There has been exponential growth in e-learning in the present era. Online learning is the current trend. To deliver e-learning courses efficiently and effectively, educators and institutions use a web-based technology called LMS.
A learning Time management system (LMS) is a software application that helps create and deliver all the aspects of the e-learning process, that administrates, analyzes, monitors, and develops the educational course, online employee training platform programs, or learning and development programs. In simple words, LMS is the portal or application where educators or educational institutions register and can configure their courses with documents, articles, videos, or even live sessions. LMS also provides students or learners to register, enroll and learn these pre-configured courses as and when they want to or attend live sessions. The LMS gives a better platform for student registration, curriculum management, skill-development management, and reporting features. Learning management systems are designed to identify the training and learning gaps. With an LMS, educators or organizations can gather all information in one place and make them available to all learners with just one click.
Using LMS makes the life of educators and trainers much easier as it helps create courses and study materials, identify and assess the individual and group learning goals, track downs the progress, and monitor the learning curve. Now, with LMS, educators can create a different group of learners according to their location, job, or learning goals. With LMS, it is easy for educators to assign a simple course, tests, assignments, or a whole series of learning materials known as the learning path and easily tracks each learner’s progress to encourage the learners to develop and achieve their learning faster.
Given the current situation, higher educational institutions and corporates are leveraging LMS. The basic purpose of a learning management system is knowledge management, that is, the collection, organization, sharing, and analysis of knowledge. The LMS includes a range of practical elements such as rubrics, educator-supported learning, discussion forums, and the use of lesson plans. Nonetheless, an organization can establish specific roles for strategic training programs. The learning management systems support a variety of internal and external corporate applications, comprising customer training, partner training, member training, employee development and retention, compliance training, and sales promotions.
In the present time where people prefer to connect online than in physical meetings, online teaching and training have increased its popularity. The most efficient way of e-learning is by using learning management systems, which become popular for their futuristic and far-fetching features, such as:
Easy management of courses, users, and roles – With LMS, the educator or the organization can create well-organized and professional course content. The educator can add all course-related materials along with quizzes and assignments in any video, text, or image format. Likewise, the organization easily manages the data of the users and also can monitor the access, and performance of the learners and educators.
Provides user feedback – Educators or organizations can collect the feedback from learners through feedback forms and group discussions. Educators can improve their performance with valid feedback from learners. Similarly, feedback from learners helps educators identify the mistakes and update the syllabus of the course.
Online assessment – Educators can create online assessment tests in multiple formats such as one/multi-line answers; multiple choice answers; essay questions; fill in the gaps; and agreement scale questions. Learners can readily access and submit the tests online.
Learning Analytics- LMS often includes dashboards for tracking learners’ or users’ progress. The details of the rate of completion, attendance percentage of students, and probability of success. Using these metrics helps moderators to better understand the gaps in learner knowledge.
Synchronous and asynchronous learning – Learners can opt for live courses through webinars or self-paced courses through pre-recorded videos, and PDF study materials. Learning Management Systems provides the opportunity for educators and corporates to create blended learning experiences for learners. Blended learning is a combination of a traditional chalkboard classroom approach with e-learning tools, and is more effective and interesting than a simple physical classroom experience.
There are many advantages to organizations or educators and learners when implementing a learning management system. The benefits for organizations or educators include reduction of program development costs, cutting down on-board training time for employees, maintaining compliances, tracking learner progress, and measuring how learning impacts organizational performance. The benefits for learners include the increment of knowledge retention, acquirement of skills and knowledge required, demonstration of personal development, and individual learning progress.