository that can be accessed at any time. Those who have already mastered material can work ahead, while those who need additional help can always access it.
Social learning
An advanced LMS contains integrated social functions that allow learners to collaborate closely and draw inspiration from each other. News feeds, shareable content, chat functions and other LMS features help reinforce social bonds in a learning environment.
Reduction of cost
By deploying an LMS, organizations can eliminate travel costs and materials expenditures. Scheduling seminars online rather than in physical locations saves money and offers workers greater flexibility.
Advanced analytics
Instructors should harness the power of data analysis to learn more about how students learn, ultimately improving classroom performance.
A personalized learning experience
By using an LMS, instructors can design courses that are tailored to meet student preferences and engage with individual learning styles. It’s important to remember that personalization is key to success.
Greater efficiency
By automating processes and keeping educational content stored centrally and distributed anywhere, anytime, an LMS offers extraordinary efficiency benefits. Instead of spending money printing new course materials, you can keep this information stored digitally.
Taking advantage of these benefits requires selection of the right LMS platform and the know-how to fully maximize its features. To help illustrate how to accomplish this, let’s take a closer look at some tips for getting the most value from your learning management system.
How to make the most of your LMS
A full-featured LMS offers myriad benefits for learners. Yet delivering these benefits consistently requires that you unlock the full potential of your system. To help you do this, consider the following
tips for effective deployment and use:
#1 Ensure that all users are comfortable with the LMS experience
Deeper engagement with learning material is a core benefit of online instruction. Yet, if your users aren’t proficient with the system, or dislike using it because they aren’t sufficiently trained – their performance will lag.
To prevent this, make sure you emphasize the benefits that come with LMS integration; let learners know that an LMS offers them greater accessibility and that eLearning has been linked to better educational outcomes. You should also reassure them that, should they fall behind,a robust support structure will be in place to help them get the most from LMS instruction.
#2 Create a detailed roadmap or blueprint establishing LMS-assisted goals
In order to get the most from your system, it’s important to have an overarching strategy for its use in place before you begin implementation. Speak with learners, instructors, administrators and other stakeholders.
Find out what they hope to achieve through the integration of LMS technology. As part of your blueprint, establish milestones to be reached.
This blueprint may be adjusted as your instruction needs evolve.
#3 Integrate mobile and video
Today learners use their smartphones for everything. Statistics show that the amount of time people spend on mobile devices continues to increase while time spent with all other media is decreasing. Additionally, research has shown that students are especially engaged when LMS content is delivered via mobile device.
To be truly accessible, educators and trainers must tailor their approach to serve students’ needs and expectations. Consider embedding relevant videos from YouTube into courses, or use your LMS to record, add and archive video. You should also choose and LMS that is optimized for mobile content
delivery.
#4 Break material down into Easily Digestible Chunks
Information overload can lead to lowered morale, confused learners and poor progress. By employing the principles of microlearning – an educational approach that emphasizes presenting material in small, specific sequences — you can help ensure that everyone stays on target.
Focus on delivering one learning objective at a time. Use an LMS to deliver short, two to three-minute videos and simple graphics representing real-world scenarios. By doing so, you can help ensure that knowledge is transferred and retained.
#5 Use measurable goals and metrics
Set up small targets for learners to hit and track their performance. By giving learners small wins, positive reinforcement is promoted, and that’s an essential part of the learning process.
#6 Create lesson plans for LMS instruction
You can divide these into two sections: Plans for everyone and plans customized for specific people. One example: A corporation can design a general lesson plan that outlines how training will be delivered to all new hires, while separate plans can be created for those working within individual departments.
#7 Track your learners’ progress and use data-rich insights to tailor instruction
An advanced LMS allows administrators to track learner progress, gather real-time feedback and adjust offerings on the fly. You can monitor and gauge your learner’s attention span
The Takeaway
An LMS can serve as an invaluable tool for the education of students and training of employees. To get the most out of your system, it’s important to choose an advanced platform with cutting-edge features.
It’s just as important, however, to fully maximize your LMS once it has been deployed. By following the tips outlined above, you can help ensure that you are drawing the maximum amount of value from your LMS.
3 thoughts on “7 Ways to Use Your LMS Effectively”
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