Learning Technology

What is an LMS?

A Learning Management System (LMS) provides staff with an online platform that they can log in to and access e-learning training. Find out more about how an LMS could benefit your business within the FAQs below.

• Can I put my company branding on an LMS?

  At Virtual College, we specialise in working with businesses of all sizes to deliver bespoke, targeted versions of e-learning courses and our Learning Management System, so you can tailor the training experience specifically to your staff.

• Can I use my company's course in another company's LMS?

  Most courses and LMS platforms are compatible, but you will need to check on a case by case basis. If you've already got e-learning courses that you want to transfer, we recommend discussing your needs with the company you are planning to buy the LMS from.

  Generally, if a Learning Management System and an e-learning course are both SCORM compliant, it means course progress can be tracked. There are different versions of SCORM, but many of the latest systems are compatible with older versions.

• Can I use Virtual College courses in my own LMS?

  Yes you can, we are able to supply the majority of our course catalogue to use in your LMS.

  If you'd like to find out more about this or have any other questions, call us on 01943 885089 or email hello@virtual-college.co.uk

• Enable, Virtual College's Learning Management System

  Some LMS platforms, like Enable, allow you to upload e-learning courses from other providers and create your own online learning modules using tools such as PowerPoint and Word. You can then assign tests to monitor comprehension and completion.

  Enable allows you to create online portfolios featuring uploaded examples of learners' work towards completing a course, while event tracking, internal messaging and appraisal tracking are also possible.

• What is an LMS?

  An LMS allows you to access e-learning resources in the same way that you might log on to an intranet system. Users will have their own LMS log-in providing them with access to online training courses.

  The basic purpose and functionality of all LMS systems is the same, but the design, power and additional benefits will vary from model to model.

  For example, our Virtual College LMS, Enable, allows you to track your progress through e-learning modules.

• Why does my company need an LMS?

  Using e-learning instead of or alongside face-to-face learning can help to reduce training costs and improve productivity across an organisation. For example, mandatory staff training like fire safety or food hygiene can be allocated when work is quiet, rather than sending people out of the office for a whole day or more.

  Being able to track how much training a person has completed via an LMS is ideal for monitoring and audits, and storing this information online make it much easier to access than sifting through piles of paperwork.

What is e-learning?

Put simply, e-learning is electronic learning, and typically means delivering all or part of a course digitally. Learn more within the FAQs below.

• Types of e-learning

  E-learning programmes can take many different forms. Here are just a few examples:

  • Active learning
  • Bite-size learning
  • Blended learning
  • Distance learning
  • Online training
  • Rapid e-learning

• What are the benefits of e-learning?

  There are many benefits to e-learning, whether you choose to use it on its own or to enhance your existing in-house training:

  It's cost-effective and saves time

  By reducing the time taken away from the office, removing travel costs and doing away with printed materials, online learning helps you to save money and increase workplace productivity.

  It also means your staff will be happier and more focused, as you'll be showing you care about their personal development.

  For more information on how your business can save time and money through e-learning, call us today to speak to one of our Ilkley-based support team.

  Learning 24/7, anywhere

  By allowing staff to complete a course when and where they like, you can make sure disruptions to your busy working schedule are minimised.

  Most of our courses have an average learning time, and our CPD-approved courses allow learners to print out certificates of achievement as an extra incentive.

  Tracking course progress is a breeze

  With a well-implemented Learning Management System (LMS), it is easy to track and monitor progress for your staff and learners. This can be essential for our most popular courses, which are often undertaken so people have proof they have taken part in mandatory training when pursuing future opportunities.

  Virtual College has developed its own tool to support our course content and learner tracking, called Enable. Find out more about our Learning Management System here or contact our sales team at sales@virtual-college.co.uk.

  It's discreet

  Not everybody feels comfortable learning in a large group, but e-learning allows everyone to tackle the subject at their own pace, with interactive tasks ensuring a thorough understanding throughout each module.

  But a computer can't do everything, can it?

  Nothing is perfect, and we understand that, in some cases, it is vital that people are tested under strict exam conditions. This is why Virtual College works with industry professionals to ensure all of our online course materials are approved and available to help you prepare for that final qualification.

  For instance, in a manufacturing plant, e-learning can provide the theory aspect of a training exercise, but practical training is needed to ensure competency. This is an example of blended learning, which allows you to use e-learning alongside traditional face-to-face training to combine the benefits. We call this section of the business YP Training and we've even transferred it across to the apprenticeship sector.

  You can find out more about all of the e-learning courses and different types of online training we have on offer here.

• What is e-learning?

  In the early days of e-learning, some people were concerned that bringing computers into the classroom would remove the human element that many learners benefit from.

  But technology has developed, and smartphones and tablets are now widely embraced in both the classroom and office. We also use a wealth of interactive designs that ensure distance learning is both an engaging and valuable lesson delivery medium.

  By building partnerships with quality training providers, and combining this with a dedicated and experienced team, Virtual College provides the perfect blended learning environment. This means that everyone has the chance to take their online training to the next level, while fitting their learning in around their busy schedule.

What is m-learning?

M-learning is all about learning on the accessible, portable platform that is a mobile phone, making it ideal for people with busy schedules who want to complete e-learning courses on the go. We have listed FAQs below.

• Can I create my own m-learning materials?

  Yes - you could film a presentation to watch back on your mobile, for example. There are several tools you can buy to create more complex m-learning resources too, or you can work closely with a specialist team, like we have here at Virtual College.

  For a more detailed introduction to mobile learning and additional information on mobile apps, on-the-go training or converting your existing materials into bite-size refresher modules, contact us today on 01943 605976, or email hello@virtual-college.co.uk.

  Discover our full range of courses here.

• M-learning vs. e-learning?

  Is m-learning the future of e-learning? With smartphones now playing such a big role in our lives, there is no doubt that m-learning will become a major contributing factor to education and training. But it's how it can work together with existing technology, like Enable - our Learning Management System - that makes m-learning such an important tool.

  The advantages of m-learning are plentiful, but it won't always be an appropriate alternative to e-learning, as there is some digital training that needs to be undertaken in a specific location for testing purposes. Still, m-learning and e-learning can work alongside each other nicely, providing more learning options than ever.

• What is m-learning?

  M-learning is e-learning, but on a smartphone. More businesses are now growing outside of the traditional office environment and remote working is more popular than ever, so it makes sense that training should be easily accessible on the go.

  Mobile learning can take a number of formats, from a short video to watch on the move or an interactive app incorporating e-learning quizzes and assessments.

• Who does m-learning appeal to?

  Members of the younger generation are growing up using mobile devices to access the web and complete tasks as part of their school and college work, and apprenticeships can now be delivered using e-learning instead of the student having to be physically present in a college.

  For others, busy schedules can stop people from finding the time to dedicate to a training programme, but using a mobile device means people can learn anywhere they have their phone available, so they're not restricted to a fixed computer.

What is rapid e-learning?

If you can film a presentation, you can watch it back on your mobile. If you want to make more complex training, there are several tools available to buy, or you can work with a dedicated specialist team, like we have at Virtual College. We answer the FAQs below.

• Does it mean faster learning?

  More recently, some companies have started using the term to refer to the speed at which a course can be completed, and this is sometimes referred to as ‘Bite Size' learning. Good examples of these bite size courses are those which can be broken into ten minute sections for learning on the go, such as video training.

  If you're on a tight budget, Rapid e-learning can be as simple as capturing a Power Point presentation and adapting it into a SCORM framework to use with an LMS. However, this form of e-learning is rarely effective as presentations are designed for that reason – to be presented! e-learning should be engaging for the user to make sure they absorb the information.

• How do I start creating courses?

  There are a number of tools on the market that exist to capture screens and enhance PowerPoint presentations at the click of a mouse. Tutorials are available online to help the more tech savvy individuals out there. Here at Virtual College, we offer a variety of services to help our clients get started with developing their own rapid courses, ranging from training sessions through to bespoke course development by our in-house experts.

• Should I come to an expert?

  There are several software packages available that can make building simple e-learning courses fairly painless for a non-professional and this benefits everyone. However, e-learning is different from regular face to face training, and successful communication depends on the provider understanding the principles of delivering courses with engaging design and content management. To use an analogy, all drivers should know how to change a tyre, but not everyone can be a mechanic.

  Sometimes it is desirable for an organisation to have some in-house provision for producing e-learning courses in this way, so here at Virtual College we work with a number of clients in different ways. Some choose to give us course materials that are then converted into e-learning by our expert team, whereas others choose to use our training resources and develop their rapid e-learning in-house, occasionally coming back to us for guidance or specific elements when needed.

• Virtual College's rapid e-learning development service

  We're always happy to offer training and advice to help you produce your own courses, and we offer a number of full development support services to help you create the best training for your needs. Whatever stage you are at in your e-learning journey, call us today to help you make the next steps.

  Services include:

  • Creation of courses from existing materials
  • Concept development
  • Story-boarding
  • Resource curating
  • Course development from concept to finished product
  • Professional voice over recording facilities

• What is rapid e-learning?

  Rapid e-learning (or rapid e-learning development) generally refers to the production process of creating e-learning courses quickly and effectively without having to use overly complicated software or programming techniques. Courses built this way can be concise for the learner and fairly swiftly put together for the course provider. This can be an important factor, as information and training on specialist subjects often need to be imparted in the most efficient and up-to-date way possible.

  In short, rapid e-learning is the perfect way to keep up with training your staff in new products, policy changes, system upgrades or anything else you need to get out there fast!

  Please contact us if you require a demo of our rapid e-learning courses.