subject: A Learning Management System Makes Training Employees Simple [print this page] What Is A Learning Management System? What Is A Learning Management System?
A Learning Management System, or LMS for short, is a tool used by corporations, small businesses, educational facilities, school districts and medical establishments to educate staff and simultaneously track educational progress. Although there are several brands and companies that market LMS exchanges to specific types of businesses, many are similarly structured.
How Does an LMS System Work?
Each employee is added into the LMS by a manual upload, regularly scheduled upload or a connection to electronic human resource staff information. If a connection is established to HR staff information, new employees or promoted employees will be immediately loaded into the LMS database. If a regularly scheduled upload is preferred, IT contacts will be necessary on a regular basis to perform the upload that is usually done via spreadsheet. After upload, trainers and educational staff can then assign that employee modules or tests based on job description. This can include training all employees on orientation materials such as harassment policies, general working hour information and compliance training. Employees will then take tests to provide educators with proof of knowledge. This information will be stored in the LMS for retrieval by supervisors, educators, HR, and other staff as required. The employee is also able to access their records at any time.
How Does an LMS Simplify Training?
Many businesses such as hospitals, insurance companies, school districts and corporations with thousands of employees have considerable amounts of training to complete. Keeping track of this information by paper or spreadsheet can be an absolute nightmare and full time job for several people. LMS interface allows trainers to facilitate training and cut down on the time spent educating in the classroom. LMS interface can also grade tests immediately through the system resulting in no paperwork to grade and no manual errors. In a technological age where self-learning is rewarded, trainers can concentrate on training employees that need additional help above what the modules contain and updating ever-changing training material. Trainers or any staff member that needs access can create a module using specialized software, post videos and create tests. LMS systems do not usually come with module information so the company can tailor training specifically to their business. However, many health care LMS exchanges may contain basic procedural information that can be tailored to meet a certain hospital's procedures. Health care trainers or school principals are also able to set up checklists on most LMS systems and provide preceptor check off at the time that a nurse, teacher or staff member performs the correct procedure. Lastly, a well-maintained LMS can provide governing bodies with proof of knowledgeable staff and compliance with state and federal training mandates or audits.
