5 LMS best practices
Published
March 1, 2019
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LMSs are software that distribute and manage learning material. LMS means Learning management system. They are naturally closely-related to authoring tool software which creates the learning courseware. However, the system of operation for both has been relatively stagnant for many years thanks to a lumpen, industry that eschews new efficiencies for the old, profitable way of doing things. The result is expensive, difficult-to-produce courseware that is not very effective at teaching. Fortunately, things are changing. Here are the current LMS best practices.
LMS Best Practices
a) Microlearning
Learners do not fare well when engaging with an LMS that delivers 40-minute eLearning lessons on a work computer. Fewer than one-quarter of learners complete courses and knowledge rarely embeds in all of the learners that engage with them. Best practice involves embracing microlearning which divides lessons into small, bite-sized topics. With learning taking the form of short bursts that take a few minutes to complete, it becomes much more effective.
b) Interactivity
For many a corporate LMS, interactivity resembles choosing a multiple-choice answer and clicking, “Next.” This is not engaging. Presenting knowledge in interesting ways and varying the way in which answers are selected makes a world of difference to engagement. This may sound complex to produce, but the best LMS will use interactive templates that require you to simply upload new learning content.
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c) Gamification
A step-up from interactivity for LMS best practices is to gamify everything. By adding layers of fun and competition, barriers to absorbing new knowledge come tumbling down.
d) Mobile Learning
It’s safe to assume that all workers own smartphones. Delivering training directly to them represents LMS best practice as they can perform training at their own convenience and at a pace that suits their learning propensities. By not forcing them to engage with eLearning on a work computer – which is regarded as a work tool – more mental hurdles to knowledge retention are overcome.
e) Spaced Repetition
This highly effective form of learning is enhanced by both mobile learning and microlearning and, as such, is a feature that is best practice for any LMS. By revising knowledge at increasing intervals, the likelihood of it being forgotten are overcome. A good LMS will remember which answers a learner got right and so only focus on those they got wrong. It’s not practical to repeat long eLearning courses.
If you’d like help with what is a lms or adding these LMS best practices to your learning system (whether standalone or as augmentation to your existing one), get in touch at enquiries@edapp.com. You can also learn about LMS companies of use SC Training (formerly EdApp)’s Mobile LMS and authoring tool for free by signing up here.
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Guest Author Daniel Brown
Daniel Brown is a senior technical editor and writer that has worked in the education and technology sectors for two decades. Their background experience includes curriculum development and course book creation.