Like many trainers, you want your programs to be accessible, relevant, and practical.

A Learning Management System is an ideal place to start. While they may seem intimidating, a good LMS will save you time and allow you to reach more participants.

Learn more about what an LMS can do for you and some of our best practices to make the most of this modern learning format.

Below is our guide on training with a Learning Management System.

LMS: What is it?

A learning management system - also known as an LMS - is an online software application used to provide eLearning. Having an excellent LMS is crucial to the success of your online training. Cloud-based learning management systems have become the standard for eLearning since they give you the ability to quickly add learners, track progress, and create detailed reports in minutes. A cloud-based LMS is simply a system hosted on the Internet that is accessed by logging into an online portal. It does not require you to install specific hardware or software in order to access and use it. Your LMS should allow you to easily scale your training delivery and be backed by a customer service team who will ensure you meet your training objectives.

Getting Started with Our Learning Management System

When you purchase a year of our LMS, you will get access to it via email, where there will be a link to take you to your login page. You will then enter your pre-determined login info to access the LMS.

Once you’re logged in, the first thing you will see is your training plan. This is where the courses you are including in your program will sit, and where your users will have access to them.

To add courses to a user’s training plan, go to Content, then select a course title, then click Add Participants.

Customizations

To further customize your training program, click on Configuration in the top menu bar.

This takes you into some more advanced settings that allow you to enter your organization’s name. You can also upload your logo to create a custom login portal. Please note that the suggested size for logos is 140-200 pixels wide, 40-60 pixels high (GIF, JPG, or PNG format). Branding your LMS demonstrates that you stand behind your content and that it accurately reflects your organizational values. It is a simple and effective way to boost the credibility of your training content.

Users

Once you are logged in and happy with your customizations, you will want to add your learners. The number of users you can put on your LMS will depend on the plan you selected. Our LMS plans range from 100 to 1000 users. To add users to your LMS, click on Users on the top menu bar:

There are two main ways to add users to your LMS. To add an individual user, click Add a User.

Simply fill in the Add User form and your user is added. To add multiple people, you can click Import Users from the main User page.

This allows you to upload an Excel spreadsheet with all your learners. Make sure you take a look at the template linked on this page to ensure you have the proper format.

Email Templates

When providing online training, it is crucial to communicate with your learners to keep them up to date on how the training process will work. Our LMS has a variety of email templates that can help you reach your users. Go back to Configuration on the top menu bar and click on Emails on the side menu. Email templates include welcoming users to the system, assigning courses, and further instruction after course completion.

Templates are fully editable and come in plain text and html format.

Content

Our LMS is pre-loaded with our entire line-up of self-paced online courses on a wide variety of soft skills topics that will help you cultivate a more positive workplace. We have over 140 course titles such as Emotional Intelligence, Communication Strategies, Accountability in the Workplace, various Microsoft Office courses, and more in user-friendly formats. You can view our full LMS course list here. Our courses smoothly walk your learners through each module using a variety of different media such text, images, and infographics. Furthermore, they provide practical illustration videos to show relevant examples that can help the learner connect the content to their organization. They also include quizzes throughout so your learners can check their understanding. This multimedia mix and interactivity increases engagement and ensures your learners are getting the most out of the training content. Not to mention with such a wide variety of topics from our tried-and-true training library already in the LMS, you have everything you need to provide effective soft skills training with just a few clicks.

To access the courses in the LMS, click on Content on the top menu bar. You can also upload all of your own courses onto our LMS - any SCORM compliant course will work. We recommend SCORM 2004 3^rd edition. You can also upload PDF’s, Microsoft Office file such as Word and PowerPoint, and MP4’s.

To add courses to our LMS, click on Content on the top menu bar.

Next, click on Load Content, and drag and drop your SCORM package. If you would prefer to simply edit our workshops, you can purchase our eLearning Library, which can be fully customized in Articulate Storyline, then uploaded onto our LMS.

Certificates

Certificates for completion of your training give learners proof of proficiency and increase the credibility of your training. Our LMS includes two different certificate formats. Choose from our formats or create your own custom certificate and upload it onto the LMS to distribute it to your learners when they complete their training.

To access and select your certificates, click on Configuration and then Certificate Templates.

Here you can choose from the certificate we provide, or upload your own. You can create your own certificate based on a Photoshop template we can provide, or if you provide us with a logo and color scheme, we can create one for you. 

Reports

Measure your learner’s success with the Report feature on our LMS. Simply click Reports on the top menu bar.

You now have access to dozens of different reports to better understand your learners. Track progress, usage, assessment scores, logins, and more. To view your reports, simply click Launch Report and adjust your filters.

Tips for hosting a Learning Management System (LMS)

Now that we have gone over the main features of our LMS, let’s go over some best practices for using it.

Clearly Outline Objectives

Research has consistently demonstrated that when clear goals are associated with learning, information is retained more effectively. Each of our Workshops open with a review of what participants should know upon completion.

When selecting the courses for your training plans, take some time to review the objectives and make sure you select courses that align with your organizational objectives. If you are including your own SCORM Files, consider adding the goals of your course to it.

When providing online learning, it is important to be particularly mindful of clearly outlining objectives to your participants. Learning with an LMS is a more independent learning approach, so ensuring that everyone is on the same page is crucial.

Be Present

Since an LMS is an instructorless training solution, you have the luxury of setting it up and mostly letting it do the work for you. However, to ensure your learners are getting an optimum experience, provide an email address they can contact you with should they have any questions about the content.  This can also be useful if learners are new to using an LMS. Being available to assist with any technical issues will allow your learners to focus on the content.

Consider technical issues

In saying that, with our LMS, you have full access to our support team. Should you require assistance, you can contact support at support@softskillslms.com or call +1 877-610-3660.

Keep Organized

Doing some maintenance with your LMS will save you time in the long run. Disable any inactive accounts and merge any duplicates that may have snuck in. Finally, ensure the organization of your modules makes sense and reformat when necessary. Reducing clutter on your LMS will create a better user experience by keeping it practical and functional.

Get started on a modern and convenient training solution with our Learning Management System today.

Our LMS starts at just $195 per month for a one-year subscription hosting up to 100 learners. Looking to edit our materials? Check out our eLearning material, which is fully customizable and SCORM compliant. Get started on efficient and convenient soft skills training today!

Posted by Katelyn Roy on April 8, 2021