Learning Management Systems Software

A learning management system (LMS) is a program for the documentation, administration, reporting, tracking, and delivery of training programs, educational courses, or learning and development programs. These learning and development software solutions were developed to identify learning and training gaps, with the help of reporting and analytical data. LMS software solutions focus on online learning delivery but support a variety of features, thereby acting as a platform for online content, including courses (synchronous and asynchronous based). The best LMS software contains tools that are developed for e-learning. The main objective of the software is to enable educational and businesses institutions to organize, administer, and control their learning processes. Learning management software also help create, distribute, and monetize goal-centered and original consent.

The features of a learning management software depend on its intended utilization. For instance, the features of an LMS software for teachers will obviously differ than the software for MNCs. Nonetheless, here are some features to be found in best learning management systems:

• Analytics and Reporting: Not every learning management software will provide analytics feature, but you must look for a software which does provide one. With this feature, your participant and course records will all be collected and stored securely. You can access this data any time and pull off important statistics to examine the quality of your learning/teaching practices.
• Self-Registration: Irrespective of whether you wish to organize a free training session for your team or you are selling content online, a self-registration page is required to facilitate access for all interested users. Without spending much time, you will get a list of qualified and interested participants, as well as know their interests and their background. In addition to this, the self-registration portal will also allow interested learners to have access to the desired content without your involvement in the process.
• Customization: LMS software must be scalable and flexible, indicating that users can easily implement their usual mode of grading and teaching. Users must be able to add new customers or learners planning to pursue their courses. This feature will also help make content more tailored, as well as allow automated changes that otherwise take time to complete.
• Course Databases: The main purpose of designing any learning management systems is to bring training materials together in one place, as well as to offer users the ability to access them. With course database, your learners will have 24/7 mobile and desktop access to your library along with a collaboration panel to exchange files.
• Course Roadmaps: LMSs are able to facilitate training with the help of this feature. Roadmaps are usually developed to help learners find their way fast. They are also used to organize data in intuitive segments to help learners find what they require.
• Online Workshops and Lectures: The unique feature that learning management systems provide is the arrangement of webinars and live courses for remote learners and users. In addition to this, users can also make a contribution and be efficiently rewarded for their performance.
• Storage: An ideal LMS system rarely has any storage restrictions and issues and allows unlimited downloads and sharing without the help of any third-party software and services.
• User feedback: Exchange of feedback by learners both with their peers and teachers is possible with this feature. Teachers might create discussion groups to allow learners to give feedback and increase the interaction. This feature helps teachers to identify what to add or remove from their courses, improve their work, know where students feel more comfortable, and understand what keeps them more engaged in the course.
• Online Assessment and Attendance Tracking: Learning management systems can allow teachers to create personalized courses for learners, which can be submitted and assessed online. LMS also allow them experiment with multiple question types such as multiple choice questions, one/multi-line answers, essays, drag-and-drop orders, yes or no questions, true or false, and fill in the gaps, and so on. Some LMSs also allow for attendance management wherein administrators can monitor the attendance and keep records of whether a student has arrived late, attended, or missed classes and courses.

Learning management software can be divided based on different factors such as deployment, code, use, and features. Let us have a detailed look at each of this segment.

Deployment

Based on the mode of deployment, LMS software can be divided into following categories:

• Web-based LMS Software: A number of LMS vendors prefer to develop online, web-based learning management systems, since they are easy to maintain. Users can access software online on their desktops, as these LMS solutions are hosted on servers managed by vendors. In addition to this, LMS vendors also maintain the software and keep upgrade it regularly to match changing requirements. However, web-based LMS has a monthly or annual fee associated, which is dependent on the number of online learners, the number of users, and the features that users require. In addition to this, LMS software may require additional charges for advanced features and services. While using a web-based LMS, online learners can access study material as well as download them for offline learning. Moreover, learners don’t have to be concerned about installing any software since the hosting is done by the vendor, who looks after updates, maintains the platform, and troubleshoots tech issues.
• Installed LMS Software: Installed LMs solutions are locally hosted. Therefore, learners can buy the software from the vendor or can install it on their computer after downloading it from the vendor’s website. In addition to this, learners are required to update the system, maintain it and take care of technological issues. Besides, learners require to pay a one-time fee to use the software. However, installed LMS appear to be time-consuming and is difficult to maintain. The main advantage of installed LMS is learners can personalize every aspect of the LMS and can locally store the data.

Code

On the basis of code, learning and development software solutions can be divided into the following types:

• Proprietary LMS Software: This type of LMS software requires a licensing fee per user with extra maintenance and subscription charges on a yearly basis. Some developers will offer you free trials where you are given the chance to try out the proprietary LMS for a few days. Once the trial period is over, developers will offer you a list of plans to select from. The advantages which comes with proprietary learning management programs is that they will consistently offer you with 24/7 customer support and service. In addition to this, a user will also have access to different added premium features, which were not available during the free trial period.
• Open Source LMS Software: This type of LMS does not need any fee since it distributed freely. With an open source learning platform, there is a bunch of developers updating the system and offering regular plugins, upgrades, and patches so that chances of any attack is reduced to zero. With open source LMS, users can create an eLearning course that will accommodate specific business needs. However, open source systems might be a bit complicated as compared to proprietary learning management systems, and won’t have the added features and bonuses offered to the proprietary users.

Use

Based on the use of software, learning management systems are segmented into corporate and academic LMS. The main difference between these two types of solutions is their focus on specific user’s requirements, be it academic or corporate learning needs. The fundamental features are the same, but they work differently since they are used for different purposes. While there is no specific kind of LMS developed for each industry separately, it might just be how the LMS is leveraged.

• Corporate LMS Software: This LMS is used for conducting meetings, online training, and conferences. In addition to this, corporate learning management systems are used for conducting training for employees, creating training material or meeting agenda, monitoring employee training performance and data analysis, post-training tests, assessments, and feedback about employees and trainer. These solutions are also used for re-scheduling training sessions to train weaker employees.
• Academic LMS Software: This LMS is used by educational institutions for conducting self-paced courses, live training, classes to teach learners, monitoring, and tracking individual performance. With this LMS, learners can pay fees, as well as book individual sessions.

Features

Based on different features offered, the LMS solutions are divided into the following main categories:

• Content Creation and Distribution: These LMS software solutions enable easy creation and distribution of study material. These systems offer handy multimedia boards and text editors. In addition to this, these solutions offer unlimited sharing possibilities and instant attachment. Also, these LMS software solutions comprise features such as neat categorization & search filters, import/export integrations, and open contribution boards for in-group editing. These solutions are preferred by agencies and coaches looking to sell online courses.
• Corporate Training: These solutions are used in corporate sector to do everything from recording and promoting top performers to vacancy distribution. Companies use them to organize online classes for remote workers, guarantee one-step access to training materials, track the progress of employees to reward and retain talented team members, and support and share a database of corporate files. From an employee’s point of view, this means that the company is using an impartial mechanism to see what they can do.
• Education Management: These are the standard learning management platforms used by coaches and teachers to conduct lectures on different topics, set up different grading mechanisms, and distribute content. With tools such as quizzes, web conferencing, and multimedia content, these LMS solutions are perfect for education management.

Learning management systems should be intuitive and easy to use. However, users face a lot of problems while them. Here is a list of possible issues that users might face while using learning and development software:

• Poor User Interface: A poor UI design can be the worst enemy. Sometimes, users may try to access a feature on the dashboard and cannot find the icon, realize that nothing is labeled properly, or the link is broken. This is all due to a poor UI. However, a platform that is user-friendly allow users to easily manage online training content, quickly generate LMS reports, or access the quiz creator. Such LMS solutions have a streamlined design that doesn’t require extensive training to master.
• Accessibility Issues: Many LMS solutions do not have mobile versions. Hence, on-the-go users cannot receive the same advantages as PC/laptop learners or access the online training materials. Hence, having a mobile version can be a lifesaving option for many users.
• Compatibility Issues: It might be a bit of a problem when your LMS only works with a handful of other software or apps. If you are one of the users facing compatibility issues. you need to work around them, invest in a new system that is compatible, or purchase replacements. Many times, users may also find that their current system also faces issues to migrate data to a new system, thereby giving rise to new issues.
• Lack of Technical Knowledge: The hallmark of the best LMS software is that virtually anybody can start using it immediately. It might need some demos or video tutorials to become familiar with the features. Most times, inexperienced or new users have trouble accessing online training materials or navigating the LMS. Therefore, it is better to select a platform that needs no prior programming knowledge or experience. Even users who are not tech-savvy are capable of using the basic functions with minimal training while using best learning management systems.

With a rising need to foster effective learning, industries all over the world are aiming to use learning management systems to cater to the training needs of a wide learner demographic and establish a robust platform for corporate training. Here are some benefits that LMS solutions can offer to users:

• Central Data Hub: Rather than of having your study material stored over different devices and hard drives, you can store all of your data in one location. This decreases the risk of losing essential data and makes it simpler to access it. Every team member can also access the data if you are using a cloud-based LMS, thanks to the fact that the data is stored on the remote server.
• Efficient Management: An ideal LMS software allows complete, effective, and overall control of administration and communication with teachers, trainers, and learners. The software allows efficient creation of groups and courses as well as management of registrations/sign ups. The roles of students, tutors, administrators, and supervisors can all be managed on the LMS. In addition to this, reminders, notifications, and messages to users can be easily administered. The platform can also be used as a powerful tool that allows the management and creation of content in an intuitive and simple way. Students can share and upload projects or study material with their fellow learners and teachers as well.
• Performance and Progress Tracking: The best learning management systems give you the ability to track learners’ progress and ensure that they are meeting their performance goals. For example, if a learner is finding it difficult to complete a course, you can give them additional resources to enhance their performance. Most LMS software solutions have analytics and reporting tools that also allow course seekers to highlight areas where they are facing trouble. If you find that a number of your online learners are facing issue throughout a particular subject, for instance, you can assess the content and make changes if required. Learning management systems also allow the creation, customization, and downloading of detailed reports summarizing the completion of work, progress of learners, and time taken, among other things, which allows easy evaluation of progress and performance either individually or as a group.
• Cost Saving: Learning management systems also allow users to save on expenses such as training site rentals, instructor travel costs, and offering printed study materials. As, the course seekers are learning online, which means that you can save a hefty amount. For instance, you do not have to worry about booking a hotel room for your instructor and printing out 500 manuals, because all the data your online learners need is present in the LMS.
• Time Saving: LMS solutions can even lower online training times because they give learners only the data they need in an organized and direct manner. Rather than having to sit through a lengthy one-hour course, online learners can just click on online modules they require and learn about the subject they want in less time. They can also test their knowledge by taking online quizzes or exams, participating in interactive simulations and scenarios, and watching eLearning videos that help simplify complex tasks or processes.
• Compliance Regulations: If your company wants to adhere to changing compliance rules, then a learning management system can be a precious tool. Compliance laws change frequently, and modifying a traditional course to reflect these changes can be a time-consuming process. On the other hand, using a corporate LMS software offers you the power to add new compliance rules to your online training course within no time. As such, your learners can always be aware of the newest compliance regulations so that your company can avoid costly fines. In addition to this, you have the ability to ensure that every worker is on the same page when it comes to understanding company policies, which reduces employee turnover rates and increases customer satisfaction.
• Multimedia Learning: LMS platforms allow educational institutions and businesses to create multimedia learning content, which is practical and comprehensive, using images, video, text, and audio. All these multimedia content serve as great tools in learning new information and skills. Learners can also communicate with their teachers or trainers and their classmates through online forums and chat platforms, thereby creating a more interactive, collaborative, personal, and attractive learning environment.
• Enhanced Communication: An ideal LMS facilitate collaboration and communication between people, whether it be teachers and students or employees and administrators, or between all users of a software with a permanently open communication channel. The software facilitates the overall management of communication including forums, messages, emails, and agenda. LMS software provides an environment where the users can find all the vital or important data in just one screen.
• Customization: LMS platforms also allow organizations or institutions to customize the UI to match their corporate identify. The corporate brand logo, taglines, or images can be added to the platform and different features and elements can be customized to the organization or company’s taste. LMs can also offer multi language or monolingual platforms. In addition to this, different user IDs and portals can be created without the requirement for additional installations, and can function with web access simultaneously. The possibilities of personalization are endless while LMS solutions.
• Sales and Commercialization: Lastly, LMS can generate profit for institutions and businesses, thanks to the sale of online courses through eCommerce. This sale can be automated and managed on the platform and paid for by bank transfer or credit card. Students can pay easily online after signing up to a course. There is no limit to the number of courses a learner can sign up to, and no limit to the increment in courses provided and student numbers.

The changing trends and technology will make training more effective. Here are a few trends that you have already started shaping the future of these software applications:

• LMS for Recruitment: This is a trend that applies particularly to talent and corporate management LMSs, which are launching modules for automated applicant evaluation and efficient recruitment. If you are on the hiring panel, you can use an LMS that pre-selects good applicants on your behalf, and assist you create a customized onboarding approach for each of them.
• Web Conferencing: LMS solutions are being increasingly used as a webinar tool and will become mainstream in coming years. Web conferencing makes it possible to teach and connect to remote teams, and even breaks the stigma of eLearning being seen as “the less productive way.”
• Commercialization: Although LMS solutions were not particularly developed to let you monetize your courses, a rising number of popular LMS programs are introducing marketing and eCommerce modules. This means that you can easily market and sell the course you have created, and ideally get paid using the very same platform.
• VR and AR: Augmented reality is an eLearning trend that has been around in the education sector for quite some time and is now making its way into corporate learning as well. Virtual reality is also turning out to be more common, with many companies blending AR and VR into similar initiatives. Companies are now looking at VR as an essential solution and are using effective strategies to improve the VR experience. Many organizations consider mobile, on-demand learning to be one form of just-in-time learning, which is precious for employees who require specific information quickly. AR can take this type of learning to next level and impact the LMS market in a positive way.

Learning management software price normally depends on the beneficiaries it targets or the features it offers. There are different systems where all nonprofit and education courses are offered for free, while corporate ones come with a fee. However, the pricing module divides the LMS solutions in the following categories:

• Small-Business Friendly: These LMS solutions are suitable for SMEs and on-budget institutions and provides a pro plan at affordable prices.
• Freemium: These programs provide a flexible pricing plan adjusted to teams of all sizes. In addition to this, different paid plans are also offered by these solutions varying as per the features and number of users.
• Subscriptions Software: These LMS solutions provide quote-based pricing with plans devised based on the number of users and your feature requirements.
• Free Systems: These types of LMS solutions are free to use and are developed to suffice the needs of students and teachers. In addition to this, they also offer paid packages for educational institutions and schools.

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