Knowledge is power. But it must be used in ways that are advantageous to everyone. Due to the fact that the technology industry has made significant strides in the online learning sector, they have been working on developing solutions that can be used to facilitate learning even in a virtual environment. So what better approach to support online learning than by using learning management systems? Organizations are finding it difficult to maintain their resources in the current knowledge race in a rapidly evolving technological environment.
Actually, most people are already aware of the advantages learning management systems, or LMS, provide in the modern world. And now that it has been known that each sort of learning management system has potential, you can start your hunt for your next one. The best option, however, requires considerably more thought and planning than simply picking one and hoping for the best.
What to Consider in Choosing a Learning Management System
When choosing the right kind of LMS, you must take your budget, the size of your teams, including design, L&D, development, and customer success, as well as their bandwidth into account. You should also think about how long it will take to launch your learning program, including time for LMS deployment. And the type of learning management system you choose will depend on it.
Having said that, you do not necessarily need to develop your academy from scratch just because you have a large team and a large budget. Likewise, you can still build the academy of your dreams even if you do not have a large budget. Choosing the best type of learning management systems for you will include considering all of these issues and talking points.
Finding the finest software can be extremely difficult. There are so many different types of learning management systems available on the market. Understanding the advantages that this potent system will offer to your company is simple. The difficult part just comes in selecting the option that best meets your requirements. And when comparing what you want from your LMS, it can get difficult. But then, this article will shed some light on the various LMS types. In this way, you have all the details to get a better understanding of major LMS types and help you make the best decision given your needs. Keep reading to learn more.
SaaS LMS (Web-Based LMS)
A SaaS LMS or web-based LMS should be your choice if you want to launch your learning management system without spending a lot of design or development resources. This kind of LMS typically provides you with a reasonably straightforward, online, plug-and-play platform to build your academy while being hosted by your provider. And to provide you and your learners with the finest experience, the suppliers of this kind of LMS even offer a variety of capabilities and integrations.
Additionally, this LMS was created as a more affordable alternative to installed LMS. The fact that this kind of LMS is available through any browser conveniently eliminates the requirement for a costly installation fee. This, perhaps, is its biggest benefit. The LMS providers take care of all software maintenance, updates, and problem-solving on their own. As a result, your team will be able to improve the system. All while saving a tremendous amount of time and effort. Even though the majority of web-based LMS systems charge a monthly subscription, doing so is still less expensive than hosting your own system on-site.
It is actually easy to build and quick to launch a SaaS LMS. Simply generating the material and uploading it is all that is required. However, not all SaaS-based learning management systems are highly personalized, or customizable to produce relevance for your learners. You might, as a result, have a disorienting experience that reduces engagement and memory.
Installed LMS
Another type of LMS is installed LMS, which is one that is locally hosted. It needs to be installed on your premises and server, much like conventional apps and learning management system software. With this kind of LMS, you have the ability to completely configure your software and store your database locally. This, thus, reduces any security problems. But then, flexibility, regrettably, comes with a cost. Your team is responsible for configuring, maintaining, and updating the learning platform and system, which is hosted on your server. It is a highly expensive LMS solution because you are also responsible for resolving any unexpected downtime problems.
In fact, this is the classic old way of installing apps on our computers. It is deployed on your server on-site in businesses. It even has a significant setup cost and requires in-house IT infrastructure maintenance. For this purpose, you might also need to maintain your own IT team in addition to paying annual LMS installation maintenance fees. Overall, it is a costly venture.
Open-Source LMS
Open-source learning management systems are free to use and customizable to your needs. Just like many open-source programs or pieces of code. Anyone with technical knowledge can use it to design and configure free online courses for adults from the start, add or remove specific LMS features, and even change the entire system to meet your team’s unique requirements. However, since you will have to modify the code to make it useful for your business, you will need some design and development resources to pull this off. If you want to make something completely unique but do not want to start from scratch, this is a decent middle ground.
Over the years, it has become so well-known because it is typically made entirely customizable and freely available to the general public. No one will demand payment for any expensive fees or additional program features, either. The major drawback, however, is how much effort and customization is required on the part of the user for this kind of LMS. If you have full access to the source code, you are also responsible for updating or repairing any bugs. This makes it incredibly difficult to make even little modifications to the learning management system. Particularly if you are a novice user without access to trustworthy technical support.
Closed-Source LMS
The closed-source LMS does not give its users access to its source code, as opposed to the open-source LMS. This platform must then be licensed in order to be used. Which is why conventional teachers and training managers are typically dreaded by it. However, on the upside, the LMS vendor will take care of all updates, upgrades, and instructional design, relieving you of any technological hassles. It allows you plenty of time to concentrate on the caliber of your training and content management because you will not have to worry about any IT issues.
These difficulties can be avoided by the instructor, trainer, or learner. Utilizing the LMS to improve training quality is and should always be your main priority. It is suggested that the value delivered for education be the main consideration when selecting an LMS.
Key Takeaway
The types of learning management systems that will fit your needs will rely on a number of variables — the department’s budget, the size of the academy you intend to create, and the amount of design and development resources available. Sorting through all the alternatives available can actually be a very intimidating experience. A choice that benefits you, your group, and your business is the best one you can make.
You should consider how you will utilize the LMS in one, two, and five years from now. Do not only choose a learning management system based on what you need today. Consider what your online academy will need in the future as well. Although it might be challenging to consider this right away, it will ultimately save a lot of time, money, and effort.
