Totara Recipes: How to Choose the Best LMS

Posted by: waadmin
Category: eLearning
Totara Recipes: How to Choose the Best LMS

Choosing a Learning Management System (LMS) in a market of over 600 can be a daunting task. So, where do you start? To help you choose the best LMS, we have prepared a recipe with everything you should keep in the mix.

Totara and Webanywhere recipe card on choosing a learning management system

Ingredients

  • Goals, expectations and needs

  • A list of ‘must-have’ features

  • Request For Proposal (RFP)

  • Demo / Free trial

  • A shortlist of LMSs

  • Budget

Preparation

  • Have a clear sense of what are you trying to achieve.

  • Ensure you get feedback from a good cross section of business stakeholders.

  • Consider the skills and feedback of your L&D team when building your RFP.

  • Compile a list of ‘must-have’ features you want your LMS to have.

Method

  • Choose a system that is flexible, quick to deploy and user friendly. Try a system that offers a free trial or demo site to avoid making a costly error.

  • Bear in mind the technical limitations of your audience. Are you learners tech savvy?

  • Check that the new LMS offers the essential features and functions you really need. Does it have to be mobile friendly? Is it secure? Are gamification and social learning a ‘must’ for you? Is in-depth reporting available?

  • Check your new system is future-proof.  Is it scalable to grow with your organisation’s needs? Will it be easy to upgrade and maintain?

  • Evaluate how the new LMS will be integrated with your current software.

  • Review a variety of vendors and negotiate your preferred terms of contract. Ask them about their experience, skill sets and qualifications. Look at online reviews to give you a better idea of how they dealt with customers in the past.

Serve and enjoy!

  • There will be times when you are going to need 24/7 support from your LMS vendor. Will the vendor be able to guide you through the setup and training process? Can you call them when you face a technical problem?

  • The best LMS will allow you to create an ideal e-learning experience for your audience.

Still need help with selecting the best LMS? As a Totara Platinum Partner, we know how to get the most from Totara Learn, a scalable and flexible open source learning management system.

Totara LMS