Four Advantages of a Learning Management System for Businesses

It’s not always easy for a business to provide education to all of its employees because there are so many different learning styles. What works for Jenny in accounting may be torturous for Roger in shipping, and Bill in marketing may not even show up for the class. One of the best ways that businesses can accommodate all their employees is by delivering education through a well-designed learning management system.

1. Multimedia Lessons

It’s a well-known fact that people learn differently. Some people learn best through the written word, some people need to hear the information being presented, and some people need hands-on interaction. In a classroom setting, it’s not easy to take all these different needs into account – but it can be done easily with a learning management system.

For example, a lesson could be presented in a series of slides along with short multiple-choice quizzes after each section. People who like to read can simply read the slides. Text-to-speech software can read the slides out loud for those who process best that way. Taking short but frequent quizzes engages those who need to interact with the material to retain it.

2. Asynchronous Learning

Most businesses operate with different schedules and shifts, and sometimes even in different time zones. It can be very difficult to get every member of a business (or even a department) into a classroom at the same time; even if it was possible, that would leave the business without coverage for hours or even days at a time!

With a learning management system, people can take their “classes” at a time and place that works best for them. Night shift workers won’t have to punch out at 3am and be back at the office five hours later. Remote employees won’t have to commute three hours each way for a two-hour class. The tech support line won’t have to be unstaffed while all the technicians are sitting in a classroom.

3. Regular Assessments

A key feature of most learning management systems is regular assessments (which may or may not be recorded and passed on to management). Making sure that each employee “passes” each lesson means that no one can finish the class without having demonstrated that they’ve actually absorbed all of the material. This helps the business achieve its objective of educating all of its employees, and it also allows employees who are struggling to grasp the material and reach out for extra help instead of falling further behind.

4. Analytics and Administration

It’s also easier for the business to manage the entire process through the learning management system. Management should have access to a dashboard that details the progress that employees are making. If managers see that 90% of the employees “failed” a lesson and are unable to move on, that should tell them that something is seriously wrong 

with either the assessment or the lesson itself. They can then take whatever action is necessary.

Similarly, if they see that 80% of the employees have not even started the course and the deadline is in two days, they can send out a company-wide message reminding employees that they need to prioritize taking the course. They can also encourage department managers to be sure that employees have sufficient time in their workdays to finish the program.

It is also easier for the human resources department to track which employees have stayed up to date on their training and certifications when it’s all in one dashboard than when employees have to fax in their certificates. A good learning management system makes professional and continuing education easier for everyone in the company.