Lmsvsecosystems

Choosing LMS Features: Why Less Is More

( This sample of easy to use e­coursebook content made by Markku Rissanen Teacher Education College, JAMK is to be used for educational demonstration purposes only )

Original source: By Kathleen Waid, Senior Director of Client Services, Expertus

The Vision

Marcia Conner is a well­known expert in workplace learning and innovation. Several years ago, she outlined a next­generation software design philosophy that every LMS vendor would be wise to embrace:

“…Alan Perlis once wrote, ‘Simplicity does not precede complexity, but follows it.’

In software design it can and it should. Well­designed software doesn’t expect people using it to understand the implementation model under the hood any more than Honda requires you to manipulate the engine in order to drive the car…”

Why is that? ­ Please add /write your own visions in the box below

The Legacy

Regardless, enterprise software continues to earn a reputation for being incredibly difficult to understand and use. Complicated feature sets are notorious for derailing business software roll­outs. Even in organizations that excel at managing change, it’s challenging to achieve widespread adoption and user satisfaction.

Sadly, enterprise learning management systems are no exception to this rule. There are several reasons why:

1) When LMS platforms were first introduced in the late 1990s, usability was an afterthought. Vendors tended to pack products with as many features as possible,

rather than focusing on the quality of each feature, or its contribution to the learning experience.

2) LMS software was originally designed for training administrators — not learners. So, it’s no surprise that employees and others who needed training and performance support struggled to find their way in LMS environments. Platforms focused on course listings, registration tracking, and logistical reports — hardly an environment for developing knowledge, skills and competencies.

About 5­10 years ago LMS systems made some promising strides. Web­based user interfaces emerged, and more relevant functionality gradually appeared. However, those capabilities were built on top of the original complex training administration core.

And that had some serious consequences:

● LMSs became bloated with underutilized feature sets that addressed a massive

spectrum of narrow “what if” requirements

● The price of this breadth and complexity became huge

● Functionality was often inconsistent or incomplete across the product

● The user experience remained clumsy and confusing

● Before actual training sessions could begin, everyone in an organization had to

learn how to use the LMS.

With all of these obstacles keeping learning organizations from accomplishing their mission, why didn’t they revolt? Well actually, in a way, they did.

Today — The New Rules of Simplicity

Now, the digital world is a very different place. We’ve become accustomed to remarkably powerful, yet easy­to­use web and mobile apps that help us manage personal and professional activities. Services like Amazon.com, Skype, Google and YouTube require little or no training — but they provide a user experience that is robust, relevant and useful. And they’re accessible, all the time, on any connected device.

It’s no surprise that expectations for enterprise­class learning software have also shifted dramatically. These days, we want an LMS to be just as uncomplicated to use as popular consumer applications. That’s a huge challenge for LMS providers. But if those expectations aren’t met, adoption is likely to fail.

Learning organizations are quickly discovering the true cost of delaying a shift to next­generation LMSs. Dissatisfied users are abandoning legacy platforms and looking outside of their organizations for workarounds they prefer — even if it means decreased efficiency, higher costs, or content that doesn’t align with business objectives.

The LMS Buying Disconnect

Even though today’s workforce demands a very different kind of learning experience, LMS buyers are struggling to address these needs.

We still frequently receive RFPs focused on the same kind of feature­heavy requirements that were popular with legacy systems purchases 5­10 years ago. We also see inquiries that emphasize administrative functionality over support for end­user learning and performance support.

But there’s no reason to fall into that trap. There are smarter ways to choose a next­generation LMS.

Letting Go of The Past

If you’re among the estimated 60% of companies who plan to invest in a new LMS in the next year, take another look at your selection criteria. Do your requirements put learner needs first? Or do they feel more like a legacy list, with mobile and social “bonus features” tacked on?

Instead, try these tips to improve the return on your next­generation LMS investment:

● Rework your selection criteria to emphasize learner interests, goals and behaviors

● Focus your decision on the subset of LMS functionality that is truly essential for your business

● Don’t be distracted by the availability of “extra” features that only add unnecessary cost and complexity

● If you’re not sure what matters most to your learners, seek reliable input. For example: ○ Conduct a stakeholder audit ○ Analyze survey responses from recent training participants ○ Look at user data from your existing LMS to uncover and verify root issues ○ Spend time observing learners, and interpret needs from their behavior ○ Choose user representatives as partners in the LMS search process.

Why is that? ­ Please add /write your own opinions in the box below

Beyond “Featuritis”

Of course, with LMS functionality (as with most things in life), quality trumps quantity.

Or, as HR technology veteran Marcia Conner says, “Featuritis costs more than money.”

So, in your next LMS search, keep your eye on the right prize − the factors that contribute to an exceptional learning experience. Make it your mission to understand what matters most for your learners. The rest should naturally follow.

To learn about other common missteps in the LMS selection process — and how to avoid them — read our free white paper, “Choosing an LMS? Avoid These Four Deadly Traps.”

How about eLearning ecosystems?

Today we understand that learning takes place outside as well as inside of classrooms.

We’ve torn down the walls of the classroom and now realize that learning happens all the time, in just about all areas of an organization, and in formal and informal ways.

From learning and knowledge management systems to mobile and social platforms, there are many technologies that support formal and informal learning and performance.

But building a learning strategy that integrates multiple technologies into a cohesive infrastructure is a complex endeavor.

Advances in technology drive much of this evolution. People today don’t always need to wait for the next workshop in order to learn. Technology enables us to learn on demand.

We have systems that make it possible for people to summon resources at any time to support learning—not only during the workday, but 24 hours a day. We also have systems that can monitor the work of an individual, recognize when they are struggling, and automatically supply performance support resources to provide assistance.

We can virtually connect to, collaborate with, and learn from other individuals in real­time, regardless of how far apart we may be geographically. We have access to huge repositories of data that grow exponentially each year, and we have the ability to filter that data to show exactly the information we need, at the time that we need it, or to analyze the data in ways that we previously could not.

Technology has completely redefined our expectations of the learning experience. It has also made it ever more challenging for training and learning leaders to build an effective strategy.

When learning operated primarily out of a classroom, building a strategy was easy.

Everything we defined as learning looked pretty much the same, so supporting that system and building a strategy was more administrative—setting up a curriculum and scheduling resources, instructors, and classrooms.

Under the expanded definition of learning, things are much more complex. Learning can take place formally or informally, live or asynchronously, within or detached from the work, from a live instructor or on–demand and accessible from a device you hold in your pocket.

After reading text above think why that is so? ­ Please add /write your own opinions about e­Learning ecosystems in the box below. You can also present criticism concerning e­Learning ecosystems ­ at least show the weak points in it.