What Is a Learning Management System (LMS)?

An LMS or Learning Management System is a software platform employed for organizing, delivering, monitoring, and evaluating learning initiatives within diverse organizations. It is commonly used in businesses, higher education institutions, and philanthropic organizations for the purpose of organizing training programs. LMSs can also foster a collaborative online learning environment and promote productivity among students. Learning management systems mostly have two components: a server that holds the application and the educational content and a user interface utilized by administrators, instructors, and students. 

These systems have various purposes. The list of objectives includes in-person teaching, delivering fully online training, or using this system as a component of a blended learning approach. 

How Does LMS Work? 

LMS plays a considerable role in helping learning managers to predict the entire lifecycle of learning processes. In other words, LMS becomes an inseparable tool for those organizations that try to establish comprehensive online training programs. In addition, it is important to mention that some LMSs require the use of separate tools. However, many others do not have such necessities as they allow to develop a course directly on their platform. 

Who Needs an LMS? 

To give you a precise answer to this question, learning management systems are useful for anyone responsible for organizing training. It fosters the process of creating and delivering training while saving resources and time. In addition, LMSs can be critical tools for organizations of varying sizes and from different industries. Some of the organizations that might be in need of LMSs are: 

• Small and medium enterprises 
• Large enterprises 
• Organizations conducting specialized product training 

If you own or are a part of such organizations, make sure to use LMS as a powerful tool for working in the field of education. In addition, specialists working on online collaborative learning projects can also benefit from these systems. 

Types of LMS 

The term “learning management system” has various interpretations as it can be attached to various tools, each having different purposes and users. When digging deeper, it becomes obvious that these tools significantly vary in their nature. For instance, an LMS adopted for a university differs from the one used for a software company. Thus, it is vital to discuss some factors that can influence the type of LMS that will suit your needs the best. 

Corporate vs academic systems 

In simple terms, businesses quite often choose a corporate learning management system. However, schools and universities usually choose higher education or academic learning management systems. The main difference is often connected with the features and tools they provide. More specifically, a corporate LMS is updated and improved with new features on a regular basis. Features include but are not limited to customization and the ability to connect with various other software tools. On the contrary, an academic LMS does not provide new feature updates and does not support integration in most cases. 

Cloud vs hosted systems 

Some years ago, one of the most important choices regarding setting up an LMS lay in the question of whether you should install it on your company’s own hardware or use a cloud-based service. However, with the rise of technological advancement, this question is becoming less popular day by day as most companies choose cloud-based solutions. It is also important to note that there are still some organizations that choose on-site installation to meet the industry’s regulations that are significant to its sector.

Learning Management System Features

There are numerous learning management systems operating in the market. Thus, it might be challenging to define specific features that are common for all. We made a list of the most frequently used LMS features that are used by many such systems on the market.

• Multichannel access
• Meeting eLearning standards 
• Course management 
• Course calendars 
• Document management 
• Tracking and reporting 
• Assessment/Certification 

The above-mentioned points are the most fundamental ones that each and every learning management system should provide.

What are the benefits of using an LMS? 

Regardless of whether the learning process takes place fully online, in a hybrid mode, or in a traditional classroom, learning management systems serve as the foundation of modern classroom management. It enhances learning and teaching processes while improving student retention rates. We have made a list of 8 most significant benefits of utilizing an LMS in your learning processes. 

Automation

LMS saves a significant amount of money by automating common daily tasks.

Productivity 

An LMS saves both students and teachers time by assembling eLearning materials, communication, and necessary tools in a single platform. 

Process Acceleration 

A learning management system speeds up routine tasks, such as grading and providing feedback while allowing teachers to dedicate more time to teaching. 

Profitability 

An LMS can foster an institution’s profitability by offering widespread access and flexibility to students making it possible for institutions to grow their business and reach the international markets. 

Progress Tracking 

Analytical data and reporting are generated in an LMS to assess student achievements.

Personalized Learning 

A learning management system offers personalized learning ways, instructions, and assignments that meet students' needs and correspond to their pace. 

Equitable Access 

In a learning management system, all learning materials and instructions are accessible online providing students with the opportunity to connect from any part of the world in their desired time. 

Innovation 

Last but not least, the learning management system speeds up the institution’s digital transformation, helping it maintain relevance in this highly competitive market. 

LMS Implementation 

Achieving a successful implementation of a learning management system requires effective planning, an adequate amount of resources, and a vision of how you define success for your company. We have prepared a small guide for you to understand the process of LMS implementation. 

LMS implementation types 

There are various types of LMS implementations to choose from based on your organization’s requirements. The two most fundamental of those types are self-hosted and cloud-based systems. 

Self-hosted 

A self-hosted LMS is installed directly on your company’s server. In addition, some self-hosted LMSs offer a variety of customization options. However, take into account that your company’s IT department will be in charge of installing all of the updates and maintaining the LMS. 

Cloud-based 

This option does not require you to install specific hardware or software in order to access and use it. You will have to log in through a web portal to access all of its features and courses. This is quite a popular type of implementation as it is easy to implement and secure. 

LMS licensing types

Pay per user 

This type operates quite straightforwardly. In other words, you are going to pay for each user who utilized the LMS. Thus, you benefit when users visit your LMS. 

Pay per active user 

Pay per active user is the most common type of LMS licensing as you pay only for those users who actively engage in the platform. Unlimited In contrast to the above-mentioned types, this option is not connected with the number of users. Instead, you are required to pay on a monthly or annual basis. 

How Long Does it Take to Implement an LMS? 

The duration of the implementation varies mainly depending on the complexity of the integration. Quick launches are also impacted by your organization’s internal procedures. With the start of the implementation, you are encouraged to inquire about the timeline of the process. This will significantly help when it comes to meeting implementation deadlines. 

Conclusion 

To sum up, a learning management system (LMS) is a crucial tool for education and cooperative training. It offers a central create and deliver learning content and materials. In other words, LMS has the power to enhance the productivity of the modern learning environment.