5 Overlooked, Actionable Tips to Improve Your LMS

So you’ve had your training platform implemented and set up, and are now past the basics. Instead of a generic article about training, we’ll dive into the top actionable tricks that Knowledge Anywhere’s support team uses to optimize and bolster online training programs for our customers that extend past the initial stages of training. 

Do you have all these training elements?

If not, it may be time to level up your strategy if you want to see higher engagement and completion rates from your Learners.

Leverage Automated Learner Notifications

Workers are being asked to do so much more now, and with recent layoffs looming, it’s obvious that most employees are trying their best to be more productive; a trend that’s been on the rise for quite some time. In fact, from 1979 to 2020, productivity increased by 61.8%! But how can we keep up with these piling expectations? Enter; automation. 

Automated notifications are essential tools that remind learners about deadlines, encourage participation in discussions, and ensure they don’t miss important updates. They serve as gentle nudges that help maintain the momentum of learning without seeming overbearing.

ACTION ITEMS: 

• First, identify the key touchpoints in your training program where Learners might benefit from a reminder or a prompt. These often include course deadlines, upcoming forum discussions, reminders for recurring training sessions, and feedback surveys.
• Next, set up automated reminders for these touchpoints within your LMS. This proactive approach helps keep Learners informed and accountable for their progress. Most platforms provide a feature that allows you to send LMS messages or emails directly to Learners. Here’s an overview demo of Knowledge Anywhere’s automated Learner notifications.
• As a bonus, see if your system allows you to automate some Administrator functions, including scheduling reports to yourself or your Training team, at a date of your choosing.

METRICS TO MONITOR:

To gauge the effectiveness of your notification strategy, monitor metrics such as open rates and click-through rates of the emails or messages sent. Keep an eye on logins and course completion rates following these notifications. These metrics will tell you not just if your messages are being seen, but also if they are compelling enough to drive action.

Based on the data collected, you might find that adjustments are necessary. If certain notifications have low open rates, consider changing the subject lines or the content within. If notifications are not converting into action, reassess the timing or the message’s call-to-action.

Get Competitive Through Gamification

According to productivity and technology statistics, 89% of workers think gamification may boost productivity at the workplace.

Gamification leverages game design elements in non-game contexts to enhance user engagement and participation. It taps into the inherent human desires for competition, achievement, and recognition, making learning not just necessary but fun.

ACTION ITEMS: 

Start by incorporating elements such as leaderboards, badges, and point systems into your training programs, which usually are available within an LMS. These features create a sense of competition and accomplishment that can significantly boost learner engagement.

1. Leaderboards:
   Highlight top performers in various categories, fostering a healthy competitive environment where learners strive to see their names at the top. You can even offer an extra offline incentive for who does the best, like a free in-office lunch, an extra day of PTO, increased work from home time, or whatever else your organization chooses.
2. Badges:
   Reward Learners with badges for completing courses, excelling in quizzes, or participating actively in forums. These badges become virtual trophies, showcasing each Learner’s achievements. To drive home the importance of this feature, bring up the results in your one-on-one performance reviews, so it’s integrated into job expectations and company culture. 
   To see how Knowledge Anywhere customers can utilize Badges, watch our demo video here.
3. Customized Certificates: 
   Offer personalized certificates for course completion or mastery of specific skills. These certificates serve as official recognition of the Learners’ efforts and achievements, adding value to their professional growth and providing tangible evidence of their commitment to learning, which they can add to their resume or share through social media. 
   To see how Knowledge Anywhere customers can utilize Certificates, watch our demo video here.

METRICS TO MONITOR:

• Engagement Levels:
  Compare active participation rates and time spent in the LMS before and after implementing gamification.
• Course Completion Rates:
  Monitor completion rates to gauge if gamification motivates Learners to finish courses more diligently.
• Qualitative Feedback:
  Collect Learner feedback through surveys or performance reviews to understand their experience and satisfaction with the gamified elements.

Deep Dive Into LMS Data Metrics

Decisions backed by data are not just advantageous – they’re essential. In fact, here’s a few statistics to prove just how important data-backed decisions really are. 

• Data-driven organizations are 23 times more likely to acquire customers (McKinsey Global Institute).
• Businesses that use big data increase profit by 8% (BARC Research).
• Insight-driven businesses are growing at an average of 30% each year; by 2021, they are predicted to take $1.8 trillion annually from their less-informed industry competitors (Forrester).

So how can we leverage the power of data using tools found within an LMS?

ACTION ITEMS: 

To truly understand the effectiveness of your training programs, focus on several key metrics. Go through your own system to search for:

• Completion Rates:
  This metric helps gauge the engagement level and the effectiveness of course content. Low completion rates may indicate that the material is not engaging or too challenging.
• Time Spent on Each Course:
  Analyzing the time spent can provide insights into course difficulty and learner interest. Excessive time might suggest that the content is too dense or poorly explained.
• Assessment Scores:
  Scores from quizzes and tests can indicate how well Learners are absorbing the material. Consistently low scores across learners might point to areas where the training content needs to be improved. Conversely, if your average Assessment score is 100%, the material or the test may be too easy and a waste of Learner’s time. 
  To see how Knowledge Anywhere customers can utilize Assessments, watch our demo video here.

Learning to interpret these metrics correctly is crucial. For instance, if you notice a trend of declining completion rates, this might suggest that the course length is too long, or the content is not engaging. Similarly, patterns in assessment scores can help you identify specific modules where learners are struggling. 

Earn Revenue By Selling Your Courses

Why not make money creating and distributing your courses? With a training platform with an eCommerce feature, you can. 

The beauty of digital courses is their scalability and accessibility, making them an ideal product for monetization. Whether you’re a business looking to share niche knowledge, or an educational institution aiming to extend your reach, selling courses online can tap into unexplored markets. With the right strategy, your LMS can transform from a cost center into a profit-making tool that contributes significantly to your organization’s revenue.

ACTION ITEMS: 

1. See if your cloud-based platform has an eCommerce feature that allows you to sell your courses. If you can’t find it, get in contact with your Account Manager or support! Most modern LMS platforms, including Knowledge Anywhere, offer integrated solutions to turn your course catalog into a dynamic marketplace.
2. Categorize your courses clearly and setting up individual course pages that include detailed descriptions, prerequisites, and learning outcomes.
3. Establish a pricing strategy is crucial. Consider different pricing models such as one-time payments, subscriptions, or even tiered pricing levels based on course features or additional content. The LMS should facilitate easy setup of these structures directly through its administrative portal.

To see how Knowledge Anywhere customers can utilize eCommerce, watch our demo video here. 

Change It Up Based On Learner Feedback

One of the most effective ways to ensure your Learning Management System continues to meet the needs of your learners is to listen – really listen – to the feedback they provide. Feedback isn’t just a tool for validation; it’s a critical resource for continuous improvement and innovation in your training programs. Harnessing this input can transform an average LMS into a dynamic learning platform that evolves in sync with its users.

ACTION ITEMS: 

Check your LMS for the following feedback tools and implement them appropriately: 

1. Post-Course Feedback Surveys:
   These surveys are essential tools for capturing detailed feedback immediately after a learner completes a course. They should include both quantitative questions (like Likert scale ratings) and qualitative questions that allow learners to express their thoughts in more depth. Ensure these surveys are concise to encourage completion, but comprehensive enough to gather actionable insights. You can set up these surveys to automatically appear upon course completion within the LMS.
2. Course Comments and Rating Systems:
   Get immediate feedback on specific content by checking the course ratings and comments that Learners can leave behind after completing a course. This helps instructors quickly gauge the effectiveness of particular sections and identify areas needing improvement.

Actively seeking, integrating, and responding to learner feedback transforms your LMS into a living ecosystem that grows and adapts to meet the ever-changing needs of its users. This approach not only ensures that your training remains effective and engaging but also fosters a sense of community and collaboration among learners, further enriching their learning experience.

Conclusion: Taking Your LMS to the Next Level

You’ve taken the first steps by setting up a robust Learning Management System, but the journey toward truly impactful training doesn’t stop there. By integrating advanced features such as automated notifications, gamification, deep data analysis, revenue generation through course sales, and leveraging direct learner feedback, you can dramatically enhance the effectiveness and reach of your training programs.

To talk with an expert about how to improve your training program, schedule a quick consultation with us today!