A learning management system, or LMS, is a web-based technology or application software designed for planning, implementing, and assessing a specific learning process. It is used in e-learning or distance learning, consisting of two elements: a user interface operated by students, teachers, and administrators, and a server that performs base functionality.
LMS offers businesses, local governments, online institutions, and national government agencies a way to create and deliver content, monitor the participation of students, and assess their performance. It gives students and teachers the ability to interactively communicate and participate in discussion forums, video conferences, and threaded discussions.
Uses of learning management systems
Learning management systems can be used by a wide range of organizations, corporations, and learning institutions and can be used for a variety of purposes:
Knowledge management
Users can gather, organize, analyze, and share an organization’s knowledge in people skills, documents, and resources using LMS.
Employee training and onboarding
Corporations can use LMS for training new hires by providing a means of accessing training materials across different devices. New employees can add their own feedback and knowledge, which helps management understand the effectiveness of the training courses and identify the areas that need improvement.
Extended training
Learning management systems are also useful in partner, customer, and member training. Among those three, customer training is the most important because it helps customers learn a new system before using it, such as new software. LMS improves brand loyalty.
Employee development and retention
Management can use LMS to assign necessary courses to employees and help ensure they are learning and developing effective job skills. It’s an important way to keep them informed about new products and equipment and gain knowledge on new processes.
Types of learning management systems
Learning management systems come in different types:
- Self-hosted or one that is downloaded by the user, providing greater control and customization
- Cloud-based or one that s hosted on the cloud, following a Software as a Service (SaaS) model
- Desktop and mobile applications
