Companies think that modernizing their existing Learning Management System (LMS) has to be expensive, labor-intensive, or both. In fact, there are ways of bringing your existing traditional LMS system up to date without having to spend too much time or money to do so.
Add Video Content
Older LMS content is largely text-based because video files were large and storage was expensive. YouTube, Khan Academy, and other video services offer free training videos that are hosted on their servers, eliminating the need for storage and funding. While your LMS may not support the video content inline, you should be able to create links to the content you want your staff to view.
Go Mobile
Get your learning content in the hands of your employees so they can learn wherever they work. Set guidelines that their training time is not to supersede time with customers or other job functions. Putting educational material on a tablet or smartphone at their job location (sales floor, kitchen stations, shipping warehouse, etc) helps with learning retention and keeps them engaged with the topics. A back office room with a computer for training is a better place for a nap than a lesson.
Use Existing & User-Generated Content
As mentioned in the video section, there is already a wealth of pre-existing content on the internet available for free. However, with widespread adoption and use of smartphones, everyone has a camera in their pocket that they can use to contribute to your company’s supply of training video. Encourage your staff to capture footage they find useful and share it up to their managers for approval to distribute to the rest of the company.
Augment With A Newer System
While modernizing your existing traditional learning management system can bridge the gap, you will most likely need to replace it at some point. There are new cloud-based systems that integrate with your existing LMS, protecting your current investment while allowing a smooth transition over time to an updated eLearning system.
Put your employees’ training needs first by revitalizing your current LMS. If you wait, you may be jeopardizing not only your learning curve, but also your reputation as a top employer. Companies with low employee engagement consistently reveal insufficient training opportunities. Modernize your training systems and stay ahead of the curve.
