The very nature of Learning Management Systems allows for a host of customizations and unique online learning strategies to be implemented, based on the needs of the company using it. When implementing an LMS for training purposes, developing an eLearning strategy can often be a daunting task.
Indeed, the possible LMS implementation strategies can be limited only by the imagination of those using it. However, usage trends can be utilized for the purposes of developing a list of the best, and most common, strategic directives. So, which are the most efficient LMS strategies for online training?
9 Tips To Optimize Your eLearning Strategy
Deciding on the most appropriate LMS strategy for your business needs can be quite tricky. Here are some tactics that can help you maximize the eLearning outcome of your online learning strategies.
1. Focus on the Faculty and Learner Needs
Learning Management Systems, by design, must already cater to a variety of needs. However, in order to gain the most from the implementation of online training, the LMS should be focused on providing for the needs of the trainers and learners who will be using it.
2. Take Advantage of LMS Flexibility
By design, LMSs can accommodate a wide variety of teaching methods and designs. By utilizing appropriate IT and developer support, you can expand the boundaries of your LMS to allow the most flexibility in your faculty’s teaching methodologies. This allows instructors to account for various types of learners (visual, semantic, etc.) and to utilize the best teaching methods for the content in question.
Not to mention, further customizations can be made, utlizing the LMS to its full potential and providing for the organization’s needs.
3. Allow Learner Innovations
LMSs are uniquely designed to allow educational constructivism. While they allow the instructors the ability to implement a variety of methodical approaches, they can also be adapted to allow learners their own solutions for the best ways to navigate the course.
For example, instructors can design specific exercises which provide the opportunity for learners to suggest lesson plans, course materials, and other types of input, which could prove to be beneficial to the overall outcome of the online course and other learners.
4. Evaluate More Than Just Performance
While the main training goal of LMSs seems to focus on the ability to measure performance, there is the potential to measure other qualities as well. For example, it could also be used to measure leadership capabilities to help determine the next employee up for a promotion in a certain department.
Another example, would be to measure learners’ problem solving capabilities to create a solution for a business objective. LMSs can be utilized to provide a comprehensive measure of more than just performance or training, restrained only by the organizations’ imagination.
5. Incorporate External Interactions
While LMSs generally include peer-to-peer communication channels, they are often underutilized due to their lack of ease of use. By incorporating readily accessible social media channels which provide a better degree of customization and ownership, you can further facilitate learner interaction and company in your online training. Not to mention, you can also help create an overall sense of companionship and brand identity among learners.
6. Customize & Streamline Online Training
LMSs can be utilized in any manner of strategic directives. While most LMSs are designed with individual courses, with each instructor having control over course content, you can also customize and streamline the entire framework of your courses to meet your company’s needs.
A good example of this would be compiling individual lessons from various courses, such as Sales, Career and Customer Service Training, to create Onboarding Training courses for new employees.
7. Overcome the Challenges of Global Training
For organizations which have a global presence, LMSs offer unique opportunities for providing training in various countries and languages. By taking into account cultural differences, locale and language – you can create a global learning system which is equally effective across all cultures and countries, and still provides the online training that you require for your organization.
Some organizations may even opt for the strategic development of multi-lingual or multi-cultural coursework based on the ethnic composition of their employee base.
8. Information, Feedback and Solutions
An innovative eLearning strategy supported by your LMS is the ability to gather information, feedback and solutions from learners. Aside from having courses which are designed only to provide information from the instructors to learners, organizations can also reverse the system to allow those within the online training courses to provide them with valuable insight into their institution.
Perhaps some new policies have been implemented and personnel feedback can provide insight as to their effectiveness. Maybe the CEOs have been struggling to find a way to reach a specific target market and learners could provide an array of fresh ideas.
9. Implement Mentoring
Aside from providing valuable online training, LMSs can also be used to provide essential one-on-one mentoring. Many times, employees are offered additional responsibilities which are not covered by their online training.
By implementing a mentoring program, learners have someone that they are comfortable asking questions and conversing with about work-related issues which may be affecting their work performance. It is also helpful for new employees who may need more guidance until they have found their direction within the organization.
Optimizing Your eLearning Strategy For Better Online Learning
Training itself can provide organizations with many obstacles to overcome. By utilizing the full capabilities of LMSs, there are an endless amount of tactics you can leverage to optimize your eLearning strategy for successful and multi-functional online training.
While each organization must decide which strategies best fit their needs, this list of 9 LMS Strategies for Online Training can help provide some insight into the best usage practices of LMSs and help organizations determine the best strategies that are fit for their needs.
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