3 Most Common LMS UX Problems and Means to Address Them
“Only 33% of LMS users from small businesses with 500 employees or fewer say they’re satisfied with the current system and poor user experience is cited as the reason why.”, according to a 2017 study by Brandon Hall Group. The issue with LMS user experience is so pervasive and detrimental that we fear that most organisations today don’t make it their top priority when evaluating and designing learning systems.
However, user experience is one factor which is remarkably more significant than the rest be it cost, integrations, customer support, and others alike. And, Gartner points out the same in its research as, “Place the learner’s experience and the solution’s usability at the top of the priority list for any new learning project.” While you now have enough evidence to support this fact, all you need to do is find a user-friendly LMS. But, wait! Finding one is not as easy as it may seem.
To assist you combat this issue, we have pointed out the three most common user experience issues faced in LMS which will help you to find the most appropriate system. Read on to know!
Problem 1. Navigation is too hard
One of the most common issues faced by online learners when undertaking an online program are the endless navigation controls which are hard to follow. These navigation controls are accumulated over the course of a year or more as LMS vendors constantly carry out their operations and pack the exciting new features for the user. But less than they know, this does more harm to businesses than good for the simple fact that learners cannot seamlessly jump from searching for courses to track their assignments and progress. With this, only frustration levels soar up high!
Solution: Look for an LMS system which has a clean, simple, and clutter free design. Look for search bar as a part of it and check whether it displays relevant results. Another factor to consider is whether it’s easy going back to undo mistakes and if users are allowed to customise navigation controls as per their liking. You can lookout for these features and be rest assured that your users are equipped with valuable experience.
Problem 2. Courses are very plain and least interactive
When most employees of your organisation find your elearning training programs to be ‘boring’, it’s time you change your approach! But how? Create robust, topic-oriented courses which benefit your SMBs in numerous ways. Furthermore, make it a point to opt for elearning authoring tool for your course creation process as these are specifically designed for it and are just the perfect tools to create interactive, engaging courses in no time. With this, you can deliver what your customers need as and when required. These tools can be purchased easily based on a monthly or annual subscription however if you are skeptical of using them for the first time, you can opt for free elearning authoring tools for small businesses and have a fair idea of their working and then make your decision.
Solution: As far as your elearning program is concerned, add a jolt of excitement in your training program by offering branching and personalised learning paths, i.e. the ability to allow administrators to personalise the sequence of courses learners see based on their performance of the past or on how they perform. Further, microlearning or adding bite-sized content is the way to go alongside adding discussion boards and simulations and even adding an extra layer of immersion by incorporating virtual reality.
Problem 3. Ignoring smartphones or mobile learning
Last of all, ignoring the importance of smartphones and neglecting mobile learning is the issue in LMS which must be resolved. As per a study, in 2016, smartphones and tablets surpassed desktop computers as the primary devices used to access the internet worldwide. Hence, the rapidly increasing significance of smartphones and desire of learning via handheld devices by online learners.
Solution: Choose an LMS which provides good mobile UX and design courses which are mobile responsive and mobile friendly such that your users are not turned down by your digital training program and can seek learning even when on the go. While you customise your content for mobile learning, keep in kind to opt for a mobile responsive design which is able to wrap text, scale different media, and rearrange elements of a screen.
