5 Ways to Get the Most of Your LMS Training

Do you need LMS training?

It may seem like a silly question but it’s worth asking! After all, LMS platforms become more ubiquitous by the day, with many people joining the workforce now having their first exposure to LMS platforms long before they reach college. However, exposure to and familiarity with platforms doesn’t guarantee people are using them in the most effective way possible—even if their day-to-day job revolves around them.

The world of open-source Moodle™ based LMSs is constantly evolving, and so are strategies and tools to incorporate to bring your learners’ experience to the next level.

In addition to keeping up with changes, many LMS admins and instructors aren’t aware that there’s so much more they could be doing with their platforms—from already included tools they’re not using to integrations and automations that could reduce their workload drastically. Anyone who’s an admin or an instructor using an LMS site can benefit greatly from formal LMS training to take their LMS experience to the next level for learners.

Here are some reasons why LMS training could be a game-changer for you, your organization, and your learners—plus ways to get the most out of your LMS training.

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1) LMS Training Courses for Admins

It can be easy to feel overwhelmed as an administrator of an LMS platform. Whether you’ve been lucky enough to work with one LMS platform for most of your time as an admin, or you’ve learned how to manage multiple different LMSs, training can always help sharpen your skills.

What are some of the aspects you should look for in an admin training course? Look for courses that are catered to admins or at least provide you with an admin’s view during the training process. As an admin, there are features and permissions you have access to that other users like instructors and students won’t have, so it’s important for training to reflect your unique view. Additionally, seeking out trainers that are or have been LMS admins can be a great way to ensure they understand what it’s like to be in your shoes, and what strategies and tools can help you most.

For example, our Open LMS Academy trainers have been in the field for years, many holding positions as LMS admins, instructors, and now support specialists, so they know what it’s like to be in your position.

Amy has been involved with Moodle-based LMSs longer than she might care to admit, but those years have made her a well-established name in the community. An open-source LMS Adoption and Education Manager by day and a Moodle User Association member by night, you might have come across her before at a conference or online talking about learner engagement in online environments, providing tips and tricks to new admins, or gently reminding her dog Pearl that the world does not revolve around her.

2) Go Deeper, Learn New Skills

If you’re looking for something a bit more in-depth than general admin training, it can be helpful to think of what courses can help you gain skills to pass on to your wider organization. Tools like H5P can be game-changing in building more engaging learning environments, while gaining a better understanding of accessibility tenants in an LMS ensures you’re not leaving any learners behind.

If you’re the main source of instructor and end user LMS knowledge at your organization, focusing on course topics such as these can give you more information to pass along to your colleagues and keep your organization up to date.

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3) LMS Training Courses for Instructors

The expectations of what instructors are expected to be (and do!) have changed. Long gone are the days of providing all learning in a classroom or conference room, whether your organization has gone fully digital or not. It can be hard to juggle creating an effective online environment alongside all your other responsibilities, but understanding how to properly utilize an LMS can lead to more engaged learners and increased content retention.

So, what should you look for in a training course? First, be sure the course is relevant for your specific LMS style. For example, taking a course based on a proprietary LMS when you use an open-source platform can lead to confusion. However, once you’ve pinpointed that the course is focused on the proper tools, there are a lot of helpful topics to look for, such as learner engagement, online instruction, and accessibility to name a few.

It’s also great to be on the lookout for tool-specific courses—such as H5P—which can help you enhance your online learning environment. If you don’t know where to start, check in with your organization’s LMS admin or reach out to your LMS vendor for guidance on what tools would be helpful to learn.

4) Choose Courses to Fit Your Needs

One of the most difficult parts of finding training that fits your needs is training that also fits your busy schedule. Asynchronous self-paced training can be a great way to learn, but if you’re looking for more insight from instructors, some asynchronous courses don’t offer as much instructor support. If you’re looking for a high level of flexibility, synchronous courses that offer a combination of live lectures and self-paced content and assignments can be an ideal balance of flexibility and instructor interaction. Open LMS Academy uses this model for many of our courses, including offering options to watch recordings rather than attending live weekly webinars.

The bottom line is this: consider your learning style, schedule, and ideal course pacing when you’re looking at what courses to take to improve your LMS skills.

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5) Do Your Research

Do some research on what’s available in the marketplace. For example, check in with any conference presenters you’ve enjoyed watching or industry leaders who you’ve found to give helpful tips and guidance on platforms like social media. Make sure you’re considering course style and the instructor, as well as what fits into your budget. LMS hosting organizations, like us here at Open LMS, are also great resources.

For example, our Open LMS Academy offers a variety of courses like Accessible & Inclusive Course Design, Introduction to Moodle™ Administration, and an H5P Creator Course for the global eLearning community.

Lastly, hearing from past course participants is always a great way to know if a course will be a good fit for you. For instance, here’s some feedback from some of our recent Open LMS Academy course participants.

• “I really got a lot out of [the H5P Creator Course]. The presenters were both knowledgeable and engaging. There was a feeling of "come on in and let's work on this" I found welcoming and inclusive. For me, as a total "newbie" this was a benefit. I found the examples and step-by-step scaffolding very helpful. The group setting was good, and I found the input and comments of others in the class very beneficial. The pacing and support materials were effective and without padding or fluff. I also liked the fact that previous cohorts contributed to the one in process. and that that fact was acknowledged. It made a "living document" type of experience that added vitality to the content. Others were experiencing the same issues I was and due to that, changes were being made to adjust accordingly. Most excellent. The wide variety of options to the H5P product was a positive surprise as well. It will allow me to improve the presentations I create. Thank you for a very good course. - Bill Bateman, Instructional Designer, Southern Oregon University
• This course is full of content I will use in the future. The lessons are easy to follow and are enhanced with how-to videos, which I find most useful. The instructors are friendly and easy to follow/understand. They are also very eager to help and provide individualized support. - Stacey Scholer
  

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Remember, there’s no one right way to keep learning. Whether your training comes through free webinars and YouTube videos, blog articles, or organized courses, the most important thing is to keep gaining knowledge to support your learners and students!