e-Learning and Learning Management Systems
Whenever a training manager considers e-Learning, a learning management system is bound to feature. Many may wonder what exactly this entails and why it is necessary. In this short article, we provide an overview of what an LMS is, how it should be designed and developed, important features and how we, at FUEL, go about designing, managing and supporting our e-Learning experience.
A learning management system, or LMS, is a software system that facilitates the delivery of online training courses, monitors training activity and progress, communicates important business messages, as well as creates a platform for additional learning material, such as articles, informative videos, podcasts, and certificates. Often this also involves forums and chat rooms where learners can discuss their training experience and request additional information or explanations.
Part of what makes an LMS powerful is a simplistic design. Managing learning and training programmes is complicated enough, and the LMS should not add on to learners’ workload. Training content should be easy to navigate and access. This involves a design that directs the learner to the training fast and efficiently. It also needs to share the relevant information about the course, such as qualification details, NQF level, credits, module durations, assessment requirements, etc.
An LMS also provides training managers with crucial tools to administer access as well as report on training activity and performance. They also use these tools to schedule deadlines and important dates. At FUEL,
Data collection, analysis and reporting is essential for every LMS. For this, there are various standard systems that guide the development of an LMS. SCORM (Sharable Content Object Reference Model) is an important example of a collection standards, which has become a near-universal requirement. It ensures that each LMS conforms to industry best practices, such as recording module duration, assessment results, learner actions, to name a few. This enables a training manager to get full insight into their learners’ training activity and overall performance, which they can use to troubleshoot issues such as LMS adoption, learner engagement and training gaps.
FUEL’s LMS is fully aligned to industry best practices. It also pays close attention to the unique user requirements mandates by our learners. For example, our LMS is designed to be easily accessible for learners that have not had the benefit of digital technology in their daily lives.
Furthermore, our learners are not familiar with training outside of a class room. For this reason, we create an e-Learning experience that guides learners every step of the way, including streamlining the training process and designing training content that is genuinely aligned with required skills training as well as their digital and functional literacy level.
Given that many of our training academies are all over the continent and the digital literacy level of our learners, we also offer an e-Learning management service. This includes not only assisting with the administration of the e-Learning system. On top of this, we also offer technical support through our call centre and network of field operatives.
