Introduction
Today’s learning executives seem to be sitting at a crossroad between the old and the new—between the “tried-and-true” and the “cutting edge.” As technology evolves making it easier for users to instantaneously communicate with each other—and in many instances, “learn” from one another—the learning organization, yet again, finds itself amidst rapid change and finding ways to adapt and capitalize on popular technologies to supplement training initiatives.
A technology that has become front and center in the debate of “old” versus “new” is the Learning Management System (LMS). The LMS has been a tried-and-true friend of the learning organization for decades. There are many well-designed learning management systems operating today that provide agile platforms to access a vast array of information and training to suit a variety of user needs. The LMS does what it was originally designed to do—and does it very well. However, have we pushed the LMS beyond what is was intended to do? Are we expecting too much from it?
In a recent Learning Executive Think Tank discussion, Tom Kelly, former learning executive at Cisco and Oracle, met with a handful of top learning executives to discuss whether or not the LMS has changed in their organization and where they see this technology going in the future. Think Tank participants represented a variety of industries including: medical technology, healthcare management, software development, financial services, education, business communications, and technology services. Specifically, think tank participants answered this question:
“How has the LMS evolved in your organization in recent years and what do you believe is its future?”
Key Findings
To kick off the discussion, Gordon Johnson of Expertus shared some interesting findings from a recent survey of 144 learning professionals regarding the current functionality and future requirements of the LMS:
• Poor Usability—Most learning professionals reported their top challenge with respect to the LMS is poor usability. The LMS, as it is currently designed, has failed to adapt to the changing demands for learning.
• Management Challenges Versus Learner Challenges—Many reported that reporting and integration issues is a significant challenge, indicating they do not have the ability to add content that meets current needs, or track its use and effectiveness.
• LMS Satisfaction is Mixed—Nearly half (45 percent) of survey respondents graded their LMS a C or lower. Slightly more (47 percent) predicted that learners would grade their system similarly.
• Users Demand Personalized Learning—Survey respondents reported that personalized learning plans are the most important feature of the LMS. 62 percent identified this feature as being the most used and 44 percent listed the evolution of personalized learning plans in the top three most essential functions of the LMS in the near future.
