6 tips for choosing an LMS

Choosing an LMS

High-quality e-learning stands or falls with the right Learning Management System (LMS). In our blog on effectively choosing a Learning Management System, we discussed the importance of:

1. choosing an LMS with a clear goal
2. involving everyone who will be working with the LMS in the selection process
3. determining the essential functionalities of the LMS
4. testing the LMS
5. ensuring service and support within the LMS

Once you have gone through these steps, the next phase is selecting an actual system. In this blog, we will take a closer look at what you need to consider when purchasing a Learning Management System.

There are a vast number of Learning Management Systems on the market, and not every system is a good fit for every organization.

Furthermore, a higher price does not necessarily mean higher quality or the best match for your organization. Naturally, you want to get the very best out of your employees' learning experience—for them and for the organization.

In this blog, we outline what you should look for when choosing a specific Learning Management System for your training and your organization.

LMS is user-friendly and reliable

You obviously want to avoid a situation where an employee is busy with an online training course and then loses their work because the LMS crashes. This creates resistance and frustration. It also costs money, as the employee spends time resolving the issue.

It is therefore important to choose an LMS that is technically sound and has high availability. The system should be functional at least 98% of the time.

Additionally, the learning experience is best when the LMS is designed intuitively. This means that all information is easy to find and it is clear at a glance what the next step is for the learner.

For example, if you have completed a module, it is helpful if the LMS automatically guides you to the next one.

Or, if you are looking for information, it is helpful that it is always clear where to find it. This allows you to make optimal use of the employee's time and energy.

LMS fits your content

Has your organization already gathered a lot of information that you want to incorporate into the LMS? If so, you want to be able to easily set up this content within the system. If you have already created many videos or other materials, check that the LMS is suitable for including these learning materials. You should also be able to easily integrate external, purchased e-learning courses into the system. After all, you want one place where all learning within your organization is centralized.

Haven't you created any content for the e-learning yet?

Then keep in mind that your employees have different preferences and that a variety of content and ways of presenting it (video, podcast, articles, etc.) is desirable. Alternate this with in-person meetings, external e-learning courses, blended learning paths, videos, knowledge base articles and webinars. Then choose an LMS that integrates these elements effectively. 

It is also important that the LMS meets (international) e-learning standards (such as LTI), that existing materials are organized clearly, and that the materials can be used for multiple trainings.

LMS is personal and accessible

The more personalized the LMS is and the better it fits your organization, the more likely it is that employees will actually come back and keep learning.

Personal in terms of content, but also in terms of accessibility. By this we mean that it is essential that employees can learn at any moment and from any location. On the couch with a tablet, on the bus with a phone, or at the office on a desktop computer: the LMS gives learners access to their learning environment at any moment and on any device. 

Microlearning is extremely well suited to this. Because microlearning uses short video clips and bite-sized learning materials, these are easier to upload and access through the LMS from any device. So check whether the LMS offers options for this.

The LMS you choose should also offer room for personalizing content.

For every employee, regardless of their learning style, preferences, interests and (technical) background, and for uploading videos, podcasts, articles, websites, GIFs, etc.

LMS tests and analyzes

When you invest in an LMS, you naturally want to know how learning activities contribute to employees' knowledge and skills.

That is why it is important that the LMS offers ways to analyze employee behavior and results.

Think, for example, of analyzing the amount of time an employee spends on a training and the results achieved on a quiz or another form of assessment. Detailed reports give insight into employee progress and how it compares to the goals you had in mind when you started the learning intervention.

You can also add assignments and assessments that are evaluated by an external person. Think of reflection assignments, a video in which someone introduces themselves, but also competencies that can be checked off by a manager, for example.

Imagine you have developed a leadership learning path. This can consist of e-learning courses, assessment moments, reference materials and in-person meetings. In addition, you may want someone to give a presentation for the department, for example. This can then be assessed in the LMS.

That is why it is advisable to choose an LMS that supports different assessment options, such as building a portfolio, collaborating on group projects and giving feedback to fellow learners. 

Choosing an LMS: can you also organize meetings?

In addition to all the online learning resources you want to collect in the LMS, most organizations also organize meetings. These can be knowledge sessions, in-person trainings, webinars or trainings where you hire an external trainer. Ideally, you also want to set up the entire organizing and registration for these in the LMS.

So check whether the key functionalities for organizing meetings are built into the LMS:

• Employees can sign themselves up, or managers can sign employees up;
• Waiting list for when a course is full;
• Access to course materials before the event;
• Attendance tracking;
• Communication with course participants;
• Ability to filter by topic or see upcoming course dates;
• Useful reporting features, allowing you to grant access and issue certificates in bulk.

Choosing an LMS: what to look for?

When choosing an LMS, keep the following in mind:

• User-friendliness
• Reliability
• Content options
• Personalization
• Accessibility
• Assessment and analytics capabilities
• Ability to organize meetings

If you keep these key elements in mind, you are highly likely to choose an LMS that perfectly fits your organization and your needs.

Did you know?

When searching for an LMS, you can, of course, also consider Pluvo.

5 Reasons why Pluvo is the best LMS for organizations:

1. Centralize all your training: With Pluvo, you have one central place to manage all your training. From classroom sessions to e-learning modules, everything is neatly organized in one platform. This saves you time and helps you keep a grip on your training offerings.
2. Easily plan and manage training: Create training sessions, link them to the right target audience, and assign trainers with just a few clicks. Pluvo helps you schedule training rooms, send invitations, and track attendance. Includes integration with your Outlook calendar.
3. Track your employees' progress: Keep an eye on who has completed which training, how much time has been spent learning, and what the results are. With reports and analytics, you gain valuable insights into your employees' learning development. Plus, see at a glance who needs retraining soon—essential for compliance.
4. Encourage continuous development: Create custom learning paths for different roles or departments. Offer e-learning modules to let employees learn at their own pace. This encourages continuous development and ensures your employees have the right skills.
5. Create a variety of learning formats: From full e-learning courses to videos and microlearning. With Pluvo, you can create learning materials that meet your employees' needs, making learning more effective and engaging. Pluvo is so easy to use that your subject matter experts can digitize their knowledge with ease!

Bonus: Integrated with your HR system: Connect Pluvo with your HR system to automatically synchronize training data. This ensures you always have an up-to-date overview of your employees' skills.

Want to know more? Schedule a no-obligation introductory meeting or download the Pluvo LMS Checklist!

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