What is a Learning Management System (LMS)?

Aug 22, 2023 | LMS

A learning management system (LMS) is a software application that provides a platform for delivering, managing, and tracking training and education. LMS’s are used by organizations of all sizes, from small businesses to large enterprises, to provide and track training for their employees, students, or customers.

There are three LMS paradigms that have evolved in the industry.

  1. Education
  2. Professional Development
  3. B2C Sales

The first two paradigms, Education and Professional Development, are the LMS’s that focus on internal training or education. These include some of the oldest and most well-established platforms, like Moodle and Blackboard.

The third paradigm, B2C sales, are designed to help knowledge experts develop and monetize their content. These include platforms like Learnworlds and Kajabi. These types of platforms often include sales and marketing tools that more traditional Education and Professional Development LMS’s do not.

All LMS’s typically have the following features:

  • Content management: LMS’s allow users to create, store, and deliver training content, such as e-courses, videos, and presentations.
  • Course management: LMS’s allow users to create and manage courses, including setting deadlines, tracking progress, and assigning grades.
  • Learning analytics: LMS’s track learner activity and performance, providing insights into how learners are engaging with the content and whether they are meeting their learning goals.
  • Reporting: LMS’s provide reports on learner activity, course completion rates, and other metrics.

Learning Management Systems in Education

The LMS Education Paradigm can be subdivided into two categories.

  1. K-12
  2. Higher Education

The LMS’s built upon the Education Paradigm approach content management by digitizing the traditional classroom. Content is often organized by topic or weeks and is designed to be taken over a longer period of time (like a semester). There are often stronger tools for teacher feedback and grading as well as integrations into larger gradebooks used in the education industry.

Learning Management Systems in K-12

LMS’s in K-12 education are used to deliver online learning, provide personalized instruction, and track student progress. LMSs can help teachers to:

  • Create and deliver engaging and interactive learning experiences.
  • Differentiate instruction to meet the needs of all learners.
  • Track student progress and identify areas for improvement.
  • Communicate with parents and guardians about student learning.

Some of the leading LMS vendors for K-12 education include:

Learning Management Systems in Higher Education

LMS’s are also widely used in higher education to deliver online courses, manage student records, and track student progress in colleges and universities. LMS’s can help instructors to:

  • Create and deliver online courses that are accessible to students from all over the world.
  • Manage student enrollment and records.
  • Track student progress and identify areas for improvement.
  • Provide real-time feedback to students.

Some of the leading LMS vendors for higher education include:

Learning Management Systems in Enterprise Learning

Learning Management Systems built upon the Professional Development Paradigm are designed to by more targeted, smaller units of learning with a stronger focus on asynchronous training. These systems often integrate with a broader suite of products used in the HR function (such as Performance and Talent Management).

LMS’s are used in the corporate world to provide training to employees. LMSs can help businesses to:

  • Provide training on new products and services.
  • Train employees on new skills.
  • Comply with regulatory requirements.
  • Track employee training and development.

Some of the leading LMS vendors for enterprise learning include:

Learning Management Systems in B2C Sales

Learning Management Systems in the B2C Sales category are designed to allow individuals to monetize their knowledge. These are often all-in-one platform that provide a website or marketplace to sell the courses, course development tools, and user management administration.

Some of the leading LMS vendors in B2C Sales include:

Choosing an LMS

When choosing an LMS, it is important to consider the specific needs of your organization. Some factors to consider include:

  • The size of your organization.
  • The types of training you need to deliver.
  • The features you need.
  • Your budget.

It is also important to get feedback from your stakeholders, such as instructors, learners, and IT staff. This will help you to choose an LMS that meets the needs of everyone involved.

LMSs are a powerful tool that can be used to improve learning outcomes in a variety of settings. By choosing the right LMS and getting feedback from your stakeholders, you can ensure that you are getting the most out of this technology. Tang Technology helps our clients quickly select and implement the right LMS for your business. Schedule a free 30 minute to see how we can help.