Learning, whether in the classroom or a corporation, has forever changed. The days of flipping through binders and listening to a teacher or trainer lecture about a topic while clicking through a slide deck have been replaced with interactive eLearning platforms. Not only are we learning in a new way, we\u2019re learning in a new place \u2014 LMS systems have made learning a mobile and virtual experience.<\/p>\n
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How did learning management for corporations evolve so quickly?<\/strong> The truth is, platforms have been growing and changing since the start.<\/p>\n The first sales training<\/strong><\/a> occurred in 1892 when John H. Primer, founder of National Cash Register, gave his sales team a book of presentations with proven outcomes. In 1941, corporate training went nationwide<\/strong><\/a>, when the U.S. government commissioned a job instruction training program to systematize the approach to on-the-job-training.<\/p>\n Then in 1961, McDonald\u2019s established Hamburger University<\/strong><\/a>, the first corporate training program.<\/p>\n Though it may seem like computer-based training<\/strong><\/a> is a far cry from fast food school, the first computer-assisted instruction system, PLATO, actually beat McDonald\u2019s to the punch when it was introduced at the University of Illinois in 1960.<\/p>\n The idea of using gamification<\/strong><\/a> in our learning management systems<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0is also thought to be cutting edge, but did you know that using \u201cgaming\u201d as training was done way back in 1812 when the war game \u201cKriegsspiel\u201d was developed to train Prussian and German army officers?<\/p>\n The right ideas have been in place for a while, but the LMS technology has finally caught up to make them possible.<\/p>\n The seeds of today\u2019s LMS software \u2014 which focuses on an anywhere\/everywhere you are and learn-as-you-like experiences \u2014 have given root to LMSs today. By the 1980\u2019s and early 1990\u2019s, computer-based training was gaining traction. By the turn of the century, it was the norm.<\/p>\n Today, the rapid rise in the use of mobile as the preference over any other device has pushed the LMS evolution into a new era once again.<\/p>\n For more than a century, the benefits of learning management tools have been of no question. But learning management systems are becoming increasingly innovative and competitive.\u00a0Finding the one that is right LMS for your company can be challenging.<\/p>\n Click To Tweet<\/a><\/p>\n The key is to stay at the curve of future LMS evolution <\/strong>by choosing a provider that\u2019s aware of, proactively thinking about, and on the cutting edge of what\u2019s next. These emerging trends show what\u2019s on the horizon for LMS evolution and when vetting potential providers, you should check for their awareness of these trends.<\/p>\n Integration can be a critical piece of the puzzle as it relates to your LMS system. Employees are spending large portions of their day in applications like Slack and Salesforce, and having the ability to navigate and communicate within those tools alongside the LMS makes for a streamlined, more productive and adopted user experience.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Which business tools are becoming more popular with your employees? What apps are the source of lunch table chatter? The right LMS provider should be at the forefront of partnering with trending apps and tools<\/strong> <\/a>for seamless integration.<\/p>\n With mini-computers in our pockets and constant access to options for self-publishing \u2014 whether it be on a third-party site, personal blog, or Facebook feed \u2014 everyone today is a content creator. Individual creators are constantly honing their skills<\/strong> through daily online interaction and getting increasingly good at understanding what engages those in their network.<\/p>\n Training content is headed in the same direction. When courses<\/strong><\/a> are (co)designed by the learners themselves, they\u2019re more likely to be intuitive, engaging, and geared towards the small details that management might miss.<\/p>\n Look for a software provider that\u2019s thinking about ways, or already has create ways, to further the LMS evolution and incorporate learner-generated content into your training.<\/p>\n A feature of business that hasn\u2019t so much evolved as gone extinct, is the treatment of employees as carbon copies in cubicles. Today\u2019s top workers want more<\/strong> \u2014 they want to be valued, challenged, and provided with pathways for growth as individuals.<\/p>\n The next LMS evolution meets that need by creating the opportunity for personalized learning environments.<\/strong> This makes it possible for every employee to log into their individualized dashboard and see coursework based off their interests, self-tracking reporting, and opportunities for stretch work. Top LMS providers should be talking about how they\u2019re creating personalization in their systems.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Less of a technological innovation and more of a business trend, successful companies are moving to straightforward pricing models that do away with hidden fees. Why? Customers hate them. Even if the base price increases, they\u2019d rather pay more than get hit with a cost later.<\/p>\n As you\u2019re shopping for an LMS, it\u2019s important to look for providers that make clear the total cost of ownership.<\/strong> Will there be hosting, licensing, or upgrade fees? Straightforward LMS pricing<\/strong><\/a> is a good indicator of a provider that\u2019s staying up-to-date with what customers want.<\/p>\n Hamburger University still exists. But it\u2019s gone from graduating 15 McDonald\u2019s managers a year to 7,500. How is such growth (and learning for those who can\u2019t attend) possible? eLearning!<\/p>\nLMS Today<\/h2>\n
Integration with Trending Apps<\/h3>\n
Learner-Generated Content<\/h3>\n
Personalized Environments<\/h3>\n
Straightforward Pricing<\/h3>\n
The LMS Evolution Goes on<\/h3>\n