A Caution About The LMS Industry

By: Justin Ferriman • November 19, 2014
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Whenever you hear someone talking about creating online courses, at some point you are likely to hear the term “learning management”. On the surface this seems relatively straight-forward, but the more you look into it, the more you begin to realize it is a rather loaded term.

In fact, some would contend that learning cannot really be “managed” in the first place – but that’s a conversation for another day.

When you hear someone talk about learning management, it’s often in the context of a learning management system (or LMS). The LMS is the technical infrastructure that is in place to manage (and deliver) the course content to users.

It also acts as a tool for reporting and user management from a learning perspective. For example, you can tell what courses a user has completed, where they currently are in the course, and quiz scores.

But learning management goes beyond the tools and flashy gadgets, it also refers to the processes and team behind the entire initiative – and this is where so many LMS providers ultimately show their naivety.

If you land on an LMS sales page and they focus primarily on features, then proceed with caution. You should be looking beyond the features and at the team behind the platform since this is who you are going to partner with in the long-run for your elearning program.

The truth is, learning management is defined quite differently across a variety of situations. Features are “lifeless”, they aren’t all that valuable by themselves, or when implementing incorrectly – but learning management (from a process sense) is always evolving and is where your real value lies.

If your learning management configuration is in-line with your organizational goals, the entire learning program will prove very successful. Don’t choose a platform for your learning management, choose a partner and proven provider. A company that’s value extends beyond the technology and into real, practical experience.

Justin Ferriman

Justin started LearnDash, the WordPress LMS trusted by Fortune 500 companies, major universities, training organizations, and entrepreneurs worldwide. He is currently founder & CEO of GapScout. Justin’s Homepage | GapScout | Twitter