WHAT IS AN LMS?

WHAT IS AN LMS?

In training ‘LMS’ refers to a Learning Management System.

An LMS is simply software that enables administrators to assignment, delivery and tracking the completion of training. 

Your choice of LMS is wide and budgets can be wider still. Costs of LMS systems ranging from free open-source options like Moodle to custom coded systems costing 7-figures +.

All large organisations will operate an LMS of some form – predominantly due to the cost savings of online training versus traditional face-to-face training.

But there are plenty of options for small business without a dedicated IT team to take advantage of the benefits of custom online training.

Is Online Training Worthwhile?

Consider the competencies your staff need to effectively undertake a role. ‘Competence’ can be thought of as a combination of knowledge, skills and experience.  Online training is an effective way to take care of the Knowledge element of competence.  For example, our Manual Handling course covers legislation, risk assessments and the theory of correct lifting.  Once staff have this knowledge, they then just need the skill and experience which can both be acquired on the job.

Online training is also great when assessments are required or an accurate record is required of the training that has taken place. For example, all organisation need a record of any safety training that has taken place, part of the Managing Health & Safety Regulations 1999.

Are Free LMS systems available?

Yes. Open source software is available free. Coders around the world collaborate to make an application as a hobby or to sell add-ons to the code software. Wordpress is the biggest example. This application powers around 30% of all websites and the base code is completely free.

In the world of LMS systems the biggest free application is called Moodle. Its popular with hundreds of universities around the world and supported by 1000s of developers.

Do you need your own LMS?

Online training can be purchased without needing your own custom LMS. For example, echo3 offer a wide range on online health and safety training courses that your staff can take without you needing your own LMS. These courses are launched in our own system and training records are stored for you there for the duration of the certificate validity. Typically 3 years.

You will want your own LMS if you would like to make your own bespoke online training courses or quizzes. For example, you may have some policy documents specific to your own business that you need staff to understand before starting work. In a situation like this you will need you own LMS to ‘host’ this training.

What are LMS purchasing options?

Those using online training will either have their own LMS, a hybrid system or a licensed system.

Licensing an LMS

Licenses means regular payments but on the plus side you get IT support, updates and a popular stable system with very little issues. Over the short term this will be the cheapest option and great for small businesses. There is a wide choice of LMS systems you can licenses each will have similar functionalities. Our system Starlight includes the ability for you to author your own courses and quizzes.

Hybrid System

This is where you take an existing LMS and customise if for your specific requirements. Moodle is likely the most common LMS that is customised. A whole range of different organisations adapt Moodle to suit their own branding and training requirements.

Your Own LMS

If you have an IT team to hand you may wish to create your own LMS. This route frees business from the cost of licensing an LMS which over the long-term for large businesses can be high. You will also have the benefit of creating a system that works exactly as you need without the myriad of unnecessary and sometimes confusion options that will exist in a Moodle hybrid system.

Picking an LMS from echo3 education

We offer 3 different LMS options to our clients one based on Moodle, www.e3hse.com and Starlight. Perhaps the easiest way to begin is send us an email to arrange a call (info@lucyketcham.com). From the difference systems you can expect;

1. Moodle LMS

As mentioned Moodle is open source code used by 100s or universities. This means its a heavy-weight system with 1000s of configurable options. The software is free for you to use, although you will have small charges from a web host. Echo3 can custom the platform to suit your requirements. This means you only have 1 modest cost to get you up and running with your free LMS.

Moodle Functionality;

• Upload SCORM eLearning courses
• Upload PDF/Word or similar policy documents
• Create quizzes
• Create users and assign them to courses or a group of courses
• Bulk upload users via CSV. file
• Option to upload your own courses
• Corporate branding
• Create custom certificates
• Send messages to users
• Email certificates to managers once staff complete a course
• Track and Measure your training
• Download training reports
• Create digital badges for sharing on for example Linkedin

2. Echo3 Custom LMS

Echo3 have an LMS that is great for those business with their own SCORM 1.2 training courses. You can upload them straight to the platform along with a certificate and get enrolling staff.

This system is also great for businesses whose staff don’t have email addresses or you would like training to take place on 1 specific computer. You can even text training straight to learners phones!

The Echo3 LMS is free with any order of our online safety awareness training courses. It is also available for other training providers or organisation to use with their own courses.

So, if you are interested in acquiring and LMS feel free to email us and arrange a discussion. Info@lucyketcham.com