Traditional education is changing its format along with the rapid development of technologies. The main objectives are to simplify the learning process and make it accessible.
Online learning has substituted courses, master classes, and training. Distance learning has two significant advantages. The first is that it is less expensive than traditional forms of education.
And the second is that it allows you to familiarize people quickly with all the necessary information and conduct tests to check the assimilation of the material. LMS development company creates platforms distinguished by a user-friendly and flexible interface, extensive functionality, and advanced remote learning.
Geniusee builds learning management systems from scratch. The development of the LMS platform is carried out on the basis of extensive experience and an agreement that includes all the stipulated conditions: price, terms, system functionality, interface, and accessibility.
If you are searching for ways to create your LMS, this short tutorial will outline the main steps and information you need to consider before development.
What Is LMS?
The learning management system, or LMS, is a library of learning materials accessed from any global location through the Internet.
Being a SaaS (software as a service), the LMS platform simplifies the process of course creation, materials placement, administration, documentation, reporting, and tracking students’ progress.
The system consists of 2 interfaces – for admin and learners. They differ in functions, data, and management features. It is a convenient and quick tool for users to obtain new skills and knowledge.
For owners, it is a way to reduce the cost of training employees, improve their qualifications, monitor and estimate their results, or just earn money from training on the Internet.
How Does LMS Work?
Before creating an LMS, it is crucial to understand how it operates and what tasks you want to solve. With the help of an LMS, all learning resources can be gathered in one place and made instantly accessible to all users.
You may also provide learners with more than one course, assignments, tests, or an entire series of learning materials after dividing them into various groups. Moreover, the LMS platform assists in managing and monitoring learners’ performance.
The key features of LMS include the following:
- Internal course management (Courses-> Modules-> Lessons);
- Test/survey management (interconnection with Courses / Modules / Lessons);
- Management of landing pages for each online course;
- Course performance monitoring (examinations, grading, and obtaining a certificate);
- Uploading video lessons from YouTube channels and Vimeo, with settings for the threshold for viewing the video to view results achievement;
- User base, personal accounts, statistics collection;
- Forum management (separate forums for Courses / Modules / Lessons, restricting access at the end of the course);
- Payment systems integration;
- Mailing system integration.
Main Steps To Develop LMS Platform
- Planning and assessment.
A development company usually conducts an evaluation and draws up a work plan to meet all the client’s requirements and stipulate the cost.
A quick assessment provides a general indication of the labor expenses and can take from several hours to a day. It enables you to precisely predict the scope of work, timeline, and application you will obtain as a result.
- Analytics
Analytics helps the business and developers achieve a shared vision, and based on this, evaluate the necessary labor input and set a detailed project budget.
However, analytics is not always a part of the learning management system development process. Sometimes customers conduct their business analysis of the product or come with a ready list of requirements.
- Design.
The development company builds UI / UX from scratch in case the client does not have the design. While it is being drawn, the application takes on its future appearance.
It is essential to get feedback from the business analyst and the client so that the design fully meets the application requirements.
- Development
As soon as a detailed technical specification and assessment are done, the design is ready, and the mobile application prototype is agreed upon, it is time for development.
The essential task is to write a code to implement the intended behavior of the application and wire the application logic to the backend.
The designer should check how successfully the developers have done their tasks: whether all the styles correspond to the selected one, whether the color palette is displayed, how the elements are shaped, etc.
- Testing And Bug Fixing
Permanent maintenance and cooperation with QA engineers and a project manager guarantee a high level of quality and help the client to follow the prescribed budget.
All bugs are entered into the bug reporting system for fixing during the testing period. Before releasing the LMS site, the platform is further tested to ensure that the application’s behavior meets the test documentation and customer requirements.
- Release
Once all necessary tests and application adjustments are completed, the development team, analysts, QA engineers, and designers approve the result; it is time to release the LMS platform to production.
- Support and development
The launch is not enough for successful functioning. It is vital to maintain the platform and fix all the bugs that the client can find. During the first month of the operation period, the application can show what needs to be modified or redone.
There are two options to continue cooperation with the development team: to conclude a maintenance contract or start a new development phase considering new requirements.
LMS platforms combine common online learning pathways into a whole system with specific management features. With their use, training requires fewer resources, reaches a new quality level, and allows gaining new knowledge on distance.
Learning management systems are a tool for information transfer processes rather than a service for a certain circle of specialists.
It opens new perspectives for everyone who needs to gain deep knowledge in specific areas with a minimum amount of time and effort.